A long-lost moon could explain Mars' weird shape and extreme terrain
Unlike the other planets in the solar system, Mars is distinctly triaxial, meaning it is an ellipsoid with different sizes along all three axes.
Planet Earth
'I have never written of a stranger organ': The rise of the placenta and how it helped make us human
"Human evolution has occurred both due to, and in spite of, the placenta. Every pregnancy, unthinkingly, must navigate a careful path through it. Every menstruation is testament to it. It is partly why menopause exists, to give individuals an escape from the energetic costs associated with its imposition."
LATEST ARTICLES
Health
Color-blind people may be less picky eaters. Here's why.
Seeing the world with a restricted color palate seems to tone down an emotion-based resistance to new foods.
Animals
Angular roughshark: The pig-faced shark that grunts when captured
An angular roughshark pulled from the water near Elba, an Italian island near Tuscany.
What are tardigrades, and why are they nearly indestructible?
Reference Tardigrades, often called water bears or moss piglets, are near-microscopic animals that are extremely resilient.
1st tardigrade fossils ever discovered hint at how they survived Earth's biggest mass extinction
Detailed 3D images of the first tardigrade fossils ever discovered help scientists predict when tardigrades evolved their near-indestructibility — a trait that might have helped them survive multiple mass extinctions.
Human Behavior
Science news this week: 'Thorin' the last Neanderthal and a 'smiley face' on Mars
Sept. 14, 2024: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Physics & Mathematics
Physicists unveil 1D gas made of pure light
Physicists have created a one dimensional gas out of light particles for the first time. Studying how the photon gas behaves could help researchers discover some yet-unknown quantum optical effects.
Chemistry
Why doesn't stainless steel rust?
The special chemistry of this shiny iron alloy creates a protective layer on its surface that prevents it from rusting.
Tech
Common AI models believe racist stereotypes about African Americans that predate the Civil Rights movement — and they 'try to hide it when confronted'
When exposed to terms common in different racial dialects, large language models make racist assumptions about people from particular racial groups, even without explicitly knowing their race.
'Springy' solid-state battery is twice the width of a white blood cell and could drastically increase EV range
Scientists in the U.S. have created a battery for electric cars that could be safer and offer better performance than the ones we have now thanks to a unique design.
Amazingly simple discovery extends Li-ion battery lifespan by 50% — meaning you don't have to replace your gadgets as often
Batteries used in smartphones or in EVs normally charge for 10 hours on their first cycle, but turbo-charging them to 100% capacity in 20 minutes may lead to a 50% longer lifespan.