In 2023, there was a warning that sharks off the coast of Florida could be chowing down on bales of cocaine deposited by traffickers.Then, a high-profile experiment showcased during Shark Week tested out this warning. Hitting the headlines, the possibility of cocaine-fueled sharks became a hot topic. Despite the ensuing furor, this supposed problem remains highly skeptical.“The experiments that were done for the TV show were really just to show people that there's a connection between our impa ...read more
A surprising technique has helped scientists observe how Earth’s oceans are changing, and it’s not using specialized robots or artificial intelligence. It’s tagging seals.Several species of seals live around and on Antarctica and regularly dive more than 100 meters in search of their next meal. These seals are experts at swimming through the vigorous ocean currents that make up the Southern Ocean. Their tolerance for deep waters and ability to navigate rough currents make these adventurous ...read more
Through countless eons of birth and death, our ancient ancestors have passed down their burial and funerary practices to the present day. Some of these customs have remained the same, while others have faded into history. Yet, regardless of whether these practices still exist today, some of the graves and cemeteries left behind by historical humans, from those located in caves or beneath giant, towering monuments, have lived on for millennia. Learn more about some of these graveyards, as well a ...read more
The search for Earth-like planets around other stars is one of the great endeavors in modern science. Astronomers have discovered numerous candidates that orbit other stars in the Goldilocks zone where liquid water is likely to exist. The next step is to study the atmosphere of these exoplanets, looking for evidence that they are Earth-like. The huge distances of these planets, their tiny sizes and the even smaller signatures from their atmospheres make this a horrendously difficult task. Which ...read more
Roads are symbols of a functioning society. They make the transportation of people and goods possible and they date back to 4000 B.C. Sumerians built the first known stone-paved roads in Mesopotamia —modern-day Iraq. And since then roads have held societies together and made trade between other civilizations possible. Here are some of the oldest and most fascinating roads in history. The Silk Road(Credit: Dimitrios Karamitros/Shutterstock) The Silk Road wasn’t actually a road. Even the name ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine