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New Fossil Discovery Could Kick Lucy Out of the Human Family Tree

A new fossil discovery in Ethiopia challenges Lucy's status as the direct ancestor of modern humans. The Burtele foot, found in sediment dating to 3.4 million years ago, has been linked to Australopithecus deyiremeda, a species that coexisted with Lucy. This discovery suggests that upright walking evolved in multiple forms and that different species had distinct dietary habits and ecological niches.

/aliens

Meet The Nuclear Base Employee Abducted By Aliens (Ft. Mario Woods)

This video features an interview with Mario Woods, a former U.S. Air Force security responder, who recounts his 1977 encounter with a massive spherical craft at Ellsworth Air Force Base, discussing the experience's physical and psychological effects, the stigma around reporting such incidents, and potential government cover-ups.

/aliens

Bank of England must plan for a financial crisis triggered by Aliens

Former Bank of England expert Helen McCaw urges the UK to prepare for a financial crisis if the US government confirms the existence of alien life. McCaw, a former senior analyst in financial security, wrote to the Bank of England’s governor, Andrew Bailey, suggesting that the acknowledgment of technologically advanced non-human intelligence could lead to bank collapses and extreme price volatility in financial markets.

/news

Mysterious Underwater 'Atlantis' Is Like a Lost City in The Ocean

This article explores the underwater geological formation off Japan's Yonaguni Island, which resembles a lost city. Most geologists believe it is a natural creation, shaped by tectonic stresses and erosion over thousands of years. However, some argue it may have been modified by human hands before being submerged. The formation's unique appearance has sparked debate and fascination.

/conspiracy

A Giant Underground World Has Been Found in Antarctica, This Wild Map Is the Proof

This article reports on the discovery of a hidden network of rivers and mountains beneath Antarctica's ice, as revealed by a new, highly detailed map. Published in the journal Science, the map was created using satellite data and ice-flow modeling, and it shows how the buried topography influences the movement and stability of the ice above. The map reveals features ranging from 1.2 to 18.6 miles beneath the surface, including river channels and steep valleys, indicating a much more rugged terrain than previously thought. This new dataset offers a clearer foundation for future research on ice sheet evolution, sea-level rise, and climate interactions.

/offbeat

Fossil may solve mystery of what one of the weirdest ever animals ate

A fossil re-examination suggests Hallucigenia, a bizarre Cambrian period animal, may have been a scavenger, feeding on the corpse of a comb jelly. The fossil, found in the Burgess Shale deposits in British Columbia, Canada, shows Hallucigenia spines on a damaged comb jelly, indicating they swarmed on it and fed, probably by suction feeding.

/science

11d

Fluid gears rotate without teeth, offering new mechanical flexibility

This article reports on a breakthrough by New York University scientists who have developed a gear mechanism that uses fluids instead of interlocking teeth to generate rotation. This innovation promises to create a new generation of mechanical devices that are more flexible and durable than traditional gears, which have origins dating back to ancient China. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, demonstrates how fluid flows can function like gear teeth, offering new capabilities for controlling rotation speed and direction.

/science

13d

Astronomers baffled by 'mysterious disruptor' with a mass of 1 million suns and a black hole for a heart

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious disruptor with a mass of 1 million suns and a possible black hole at its center, located 11 billion light-years away. This dark object, found via gravitational effects, challenges current dark matter models and could represent a new class of astronomical phenomena.

/science

13d

When the oceans died and life changed forever

Around 445 million years ago, the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction caused a rapid climate collapse that devastated ocean life. This event, characterized by the spread of massive glaciers and a shift to an icehouse climate, wiped out 85% of marine species. However, jawed vertebrates, which survived in isolated marine refuges, gained an advantage and diversified into many forms. This ancient reset significantly influenced the evolution of life on Earth, leading to the dominance of jawed vertebrates in modern marine ecosystems.

/news

13d

US, China Capital Flows Reverse as Global Economic Order Shifts

As the US draws back, China is dispersing capital globally, leading the rest of the world to confront a fundamental change in their economic relationships with both superpowers.

