Science

There is a long and intriguing history behind the human obsession with the Moon, which is thousands of years old. Nevertheless, even though people observe the Moon almost every night, there are still a number of individuals across the globe who are eager to know the truth behind the phenomenon of the changing shape of…

A cluster of shark attacks along the New South Wales coastline has unsettled swimmers and surfers, particularly in Sydney, where several incidents occurred within just two days. While shark bites are always distressing, experts say the recent surge can be explained by a rare combination of environmental and seasonal factors rather than a sudden change…

Can extreme winter really cause trees to ‘explode’? /Image: X Across parts of the world, winter has settled in hard. Sub-zero temperatures, sudden freezes, and heavy snow are affecting many regions, and with them an unexpected side effect: sharp cracking sounds echoing through parks, streets, and back gardens. Online, dramatic videos capturing the noise, some…

For over a century, it was assumed that science had a handle on the big categories of life on Earth: plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms were the stanchions of biological classification. Now, however, a towering ancient organism called Prototaxites has forced scientists to reconsider those assumptions in their entirety. Reaching as tall as 26 feet…

This meteorite from Alaska could rewrite the story of how Earth got its water (AI-generated) Earth is often described as a water world, but how that water arrived has never been settled. For years, the focus has rested on asteroids and comets delivering hydrogen long after the planet formed. A meteorite studied recently is now…

The Iberian Peninsula sits where Europe and Africa lean into each other, a place long known for pressure and friction in the crust. New research suggests something subtler is also happening. Parts of Iberia appear to be rotating very slowly, almost imperceptibly, under the weight of larger tectonic forces. The motion is not something that…

BENGALURU: Lightning does more than light up the sky and shake the ground. A new India-wide study shows that powerful lightning strikes can briefly disturb the ionosphere, the electrically charged layer of the atmosphere crucial for satellite navigation and radio communication.The research, published in Remote Sensing Letters, combines data from Isro’s Lightning Detection Sensor Network…

For decades, scientists have debated a simple question with a surprisingly complicated answer: could Australia’s extinct giant kangaroos actually hop like the ones alive today? Modern kangaroos are built for efficient movement, using powerful hind legs and spring-like tendons to travel long distances. But when ancient species grew to enormous sizes, some weighing up to…

For years, the public face of ocean pollution has been the same: floating bottles, drifting bags, and beaches littered with waste. But scientists say the most dangerous build-up is happening far below the surface, on the seafloor, where debris settles and remains for decades. A global scientific review led by Professor Miquel Canals at the…

Sierra Space has been working on Dream Chaser for years, mostly out of view, as schedules slipped and plans adjusted. This week, the company set out a different path for the spaceplane’s first flight. Instead of beginning with a cargo run to the International Space Station, Dream Chaser will fly first as a free-flying demonstration…