Science News

Why did we wait so long for the bicycle? (2019)

The bicycle wasn't invented until the late 1800s despite being mechanically simple, due to a combination of factors…

There's a reason child vaccination rates are falling - and it's not social media

As child immunisation rates fall across the UK, one clinic in west Yorkshire is taking aggressive steps to boost…

Research roundup: 6 cool science stories we almost missed

Also: Cyborg diving suits for cockroaches, why sleepy sperm whales blow bubbles, Betelgeuse's companion star.

US reports first two deaths linked to 'explosive diarrhoea' outbreak

The illness caused by parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated food or water is not generally…

The Dunning-Kruger Effect Is Probably Not Real

Recent academic scrutiny suggests the Dunning-Kruger effect, a widely cited phenomenon claiming that incompetent people…

Taylor Farms Has Rewritten Its Cyclospora Statement Four Times in Sixteen Days

Why sitting under a parasol is barely cooler than being in the sun

A beach umbrella might protect you from sunburn, but when it comes to keeping you cool, it makes surprisingly little…

SpaceX is set to acquire 130,000 acres of marshland in southern Louisiana

A Louisiana launch site would offer several significant advantages.

Utah produced more power from solar than any other source in May, a new first

In May 2026, Utah generated more electricity from solar power than any other single energy source for the first time.

Wind and solar overtake fossil fuels in Germany for the first time

In 2025, wind and solar power generated 225 terawatt hours of electricity in Germany, surpassing fossil fuels' 217…

Less Coffee, Better Sleep

After reducing his daily coffee intake from 4-5 large cups to a single cup, the author experienced significant…

Are beef-liver or standard iron supplements better for boosting iron?

Beef-liver supplements are said to be more effective at raising iron levels than standard tablets, but is it true?

The Computational Theory of Mind (2015)

# Summary The Computational Theory of Mind (CTM) proposes that the mind functions as a computational system capable of…

Has the New Cocaine Arrived?

# Summary 3-MMC, a synthetic cathinone drug created by Israeli chemist "Dr.

Mathematics Without Mathematicians

OpenAI announced that an unreleased AI model solved ten open mathematics problems, prompting the author to address…

Plug-in solar is coming. Plug-in batteries should follow

Plug-in batteries could provide significant bill savings for renters, flat dwellers, and low-income households who…

Deep-sea vehicles spot 'alien' sharks deep beneath the waves in the Pacific

Why Is Europe Burning?

Europe is experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season, with Spain recording its largest wildfire in history—the…

Unraveling the mysteries of habit formation

Researchers at Kyoto University identified two distinct neural pathways in the mouse brain that control different…

AI opens new era in cognitive studies of wild primates

Ginger hair portraits show unexpected 'golden thread' connecting Americans

For Kieran Dodds, photographing people with red hair has become something of an obsession over the past decade or more.

How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight fire

As Europe faces its worst wildfires in decades, Australia offers lessons in disaster preparedness.

Fermi Paradox

The Fermi paradox highlights the apparent contradiction between the high likelihood of extraterrestrial civilizations…

Here's how engineers plan to save the satellite sent to save NASA's Swift mission

"We believe that a capture of Swift, an attempted capture of Swift, is very much in the cards."

Italy putting nearly all major cities on highest heat alert

Some 19 major Italian cities - including Rome, Milan and Naples - are already on red alert, and by Monday all but two…

Current Ebola outbreak worst ever in DR Congo, WHO says

The current strain has so far killed 1,587 people, and there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.

How fruit flies chase invisible ribbons of smell to get to their source

Tracking smells in turbulent air takes a keen sense of direction and sharp memory.

Not just Neanderthals: Ghost lineage in Africa left its mark on our DNA

Some group with no modern descendants contributed a lot to our genomes.

Doctors took a look at man's painful shoulder—they found the joint was missing

The term "Milwaukee Shoulder Syndrome" was coined in 1981, based on cases in four women.