Study says Enceladusâ inner complexity is good for life
The interior of Saturn’s moon Enceladus is geochemically complex, making its subsurface ocean quite habitable for possible life, according to a new study from Southwest Research Institute.
Microplastics from ocean fishing can ‘hide’ in deep sediments
(American Chemical Society) Microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans is a growing problem, and most studies of the issue have focused on land-based sources, such as discarded plastic bags or water bottles. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology have linked microplastics in China’s Beibu Gulf with heavy fishing activities. Surprisingly, many of the particles were hidden in deep sediments on the ocean floor, which could have led scientists to underestimate the extent of the contamination.
9 quirky facts about the platypus
It’s possible to run out of adjectives when it comes to describing the platypus. This unique creature, endemic to Australia, has confounded scientists since its discovery. We still don’t know a great deal about the semi-aquatic animal, or the secrets…
Bizarre front-footed dinosaur tracks make it look like these behemoths did handstands
Sauropods were the largest animals to ever live on land. They were behemoths with long necks and equally long tails, and they needed four thick, pillar-like legs to support their massive frames. Or did they? Back in 2007, paleontologists unearthed…
Build Your Own Solutions to the Climate Crisis With the En-Roads Climate Simulator – EcoWatch
<h2>Frozen but Abundant</h2><p>Antarctica separated from South America 35 million years ago, and its climate started to change. It began to grow <a href=”https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/quickfacts/icesheets.html” target=”_blank”>ice sheets</a> – masses of glacial land ice covering thousands of square miles. As plate tectonics shifted…
Is there a 2nd planet orbiting Proxima Centauri?
Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our sun, may have a second planet, according to researchers from the National Institute of Astrophysics. If confirmed, it would be an ideal candidate for direct imaging by new upcoming space telescopes.
Marburg virus found in Sierra Leone bats
Scientists have detected Marburg virus in fruit bats in Sierra Leone, marking the first time the deadly virus has been found in West Africa. Eleven Egyptian rousette fruit bats tested positive for active Marburg virus infection. The presence of Marburg virus, a close relative to Ebola virus that also causes hemorrhagic disease in people, was detected in advance of any reported cases of human illness in Sierra Leone.
New species of Allosaurus discovered in Utah
(University of Utah) A remarkable new species of meat-eating dinosaur, Allosaurus jimmadseni, was unveiled at the Natural History Museum of Utah. The huge carnivore inhabited the flood plains of western North America during the Late Jurassic Period, between 157-152 million years ago, making it the geologically oldest species of Allosaurus, predating the more well-known state fossil of Utah, Allosaurus fragilis.
Black rock from Vesuvius eruption is actually someone's super-heated brain
A glassy black rock found inside the charred skull of an unfortunate victim of the Mount Vesuvius eruption has turned out to be a 2,000-year-old vitrified human brain, reports Phys.org. The remarkable finding is a testament to just how swift…
Researchers discover 4 new walking sharks
[embedded content] “Jaws” portrayed sharks as man-hunting villains. “Sharknado” imagined a world where they attack from twisters. But in the real world, sharks are much more complex. Now, researchers have discovered new species of sharks that have evolved to walk,…
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