We’re constantly making memories with every experience, but how do they stick with us? It turns out that a good night’s sleep makes them last. Recent research shows that as we sleep, the neurons in our brains undergo processes that not only preserve past memories but also prepare for the creation of new memories to come. A new study published in Nature Communications captured memory processing in mice by following neuronal activity in their brains before, during, and after learning experienc ...read more

Does seismic activity under this long-dead volcano mean it’s about to rise from the grave? That’s what an international research team set out to discover as this Bolivian “zombie” volcano continues to show signs of activity.Using modern technology, the team mapped out the internal workings of the volcano and determined how likely it could erupt, according to a new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Uturuncu, The Zombie VolcanoUturuncu hasn’t erupted ...read more

Remains of an ancient noblewoman have been discovered at a site unfit for a queen — a former garbage dump in Caral, Peru. The dump became an archaeological site in the 1990s.Archaeologists in what may be one of the oldest cities in the Americas, unearthed the mummified woman who was between 20 years and 35 years old. They estimate she was buried about 5,000 years ago. Her body was wrapped in cotton fabrics, reed mats, and covered by a panel embroidered with macaw feathers. She also wore a hea ...read more

Astronomers have discovered a massive molecular cloud that is also a huge possible star producer — of the celestial sort.The cloud has been hiding in plain sight. Astronomers just needed the right tools to see one of the largest single structures in the sky and among the closest to the sun and Earth ever to be detected. By using a new technique, they detected the cloud's key component — molecular hydrogen, the scientists report in Nature Astronomy. “The data showed glowing hydrogen molecul ...read more

Scientists may have gotten the evolutionary origins of some of the strangest animals on the planet backward. They’ve long thought that monotremes — egg-laying mammals that include the platypus and hedgehog-like creatures known as echidnas — originated on land. The platypus took the occasional aquatic foray, making it semi-aquatic, while echidnas stayed out of the water, the thinking went.But new analysis of a bone found 30 years ago may mean that theory requires a revision. A single humeru ...read more

Crocodiles are masters of survival. These ancient reptiles have been around for about 90 million years, outlasting dinosaurs and enduring multiple extinction events. Around 5 million years ago, they crossed from Africa to the Americas and evolved into the four species known in the region today.Scientists have long known that the so-called "neotropical" crocodiles are widespread, living in a mix of coastal zones, remote inland areas, and scattered islands. But human activity has severely impacted ...read more

Whether we’re apartment hunting or planning our next getaway, the amount and quality of nearby nature often plays a big role. Surrounding ourselves with greenery isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s good for our minds. Time spent in green spaces can reduce stress, sharpen our focus, and boost creativity, all while lifting our mood. But the perks don’t stop there. Green spaces can also improve air quality and lower noise pollution — real benefits, especially in urban environments.Unfort ...read more

In July 2024, scientists in Otago, New Zealand, made a stunning discovery: an elusive spade-toothed beaked whale had washed up on the shore. The whale had never been seen in the wild, and finding a recently deceased adult male meant that, for the first time, scientists could examine the species — an animal around the size of an oversized dolphin that had successfully evaded humans for much of human history.Alexander Werth, a biologist at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, received a call from ...read more

Many adults can remember the days when their screen time was limited to Saturday morning cartoons, as well as their class’s weekly visit to the computer lab to play Oregon Trail. It was a quick half-hour of fatigued oxen, snakebites, and surprise bouts of dysentery.Over the past few decades, screen time has expanded from an occasional treat to a full-day affair. People of all ages stare at screens for work, school, and entertainment. Within the last two decades, scientists have increasingly st ...read more

Although volcanic eruptions can strike when least expected, they sometimes give off warning signs that can be captured by advanced technology. One innovative way to monitor eruptions is now being put to the test at the Reykjanes Peninsula, a hotbed of volcanic activity in Iceland. In a new study, researchers have reported the successful progress of an eruption warning system that uses distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), which can anticipate volcanic activity through magma movements beneath the s ...read more