Some meteors leave trails lasting up to an hour. Now we may know why
To leave a lasting trail, meteors need to aim low. A new survey of shooting stars shows that meteors that…
Earthquakes added to Pompeii’s death toll
In A.D. 79, a massive volcano in southern Italy suddenly, explosively awoke, leading to one of the ancient world’s deadliest…
Record-breaking Coral Sea temperatures threaten the Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef faces critical danger from back-to-back bouts of extreme ocean heat. Ocean heat in the Coral Sea…
Hundreds of snake species get a new origin story
The ancestors of cobras and related snakes first emerged in Asia roughly 35 million years ago. Many researchers thought the…
‘Then I Am Myself the World’ ponders what it means to be conscious
Then I Am Myself the WorldChristof KochBasic Books, $30 The human brain is the most complex information integrator known in…
Why a small seabird dares to fly toward cyclones
Tropical cyclones are synonymous with destruction. But at least one seabird may take advantage of them as feeding opportunities. The…
Was Egypt’s first pyramid built with hydraulics? The theory may hold water
Waterpower may have given a big lift to builders of Egypt’s oldest known pyramid, the nearly 4,700-year-old Step Pyramid of…
Pheromone fingers may help poison frogs mate
During mating, some male poison frogs embrace their partner’s face in a love-potion-laced hug. The amorous amphibians may create pheromones…
Climate change is driving the extreme heat baking France’s Olympics
Il fait trop chaud. The Paris Olympics officially opened on July 26, just in time for athletes to compete in…
Alzheimer’s blood tests are getting better, but still have a ways to go
Alzheimer’s disease is hard to diagnose. But proteins in the blood might provide clarity. A series of recent findings, presented…
