Contemporary coelacanths are often described as living fossils. Superficially, that may be true. But new evidence now makes that nickname less valid. The two species of the large-boned lungfish alive today don’t look that much different than the first known coelacanth fossil dating back over 410 million years ago. But two new fossils show that
Category: Discover Magazine
Discover Magazine
Guilt Over Kids’ Screen Time Is Common − But it can Have a Silver Lining
What parent hasn’t been there? It’s been a long day, you still have dinner to make, maybe lunches for tomorrow too, and you just don’t have the energy to wrangle your kids into a new art project or plead with them to pick up a book. Instead, you give in when they beg for more
The Boeing Starliner has Returned to Earth Without its Crew
Boeing’s crew transport space capsule, the Starliner, returned to Earth without its two-person crew right after midnight Eastern time on Sept. 7, 2024. Its remotely piloted return marked the end of a fraught test flight to the International Space Station which left two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, on the station for months
When Swarms of Birds Attack Other Birds, They are Using a Mobbing Technique
When a flock of crows began antagonizing an owl in my neighborhood, we could hear the commotion from blocks away. It was late morning, a time when owls typically sleep. Dozens of crows swarmed the owl as it moved from a tree branch to a rooftop to a fence post. The owl seemed old and
How Microbes can Help Pinpoint Time of Death for Forensic Investigations in the Cold
What happens to a dead body in an extremely cold environment? Does it decompose? How do these conditions affect how forensic scientists understand when the person died? Estimating time of death, also called the post-mortem interval, is a complex task. It plays an important role in forensic investigations, as it can provide critical insights into
Is Weight Loss as Simple as Calories in, Calories out?
Is the adage “calories in, calories out” true? The short answer is yes, but the full story is more nuanced. From the moment food touches your tongue to the time it leaves your body, your digestive system and gut microbiome work to extract its nutrients. Enzymes in your mouth, stomach and small intestine break down
New Neanderthal Lineage From 100,000 Years Ago Helps Explain Their Extinction
One newly described group of Neanderthals appeared to have never met their neighbors. Scientists found a new lineage of the early humans that emerged about 100,000 years ago. They remained genetically stable for about 50,000 years ago and possessed genomes that differed from Neanderthals found elsewhere on Earth at that time, according to a report
The Colugo Looks Like a Cross Between a Bat and a Monkey, But Is Neither
Colugos look something like a cross between a bug-eyed pug, a flying fox, and a squirrel. But appearances can be deceiving. These mammals that glide the forests of Southeast Asia occupy a distinct branch of evolution, distantly related to primates. Also called flying lemurs – though this is a bit of a misnomer as they
This Fossilized Prehistoric Bird With Teeth Likely Used Its Head as a Weapon
When the first fossil of the blue-jay-sized Longipteryx chaoyangensis was found in 2020, paleontologists thought its elongated skull with an extended, toothed beak suggested it ate fish. But a more recent look inside a specimen’s stomach showed the bird — which lived 120 million years ago in what’s now northeastern China — fed on fruit-like
Everything You Should Know About Lunar Eclipses
A lunar eclipse is one of the universe’s many captivating light shows. During this particular cosmic alignment, the Moon slips into our planet’s shadow, often transforming Luna’s familiar gray face into a stunning red orb. But what exactly causes a lunar eclipse, and why doesn’t it happen every month? Let’s dive into everything you need