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Bizarre 'pet cloud' reappears above its favorite spot in New Zealand
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A recent satellite image captured the reemergence of a unique, UFO-like cloud, known as the "Taieri Pet," which appears above New Zealand's South Island when conditions are just right.
Half-a-billion-year-old 'marine Roomba' is earliest known asymmetrical animal
By Sierra Bouchér published
A backward question mark shape on the creature's back reveals early animal evolutionary history.
James Webb telescope discovers 'inside out galaxy' near the dawn of time
By Ben Turner published
A bright spiral galaxy appears on a background of thousands of other distant galaxies
At-home brain stimulation could be promising depression treatment, trial hints
By Emily Cooke published
A new trial suggests that at-home brain stimulation could potentially be a first-line treatment for depression. However, some experts are skeptical.
Listen to haunting sounds of Earth's magnetic field flipping 41,000 years ago in eerie new animation
By Harry Baker published
A new video shows how Earth's magnetic field weakened and warped before temporarily flipping during a recent "polar reversal event."
Mask of Agamemnon: A gold death mask once thought to be evidence of the Trojan War
By Tom Metcalfe published
The archaeologist who discovered the mask believed it showed the Trojan War was real.
'I'd never seen such an audacious attack on anonymity before': Clearview AI and the creepy tech that can identify you with a single picture
By Kashmir Hill published
"Concerns about facial recognition had been building for decades. And now the nebulous bogeyman had finally found its form: a small company with mysterious founders and an unfathomably large database."
Which are rarer: diamonds or emeralds?
By Hannah Loss published
The rarity of precious gemstones comes down to the geologic process of their formation.
'The waters become corrupt, the air infected': How the ancient Greeks and Romans viewed pollution and what they did about it
By Konstantine Panegyres published
Here's what the ancient Greeks and Romans can teach us about the environment and ourselves. From Roman soldiers in crowded camps to emperors cleaning up rivers, there are many lessons to be learned.
Twin study reveals signs of MS that might be detectable before symptoms
By Michael Schubert published
Changes in the gene activity of immune cells may help flag people who have multiple sclerosis or are likely to develop it, a study of twins hints.
Raindrops may have helped kick-start life on the planet
By Aman Agrawal published
The earliest cells likely didn’t have membranes to separate and protect their components and chemistry away from a harsh surrounding environment. But they may have made do with rain.
'Lost in insignificance': Here's what it's like to rappel into the solar system's largest canyon
By John E. Moores, Jesse Rogerson published
"You wanted this moment to belong just to yourself and the landscape: sunset on the rim of Valles Marineris, the largest canyon in the solar system."
Black holes from the universe's infancy could reveal invisible matter
By Paul Sutter published
New theoretical research suggests primordial black holes could one day help researchers locate invisible dark matter.
Space photo of the week: Webb telescope spies 'super star cluster'
By Jamie Carter published
Once blocked from view, the most massive young star cluster in the Milky Way has finally been revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Why didn't the Vikings colonize North America?
By Owen Jarus published
The Vikings landed in what is now Newfoundland, Canada around the year A.D. 1000. So why didn't they colonize the region like other Europeans did centuries later?
Remains of 1,600-year-old Roman fort unearthed in Turkey
By Kristina Killgrove published
Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Roman military structure in Turkey dating to the fourth century, when Emperor Constantius II ruled.
Why does dairy make antibiotics less effective?
By Clarissa Brincat published
Dairy products can affect the way certain medications work. But why?
The universe may end in a 'Big Freeze,' holographic model of the universe suggests
By Paul Sutter published
New research suggests holographic dark energy could stop the universe's expansion.
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