Meet the Adorable Quokka, Known as the ‘Happiest Animal on Earth’

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

The quokka, an adorable marsupial hailing from southwestern Australia, is bound to put a smile on anyone’s face. They’re small and fuzzy, and the distinctive shape of their mouth gives quokkas the appearance of an ever-present grin. And despite their limited range, these herbivorous marsupials have captured the hearts of millions around the world — the viral #quokkaselfie trend on social media features thousands of selfies taken with quokkas.  Yet as the quokka population rapidly declin ...read more

40-Foot-Long Giant Squids Dwarf Life on Land Because of Deep-Sea Gigantism

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

The deeper you go, the bigger they get. This is an adage that applies to much of the life eking out an existence in the crushing depths of our oceans. Near the surface, tiny crabs are terrified of larger predators. In the deep, 13-foot-wide giant spider crabs are usually the predators themselves. Perhaps the most infamous example of this deep-sea gigantism is the giant squid, capable of attaining lengths of over 40 feet and possibly even longer should it stretch out its tremendous tentacles. Gi ...read more

Earth’s Magnetic Field Is Almost Similar to What it Was Like 3.7 Billion Years Ago

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

The magnetic field shields Earth from cosmic radiation and the solar wind that the Sun pelts the planet with. In a new study, researchers found our current magnetic field could be the same to what it was 3.7 billion years ago.The findings published in the Journal of Geophysical Research are scientists' oldest estimates of Earth's magnetic field strength. It was found using rocks dating 3.7 billion years old. "This is a really important step forward as we try and determine the role of the ancient ...read more

Ancient Salmon Resembles Aquatic Warthog, Not Saber-Toothed Fish

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

A giant, tusked salmon was once thought to resemble a fish version of a saber-toothed tiger. But turns out, it looked more closely to an aquatic warthog. A newly reported fossil find is now prompting paleontologists to rethink the nickname of the largest known salmon species — Oncorhynchus rastrosus, according to an article in PLOS ONE. The fish, which grew to nearly nine feet long, lived 3 million to 5 million years ago in the Pacific Northwest.A Saber-Toothed Salmon?When paleontologists firs ...read more

From a Pink Moon to Blue, the Moon’s Colors Aren’t Always Colorful

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

Between the solar eclipse and the upcoming Pink Moon, there are many events in the night sky to take note of in 2024. The moon itself has different phases and different colors that represent changing seasons. Thus giving us the names Pink or Blue Moon.If you’re hoping to see the moon take on a new hue, though, you’re out of luck. The reason behind the Pink Moon’s colorful name is not what you may expect.The Pink Moon Represents a FlowerThe Pink Moon is a full moon that takes place during t ...read more

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