/science

14d

Quantum entanglement speed is measured for the first time, and it's too fast to comprehend

This news article explains how scientists have measured the speed of quantum entanglement for the first time using attoseconds. The research team, led by Prof. Joachim Burgdörfer from TU Wien, used advanced computer simulations and laser experiments to observe the process on attosecond timescales. The findings could have significant implications for quantum technologies such as cryptography and computing.

/science

14d

A new theory of gravity could explain cosmic acceleration without dark energy

A new study proposes that cosmic acceleration might be explained without dark energy by using an extended version of Einstein’s gravity known as Finsler gravity. Researchers found that this approach can naturally predict an accelerating universe, hinting at a potential new understanding of the universe's expansion.

/offbeat

15d

Humanity Just Received a 10-Second Signal From 13 Billion Light Years Away

A mysterious 10-second signal from 13 billion light years away has been detected by the SVOM satellite and confirmed by the James Webb Space Telescope. This ancient explosion, originating from a supernova that occurred when the universe was just 730 million years old, is the most distant of its kind ever observed. The detection challenges previous assumptions about early universe star formation, as the supernova closely resembles modern supernovae, suggesting that star death processes were already well underway early in the universe's history.

/offbeat

16d

That Little Ping-Pong Ball in a Guinness Can Is an Engineering Marvel

This article from The Chive explains the engineering marvel behind the widget ball in a Guinness can, ensuring the same creamy and thick pint experience as draft beer.

/science

16d

Scientists Stunned by Unexpected Oasis Found 2.5 Miles Under the Arctic Ocean

Scientists have made an astonishing discovery of a thriving deep-sea ecosystem 2.5 miles beneath the Arctic Ocean. The Freya mounds, found in the Greenland Sea, host unique life forms that survive in extreme conditions through chemosynthesis. This discovery challenges existing knowledge about Arctic deep-sea ecosystems and highlights the importance of understanding methane's role in global carbon cycling.

/science

17d

NASA telescope combines 100 maps of the universe into one: 'every astronomer is going to find something of value here'

NASA's SPHEREx telescope has combined 100 maps of the universe into one, offering unprecedented details of the night sky. The telescope, which splits incoming light into 102 distinct infrared colors, will allow scientists to chart the positions of hundreds of millions of galaxies in three dimensions and study stars, dust, and other cosmic objects in detail. This new map is expected to reveal insights into cosmic inflation and the distribution of galaxies, potentially helping scientists understand the universe's early growth.

/news

17d

Philippines evacuates 3,000 people after activity increases at Mayon Volcano

The Philippines has evacuated nearly 3,000 villagers from the foothills of Mayon Volcano due to increased volcanic activity, raising the alert level to 3. Officials report intermittent rockfalls and pyroclastic flows, though it's uncertain if this will lead to a major eruption.

/offbeat

17d

“We had never seen anything like this”: this squid proves the deep sea still hides countless mysteries

This article from Futura-Sciences describes a surprising discovery of an unknown deep-sea squid, half-buried in sediment and upside down, which could change our understanding of life in the deep sea. The squid's camouflage and passive trapping behavior suggest it may be evading predators or luring prey. This discovery highlights the vast unexplored nature of the deep sea and the potential threats from deep-sea mining.

/science

17d

Clear and definitive evidence of liquid water, not just ancient ice, found on Mars

New evidence from NASA's Curiosity rover shows that Mars had shallow, ice-free lakes 3.7 billion years ago, indicating a warmer and thicker atmosphere. The discovery of wave ripples in Gale Crater suggests the presence of open water, extending the potential window for microbial habitability on Mars. This finding also provides valuable information for future explorers and offers insights into the planet's climate history.

/science

17d

Free-floating planet drifting through space tracked by scientists

Scientists have tracked a free-floating planet drifting through space, determining its mass and direction using a combination of Earth-based telescopes and a space observatory. The planet, approximately the mass of Saturn and 10,000 light years away, likely formed in a protoplanetary disc and was ejected from its region of origin. This discovery could change with the launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in 2027.

