Earth & Environment
These self-healing circuit boards could help solve the world’s e-waste crisis
Every year, the pile of discarded electronics—known as e-waste—keeps growing. From broken phones and outdated laptops to worn-out appliances, our digital lives are producing...
Titan may be the liveliest place in the solar system
Every single organism on Earth, no matter the biome, the kingdom, the domain, whether it's an extremophile in a hot spring or some lithotroph...
Drunk in flight? Some birds may be sipping alcohol daily
Birds that sip nectar or snack on fruit could be getting more than just sugar—they might also be getting a bit of alcohol.
A new...
These five roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes
We all want homes that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer, without breaking the bank.
However, Australian homes built before 2003 have...
Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution
Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity's companions throughout our evolutionary history.
Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking invertebrate....
Scientists uncover secrets of a mysterious wall in the Mongolian Desert
A team of international archaeologists has made an exciting discovery about one of Asia’s least understood ancient structures—the Gobi Wall.
Stretching over 320 kilometers across...
Scientists discover chimpanzees use stones to make sounds—possibly to communicate
A new five-year study has revealed that wild chimpanzees in West Africa may be using stones to communicate with one another.
This remarkable behavior, documented...
Scientists discover iron powder can clean toxic ‘forever chemicals’ better than carbon
Researchers have found that a common and inexpensive material—iron powder—can clean up dangerous "forever chemicals" from water even better than the material most water...
Glaciers won’t bounce back for centuries—even if global warming is reversed, scientists say
A new international study has delivered a sobering message: once Earth warms beyond the critical 1.5°C limit, even temporarily, many of the world’s glaciers...
How giant ground sloths got so big—and why that was their downfall
Sloths today are known for being slow, small, and tree-loving creatures. But their ancient relatives were nothing like them.
In fact, many extinct sloths were...
Why and how do ants walk in a perfect line
In the world of ants, order isn’t optional.
These tiny insects live in colonies with millions of others, working together as a team to forage,...
Why your teeth are sensitive—and it started 465 million years ago
If you’ve ever flinched during a cold drink or a dental cleaning, you know that our teeth can be incredibly sensitive.
That sensitivity is thanks...
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Ray Dalio: I don’t know what a hedge fund is
According to wikipedia, a hedge fund is a pooled investment fund that trades in relatively liquid assets and is able to make extensive use...
3 reasons you feel hungrier and crave comfort foods when the weather turns cold
As we move through Autumn, parts of Australia are starting to see cooler weather.
For some of us, that can mean increasing feelings of hunger...
A geochemical journey from the center of the Earth
Hawaii and Iceland are tourist hotspots — and it turns out they’re popular with geochemical travelers as well.
A new Yale study suggests that throughout...
Use of public transport linked to lower obesity rate
You might think that public transportation just helps you get from point A to point B, but a recent study has found it might...
On ancient Earth, it never rained but it poured
Today, we are experiencing the dramatic impacts that even a small increase in global temperatures can have on a planet’s climate.
Now, imagine an Earth...
Chamomile tea may help control diabetes – as my research into 19th century dyes...
Chamomile – that yellow flower so often made into a tea, enjoyed before bed – is a very interesting plant.
From brain Bluetooth to ‘full RoboCop’: Where chip implants will be headed soon
In the 1987 classic film "RoboCop," the deceased Detroit cop Alex Murphy is reborn as a cyborg.
He has a robotic body and a full...
Migraines headaches linked to blood sugar problems
Have you ever wondered why some people get headaches and migraines more often? It turns out, the answer might be hidden in our genes.
Genes...