Imagine being charged by a woolly mammoth. You hold a wooden spear with a razor-sharp stone tip. Do you hurl it at the 10,000-pound animal and hope it pierces its thick leathery skin? Or do you stay put, plant the base into the ground and trust that the beast will impale itself?The conventional wisdom — both scientific and cultural — has long favored the first version. But archeological evidence and an experimental approach shows that the second may have been more realistic and common during ...read more

Antlers are like giant, imposing cradles, sometimes stretching out from an animal’s head in a bowl-like shape with horns reaching for the sky.And there is variation in horns and antlers among many animals. In a recent study published in Communications Biology, researchers found that ruminant headgear may have evolved from a common ancestor that lived 15 million years to 20 million years ago.“There’s some sort of genetic predisposition that this family has towards ornamentation,” says Zac ...read more

Paleontologists have uncovered one of the best-preserved dinosaurs ever found in the United Kingdom on the Isle of Wight. In a recent study, the team presented Comptonatus chasei as a new species of iguanodontian that roamed Earth around 125 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous.The research team described it as one of the most complete fossil dinosaurs discovered in the U.K. in the last century; the last incredibly well-preserved specimen was also a species of iguanodon. It’s the latest i ...read more

While the American Psychiatric Association only formally recognized attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) in the late 1960s, the traits associated with the now commonly diagnosed conditions are embodied by famous individuals throughout history. Famous People in History with ADHDAlexander the Great, for example, was born in 356 B.C.E. and was the ancient Macedonian king known for his bold conquests and impulsive acts. “Probably by today's standards [he] would have ADHD,” says Nikki ...read more

Some 48 light-years away, in the constellation Cetus, lies an ice-covered planet straight out of Star Wars central casting. One hemisphere always faces the host star, creating a small melted ocean on the permanent day side that gives it the appearance of a gargantuan eyeball. What’s more, this watery orb, almost twice as large as Earth, may be our best shot at finding habitable conditions elsewhere in the universe.The latest picture of LHS 1140 b (named because it orbits a red dwarf star calle ...read more

In the modern age, the search for extraterrestrial life requires a unique mind. A researcher must have the openness and creativity to imagine something beyond our current knowledge of the universe. At the same time, the researcher, if they are to be taken seriously, must also be skilled enough to analyze high-powered astronomical imagery through supercomputing, artificial intelligence, or other means.The researchers behind project Hephaistos, a Swedish-based effort to identify traces of alien li ...read more

Having a gluten-free diet has become a well-established dietary trend. But not everyone suffers from the genetic autoimmune disease called celiac disease. It’s estimated that around 1 percent of Americans suffer from celiac disease, which is commonly known for its gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. Recent studies have also shown that beyond stomach issues, there is a connection between mental health issues and celiac disease and gluten intolerance.  ...read more

In the 1920s and ‘30s, a British botanist named Arthur Ernest Watkins collected over 1,000 varieties of bread wheat from 32 countries all around the globe. In a recent study, scientists propose that his seed collection – which has been painstakingly maintained for over a century – could hold the key to fortifying modern wheat agriculture and feeding the world’s ever-increasing population. Their findings were published in the journal Nature in June 2024. The Green RevolutionUpon Watkin’ ...read more

There are two kinds of tickles. Knismesis is a soft, gentle kind of tickling, such as when an insect crawls across your skin, or someone strokes you with a feather. But here we’re talking about the other kind. It’s called gargalesis and is the full-on, go-for-the-ribs or armpits tickling that makes you laugh out loud and wiggle and squirm.Stop and think about it for a minute, and you’ll notice something very odd about tickling. When you’re being tickled, you laugh, sometimes a lot. That� ...read more

Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than homework. They’ll be carrying germs, too.These viruses and bacteria will be agents that cause the common cold, influenza, norovirus, COVID-19, strep throat, and more. There’s a reason why boxes of tissues and sanitizing wipes show up on most school supply lists.As a nursing professor with experience in public health promotion, I have spent the past several years helping the public understand how to prevent ...read more