/news

18d

Donald Trump’s Venezuela action raises threat for China’s oil supplies

The article discusses how Donald Trump's actions regarding Venezuela have raised concerns among Chinese producers about potential similar US interventions in Iran, which could disrupt their access to discounted crude oil supplies.

/science

18d

Ancient skeletons reveal viruses embedded in human DNA

Researchers have reconstructed ancient herpesvirus genomes from Iron Age and medieval Europeans, revealing that HHV-6 has been infecting humans for at least 2,500 years. Some people inherited the virus directly in their DNA, passing it down across generations. The study shows that these viruses evolved alongside humans—and that one strain eventually lost its ability to integrate into our chromosomes. It’s the first time this long, intimate relationship has been proven with ancient genetic evidence.

/science

18d

Scientists Examined Jupiter's Moon Europa, And Made A Concerning Discovery

This article discusses a concerning discovery about Jupiter's moon Europa, which may not support life as previously thought. Researchers found that Europa's ocean, hidden beneath its icy shell, lacks the geological activity necessary for life, such as hydrothermal vents and tectonic movements. This conclusion challenges earlier optimism about Europa's potential as a habitat for extraterrestrial life.

/offbeat

18d

Doomed ants send a final scent to save their colony

Ant pupae that are fatally sick release a special scent that warns the rest of the colony. This signal prompts worker ants to disinfect them with formic acid, stopping the infection before it can spread. This behavior helps ensure the colony's long-term survival. Researchers found that only pupae too sick to recover send this scent, showing just how finely tuned the colony’s early-warning system is.

/offbeat

18d

We Emit a Visible Light That Vanishes When We Die, Surprising Study Says

We are light!

/news

18d

Lithium deposit valued at $1.5 trillion has been discovered in the U.S.

A recently discovered lithium deposit in Oregon's McDermitt Caldera, valued at $1.5 trillion, has sparked debate over its potential benefits for electric vehicle supply chains and the environmental impact on local wildlife and cultural sites. The deposit, estimated to contain 20–40 million metric tons of lithium, could significantly boost domestic battery production. However, concerns have been raised by local communities and tribes about the potential harm to ecosystems and sacred sites. The proposal by HiTech Minerals Inc. to test for lithium has faced criticism for insufficient public consultation. While some see the deposit as an opportunity for economic development, others argue that the ecological and cultural costs may outweigh the benefits.

/news

18d

Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes off the coast of Mindanao Island in Philippines

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines on Wednesday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The quake, which occurred at 11:02 a.m. local time at a depth of 42 kilometers, had its epicentre about 47 kilometres from the coastal town of Manay. Although there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the institute warned of potential aftershocks and damage near the epicentre. The Philippines, located in the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent and often severe earthquakes due to tectonic plate interactions.

/science

18d

Gigantic “hidden ocean” discovered 700 kilometers beneath Earth’s surface

Scientists have discovered a gigantic 'hidden ocean' approximately 700 kilometers beneath Earth's surface, locked within the deep mantle rock. This reservoir, held in a blue mineral called ringwoodite, contains roughly three times the amount of water as all the surface oceans combined. This discovery suggests that Earth's water may have originated from within the planet, offering insights into the stability of our planet's water cycle and the sustainability of its biosphere.

/news

Dec 21st

Why the world is running out of frankincense

Frankincense, a resin from Boswellia trees, is facing depletion due to overharvesting, climate change, and beetle outbreaks. The Horn of Africa, a primary production region, is particularly affected. Efforts to promote sustainable harvesting and traceability are underway, but challenges remain, including economic pressures on harvesters and the lack of global certification.

/news

Dec 21st

‘I feel special, in my heart’: thousands gather at Stonehenge for winter solstice

Thousands of people, including druids and pagans, gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. The event attracted visitors from around the world, who came to witness the sunrise through the south-eastern arches of the historical site. The gathering was marked by a diverse crowd, sharing a sense of community and tradition.