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Humans' big brains may not be the reason for difficult childbirth, chimp study suggests
By Kristina Killgrove published
Complicated births may not have arisen in humans as a trade-off between our need for big brains and pelvises suitable for upright walking, new research in chimps suggests.
'Purple tunic' from royal tomb belonged to Alexander the Great, scholar claims — but not everyone agrees
By Owen Jarus published
A fragment of cloth found in a royal tomb in Greece decades ago might be the remains of a tunic once worn by Alexander the Great, a new study claims.
Cretaceous 'Pompeii' of China isn't what we thought
By Jacklin Kwan published
Incredibly well preserved dinosaurs at China fossil site were thought to have been buried in huge volcanic eruptions, similar to the Mount Vesuvius that covered the city of Pompeii 2,000 years ago. But new research says this isn't how things happened.
Pando: The world's largest tree and heaviest living organism
By Sascha Pare published
Pando is a giant aspen clone in central Utah that has been regrowing parts of itself for up to 80,000 years — but new threats mean the plant is now in decline.
Surprised Russian school kids discover Arctic island has vanished after comparing satellite images
By Harry Baker published
A student-led project comparing satellite images of the Arctic has discovered that a small Russian island has recently vanished after "completely melting" away.
World's 1st wooden satellite arrives at ISS for key orbital test
By Mike Wall published
The first-ever wooden satellite, called LignoSat, arrived at the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule on Nov. 5 to perform some key in-space tests.
King cobra mystery that's puzzled scientists for 188 years finally solved
By Elise Poore published
Scientists identified four new species of king cobra from 154 museum specimens.
Hubble watches neutron stars collide and explode to create black hole and 'birth atoms'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have used a range of telescopes, including Hubble, to watch as particles dance around a neutron star collision that created the smallest black hole ever seen.
What were Carl Sagan's contributions to science? Remembering the 'Cosmos' star on his 90th birthday.
By Jean-Luc Margot published
On what would've been the astronomer's 90th trip around the sun, here's a look at his legacy as a scientist, advocate and communicator.
We finally know why dogs shake when they're wet
By Stephanie Pappas published
We now know the nerve responsible for dogs shaking water all over your dry clothes.
Armored dinosaur could withstand the impact of a high-speed car crash, thanks to the 'bulletproof vest' over its plate armor
By Sierra Bouchér published
The new research suggests that this dinosaur's armor was adapted for fighting between members of Borealopelta markmitchelli.
'Crumb trails' of meteoroids could reveal potential 'planet-killer' comets years before they reach Earth
By Abha Jain published
Potentially deadly comets could be spotted many years in advance by following the meteoroid trails they leave near Earth, new research shows.
Incredibly rare, ghostly white shark discovered off Albania
By Melissa Hobson published
A ghostly white angular roughshark found near Sazan Island, Albania, is the first example of leucism ever recorded in the species.
Death of alien-hunting Arecibo Telescope traced to cable issues 3 years earlier, 'alarming' report finds
By Stephanie Pappas published
A scathing new report points to unclear protocols and multiple failures to raise alarms at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico before the collapse of the site's radio telescope in 2020.
Perseverance rover watches 'googly eye' solar eclipse from Mars
By Samantha Mathewson published
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover was treated to a 'googly eye' solar eclipse on Sept. 30 as the planet's moon Phobos passed in front of the sun.
Pompeii victims aren't who we thought they were, DNA analysis reveals
By Margherita Bassi published
An ancient-DNA analysis of victims in Pompeii who died in Mount Vesuvius' eruption reveals some unusual relations between the people who died together.
Scientists just got 1 step closer to creating a 'superheavy' element that is so big, it will add a new row to the periodic table
By Harry Baker published
Scientists have discovered a new way of creating superheavy elements by firing supercharged ion beams at dense atoms. The team believes this method could potentially help synthesize the hypothetical "element 120," which would be heavier than any known element.
Future VR headsets could use a new type of lens inspired by holographic tech
By Andrea Saravia Pérez published
Future VR headsets could use a new type of lens inspired by holographic devices. The bilayer bifocal lens relies on external voltage to change the intensities in the foci.
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