Science

It’s not a matter of if, but rather when, a large asteroid or comet impacts Earth. It has happened many times in the past, but Earth has never been home to a spacefaring species before. With enough warning, humanity could potentially avoid impacts, or at least mitigate the effects. NASA just hosted …

By faithfully copying the most popular songs, swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) create time-honored song traditions that can be just as long-lasting as human traditions, according to a new study, published in the journal Nature Communications. In fact, song traditions in swamp sparrows often last hundreds of years, with some songs …

At 150 years old, the periodic table of chemical elements is still growing. In 2016, four new elements with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118 were added to it: nihonium, moscovium, tennessine, and oganesson. It took a decade and worldwide effort to confirm these elements, and now scientists wonder: …

A research team led by scientists at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has analyzed mitochondrial DNA isolated from a 22,000-year-old panda specimen found in southern China and found that the ancient bear separated from present-day giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) around 183,000 years ago, suggesting …

New research published in the journal Scientific Reports shows the Niata cow, a now-extinct animal with a short face like a bulldog that fascinated Charles Darwin when he first saw it in Argentina 180 years ago, was a unique breed and — unlike some bulldogs — did not suffer breathing …

A new study from the University of Guelph shows that replacing half of the available carbohydrates from potatoes or rice with cooked lentils can lower blood glucose levels by more than 20% in healthy adults. The study appears in the Journal of Nutrition. Lentils significantly reduce blood glucose. Image credit: …

Explosive volcanic eruptions are the likely source of the Medusae Fossae Formation, a massive, unusual deposit of soft rock near Mars’ equator, with undulating hills and abrupt mesas, according to a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. The Medusae Fossae Formation is one of the largest sedimentary …

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has been churning out groundbreaking science ever since it went into operation in 2010. The giant particle accelerator, perched on the border of France and Switzerland, has gotten several upgrades over the years, and a new project is just getting underway now. CERN has broken …

According to a study published in the journal Cardiovascular Research, people with high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing dementia; and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to detect early signatures of neurological damage in hypertensive patients, before any symptoms of dementia occur. Hypertension is …

In an unexpected announcement, President Trump has ordered the creation of a new branch of the US military to ensure “American dominance in space.” The “Space Force” sounds like a campy Saturday morning cartoon, but it could have serious real-world ramifications. Such a military operation could run afoul of international …