Science & Technology
Orcas filmed smashing giant sunfish into thousands of pieces
Researchers in the Gulf of California have documented a dramatic orca behavior never described before. In two separate encounters, one orca gripped a dead sunfish by the fin while another charged into it at high speed, blasting the carcass into thousan…
Popular childhood drinks may raise blood pressure decades later
A 25-year study found that frequent consumption of soda, sports drinks, and fruit juice beginning in childhood was linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure in adulthood. Swapping one daily drink for whole fruit, milk, or water could significantly…
Antarctica may give the world decades to prepare for rising seas
Scientists may be able to reliably forecast Antarctic ice loss through the middle of this century, offering governments a vital head start on sea level rise. After that, unstable ice retreat could accelerate dramatically, making the future much harder …
NASA will test SpaceX and Blue Origin Moon landers before the next lunar landing
NASA is preparing for future astronaut landings on the Moon with an unusually ambitious orbital rehearsal. During Artemis III in 2027, Orion astronauts will rendezvous and dock separately with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX, allowi…
NASA’s Webb telescope discovers giant planet hiding in one of astronomy’s most famous systems
A giant planet had been hiding inside one of astronomy’s most closely studied planetary systems, concealed by a bright disk of cosmic dust. Webb revealed Beta Pictoris d through atmospheric traces of carbon monoxide, water vapor, and methane, showcasin…
Natural compound may fight rheumatoid arthritis at its source
A plant-derived compound reduced swelling, inflammation, and joint damage in rats with rheumatoid arthritis. It also helped rebalance immune activity and improve the way certain fats were processed in the body. Researchers say the findings could lead t…
Scientists discover the hidden brain switch that assigns bees their jobs
Researchers found that specific brain circuits help decide which jobs bees perform as they age. When those circuits were switched off, older worker bees began caring for the queen again instead of carrying out their normal later-life duties. The findin…
Ancient ferns turned Triassic Europe into a wildfire inferno
Ancient fern savannahs may have transformed parts of Europe into a wildfire-prone inferno during the end-Triassic mass extinction. New fossil evidence suggests the ferns repeatedly regrew after fires, creating fresh fuel that helped prolong the devasta…