Not just boring old bones: 6 incredible dinosaur fossils

While huge dinosaur skeletons sure look impressive towering over us in museums, there’s only so much we can learn from dusty old bones. But occasionally more striking specimens turn up bearing skin or feathers, encased in gemstones, and even preserving… Continue reading Not just boring old bones: 6 incredible dinosaur fossils→

Study shows why trees won’t benefit much from extra CO2 in the air

The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing steadily, having recently reached the highest concentration in human history. While that’s undoubtedly bad news for the planet, one argued silver lining is that plants are better off due to m… Continue reading Study shows why trees won’t benefit much from extra CO2 in the air→

Your teeth may record your life’s most important biological events

Sediment layers in rock or tree rings can hold clues to what the environment was like at different times in the past – and the same idea may even apply to your own teeth. Scientists at New York University have found that the material that makes up toot… Continue reading Your teeth may record your life’s most important biological events→

Stanford’s ankle exoskeleton boosts running speed by 10 percent

Engineers at Stanford have developed motorized exoskeletons that can be strapped to a user’s legs to make running easier. In its current form it might not be something you’d wear down to the park for a jog, but it could eventually find use as a form of… Continue reading Stanford’s ankle exoskeleton boosts running speed by 10 percent→

Scientists uncover how trans fats contribute to cell death

Trans fats, or trans fatty acids, are already known to be damaging to health, contributing to conditions like cardiovascular disease. Now we may know more about just how they cause this damage, as scientists at Tohoku University have found that certain… Continue reading Scientists uncover how trans fats contribute to cell death→

NASA pulls out incredibly high-res global map of asteroid Bennu

With OSIRIS-REx in close orbit around Bennu, we’ve already seen some pretty amazing up-close shots of the asteroid. And now, NASA has released a full global map of this rocky little world in unprecedented resolution.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, Sci… Continue reading NASA pulls out incredibly high-res global map of asteroid Bennu→

Extremophile microbes found thriving half a mile beneath the seafloor

Every time we think we’ve figured out the limits of where life can exist, we discover extremophile organisms thriving under conditions we’d previously ruled out. The latest example comes from studies of rock cores drilled from the floor of the Indian O… Continue reading Extremophile microbes found thriving half a mile beneath the seafloor→

Stem cell technique winds back aging in human cells

Stanford scientists may have found a way to essentially return older cells to a more youthful state. The adult cells are treated with a mix of proteins from early embryonic development, which removes many of the molecular signs of aging. The cells clos… Continue reading Stem cell technique winds back aging in human cells→

Oldest ancestor of almost all animals found in Australian fossils

Researchers have discovered the fossilized remains of the oldest known ancestor of almost every animal in existence today. The creature, named Ikaria wariootia, is a wormlike animal about the size of a grain of rice, and it appears to be the earliest e… Continue reading Oldest ancestor of almost all animals found in Australian fossils→

Loop-loaded nanosheets accelerate discovery of artificial antibodies

The body does a pretty good job of protecting itself from invading viruses and bacteria. Antibodies are one of the main lines of defense, but when a new threat emerges it takes time for the body to produce new antibodies to fight it. A new study led by… Continue reading Loop-loaded nanosheets accelerate discovery of artificial antibodies→