Science

The Costa’s hummingbird (Calypte costae) is a small species of hummingbird endemic to the far west region of the United States and Mexico. During breeding season, male Costa’s hummingbirds perform a high-speed dive during which they ‘sing’ to potential mates using their tail feathers. Unlike related species, male Costa’s perform their …

A partial skeleton of a megaraptorid dinosaur unearthed over a decade ago in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, has been recognized as belonging to a new species. Tratayenia rosalesi crosses a stream in what is now Patagonia, Argentina roughly 85 million years ago. Image credit: Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History. …

A team of scientists at the University of Washington has developed a new dental product that uses protein amelogenin-derived peptides to remineralize tooth enamel and treat cavities. Dogan et al developed a way to cure dental cavities. Image credit: University of Washington. Dental cavities affect nearly every age group and …

According to a new study published in the journal Chronobiology International, ‘night owls’ have a 10% higher risk of dying than ‘larks.’ Night owls have 10% higher risk of dying than morning counterparts. Image credit: Sasin Tipchai. “This is a public health issue that can no longer be ignored. We …

NASA has been without its own launch vehicle since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011. That won’t be the case for much longer. The agency hopes to begin flying the Space Launch System (SLS) in 2020 without a crew, and manned missions to deep space could start as …

NASA could have a new tool to scout for exoplanets this summer. The long-awaited Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is set to launch as soon as Monday (a little behind schedule) on a mission to survey our galactic neighborhood for exoplanets. The mission isn’t just to spot them a la Kepler, …

New research by a team of scientists from the University of Exeter and elsewhere offers an illuminating insight into iridescent colors found on the earliest known lepidopterans, which lived on our planet 200 million years ago (Mesozoic era). Ecological restoration of moths in the Cretaceous Burmese amber forest. Image credit: Dinghua …

A team of marine biologists from the University of Kansas and the Field Museum, Chicago has discovered a remarkable defensive system — ‘lachrymal saber’ — in a group of fish called stonefish. Their work is published in the journal Copeia. Stonefish are packing switchblades in their faces. Image credit: Frank …

Just three monthly doses of a nasal vaccine protected mice from allergic reactions upon exposure to peanut, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. A nasal vaccine successfully suppressed peanut allergy in mice. Image credit: Skeeze. Researchers at the University of Michigan’s Mary H. …

You have undoubtedly seen the moon, but have you ever seen it up close in glorious 4K resolution? Probably not, but you can see it right now on YouTube. NASA has uploaded a new video, created mostly from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) observations. The video takes you on a …