We’re gonna need a bigger shark size estimate. Researchers had based some informed guesses about just how massive the megalodon — a prehistoric giant fish that hunted the oceans 13 million years to 15 million years ago — was by comparing existing fossils of the extinct species to bones of the present-day great white shark.Formally called Otodus megalodon, the prehistoric predator is known not just for its size but for its distinctive serrated teeth. Because the much smaller modern-day grea ...read more

Across the South Pole’s frozen expanse, there lives only one purely terrestrial animal: a tiny insect called the Antarctic midge. This flightless creature, just 0.2 inches long, has eked out an existence in one of the world’s most unforgiving climates for some 30 million years, since its home continent split off from South America.Researchers have studied these midges for decades, documenting their impressive resistance to extreme conditions. But it was never clear how they endured the frigi ...read more

Stonehenge sits near the top of Britain’s most iconic landmarks, but a lesser-known precursor to this ancient site may be responsible for its lasting impact as an archaeological titan. The Flagstones site, a circular enclosure in Dorset, England, now predates Stonehenge according to new research, suggesting that it could possibly be the oldest structure of its kind in the country. The study, recently published in Antiquity, has established that the circular enclosure of Flagstones was constru ...read more

Microplastics. They’re in the soil; they’re in the ocean; and they’re even in the air, poised to invade our respiratory systems and to harm our health. But how, exactly, do they make their way into the atmosphere?Some studies have suggested that these tiny pieces of plastic — at most around 5 millimeters across — take to the air from the ocean. Ocean spray shoots them into the atmosphere, these studies say, positioning these minuscule pollutants to enter our bodies when we breathe. But ...read more

Skin is a marvel. It’s flexible yet firm, helps control body temperature, and protects our internal organs. It also can heal itself after certain injuries. Skin’s self-healing properties are partially behind the inspiration for new hydrogel research. Researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth have developed a new hydrogel with self-healing abilities that are similar to skin. These findings, published in Nature Materials, may lead to further developments in soft robotic ...read more

Although many of us like to indulge from time to time, it turns out that a high-fat diet can alter the brain after just a few days, even in healthy adults.A study published in Immunity & Ageing reveals that eating a diet high in saturated fat for as short as three days can cause memory problems and brain inflammation in older adults. These results add to the already lengthy list of side effects of a fatty diet and suggest that it isn’t only overweight individuals who should be worried.The ...read more

If you’re 60 or over and suffer from insomnia, you might consider lifting weights before going to bed. A study analyzing the effects of different exercises on sleep suggested that weight or resistance training is the most effective exercise to help you nod off — but some other fitness activities are helpful, too, according to a report in the BMJ Family Medicine and Community Health.The metanalysis (meaning the study combined data from many other similar studies) examined how different kinds ...read more

Any fan of TV medical dramas knows the drill. A patient in the emergency room goes into cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team springs into action. The compressor begins pumping on the patient’s chest, the airway manager initiates intubation, someone else readies the defibrillators, yells “clear,” and an electric shock jolts the patient.Tensions build. The drug manager gives a dose of epinephrine. The team leader shouts directions. And because it’s primetime television, a family memb ...read more

After a recent fossil discovery, we now have new insights into the behaviors of a group of prehistoric humans.A team of international researchers working with the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the University of Witwatersand have uncovered a major find about early human ancestors. In a study published in The Journal of Human Evolution, it is revealed that Paranthropus robustus, a species of prehistoric human, were bipedal and walked upright much like we do today. This finding helps scientist ...read more

The ozone layer over Antarctica, damaged by air pollution decades ago, has fortunately been recovering in recent years. Scientists have observed gradual ozone restoration since the 2000s, but now, one study all but confirms that this positive trend is a result of reduced ozone-depleting chemicals in the atmosphere. The study, recently published in Nature, reveals a bright spot in the current climate outlook. Testing simulations based on different climate factors, researchers seemingly confirmed ...read more