In 1863, an obscure chemist named Angelo Mariani from Corsica arrived in Paris. Coming from a long line of doctors and chemists, Mariani set up shop in a modest Parisian quarter and began unlocking the secrets of Erythroxylum coca, the Andean coca leaf, then a legal drug. Three years later, at age 25, Mariani had mastered the art of extracting cocaine and blending it with wine. Delighted with the results of his experiments, he launched Vin Mariani two years later. The Start of Vin Mariani (Coc ...read more
Archaeologists and anthropologists agree that the Neanderthals were accomplished hunters, but what was the source of their skill? How did they seize and slaughter their prey, and with what tools and techniques? The answers, these specialists say, are imbedded in the archaeological record. Containing an assortment of hints into Neanderthal hunting habits — including their remains, tools and trash — this record reveals that the Neanderthals thrust or threw their spears into their prey simultan ...read more
The dinosaurs knew a smaller, dimmer sun than we do today. And we’re in the last legs of the viability of life on Earth. In about 500 million years, our sun will brighten to the point that it will trigger a runaway greenhouse effect on the Earth. The oceans will evaporate, locking in more heat in the atmosphere, which will cause even more evaporation, which will heat up the planet more, leading to an out-of-control feedback loop. While today, we know our parent star as the source of light and ...read more
This story was originally published in our Mar/Apr 2023 issue. Click here to subscribe to read more stories like this one. While paging through the book Space Physiology and Medicine in 1995, Senator John Glenn spotted a chart that captured his imagination. Listed were 52 kinds of physical changes routinely experienced in space by orbiting astronauts, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular difficulties and alterations in the distribution of body fluids. Th e 73-year-old Glenn, who had spent ye ...read more
If the mom and pup Galápagos sea lions in the photo above seem content, it could be that we’re simply projecting human emotions onto them. Or it may just be that that their bellies are full with fish. In fact, barring close encounters with rapacious sharks, they’ve probably had it pretty good lately — thanks to La Niña. Now in its third year, the climate phenomenon typically brings a bounty of food for marine animals foraging in the waters of the Galápagos Islands. But now, according t ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine