Archives: Science Alert
Humans Keep Growing an Extra Artery in Their Arms, And This Is Why
Picturing how our species might appear in the far future often invites wild speculation over stand-out features such as height, brain size, and skin complexion. Yet subtle shifts in our anatomy today demonstrate how unpredictable evolution can be.
These Mysterious Fungi Belong to an Entirely New Branch on The Tree of Life
Some of Earth’s weirdest fungi, including types of lichen, mycorrhizal, and insect symbiotes, never quite seemed to fit in our current tree of life. But a new genetic analysis discovered that despite the extreme differences between these oddballs, they actually all belong together on an entirely new branch that parted ways with other fungi more than 300 million years ago.
People in Portland Planted Trees. Decades Later, a Stunning Pattern Emerged
In a new study led by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, researchers found that each tree planted in a community was associated with significant reductions in non-accidental and cardiovascular mortality among humans living nearby.
Unabated Carbon Is Shrinking Earth’s Upper Atmosphere
Rising levels of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere could exacerbate efforts to clean up our increasingly cluttered shell of orbiting space junk.
The Most Common Pain Relief Drug in The World Induces Risky Behavior
One of the most consumed drugs in the US – and the most commonly taken analgesic worldwide – could do a lot more than simply take the edge off your headache.
Increased Levels of CO2 Are Proving to Be Too Much of a Good Thing For Plants
While it is certainly true that plants need CO2 to thrive, it appears that even plants can overdo it.
Scientists Just Discovered an Entirely New Way of Measuring Time
Experiments on the wave-like nature of something called a Rydberg state have revealed a novel way to measure time that doesn’t require a precise starting point.
Tree Rings Chronicle a Mysterious Cosmic Storm That Strikes Every Thousand Years
The history of Earth’s bombardment with cosmic radiation is written in the trees.
‘Vampire’ in Poland Found Buried With a Sickle to Prevent The Rise of The Dead
The skeletal remains of a female ‘vampire’ were found in a 17th-century Polish graveyard – with a sickle across her neck to prevent her rising from the dead.
‘A Transformative Moment’: JWST Reveals Its First Glimpse of an Alien World
The James Webb Space Telescope has just delivered its first direct image of a planet orbiting a distant star.