This illustration shows gamma rays bursts and their surrounding “cocoons” blasting from a hypernova. (Credit: Anna Serena Esposito)
The link between gamma ray bursts (GRBs) and supernovae has been a confusing one. GRBs are highly energetic jets that blast from massive star explosions, but not all powerful supernovae produce them. Their sporadic nature has puzzled scientists for decades, but now, they might finally have some answers.
During a recent study of a distant GRB, researche ...read more
Tiny fossil shark teeth trapped in the matrix — that's the matrix of rock and other material that once encased the world's most famous T. rex — represent a new species. The find is helping researchers recreate a Cretaceous environment that might not be what you'd expect.
Sue the T. rex has called The Field Museum in Chicago home for nearly 20 years, and the iconic fossil is a huge draw for tourists and paleontologists alike. With more than 90 percent of it recovered, it's ...read more
There's been an interesting discussion on Twitter about senior scientists who pressure their students or postdocs into scientific misconduct or otherwise poor science:
Bullying students into providing the "right" results: research misconduct by proxy?
This is probably among the worst but receives little attention
— Simon Eickhoff (@INM7_ISN) January 19, 2019
Today, I was made aware of a site called Bullied Into Bad Science which aims to tackle this problem.
Founded by behavior ...read more
What makes humans stand out among primates?
We’re naked and unusually sweaty.
Yes, we’re also distinguished by upright walking, big brains and advanced culture. But here I want to focus on our sweaty bare bods.
Millions of years back our ancestors were likely as hairy as chimpanzees and gorillas. Over the course of human evolution, our lineage traded its fur coat for a covering of minuscule body hairs and a few ample patches over the head, armpits and nether region.
Why we became ...read more
When most of us learn about the solar system, it seems like a pretty well-ordered place. Our sun formed first, about five billion years ago, and the planets appeared a little later. As a very general trend, these planets grew larger and less dense the farther from the sun they formed.
But this story leaves out the chaotic dynamics and frenetic reshuffling that occurred when our solar system was young. Nature may like order eventually, but that order evolves out of pure cha ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine
