A high-resolution 3D model of Rano Raraku shows that the moai were created in many distinct carving zones. Instead of a top-down system, the statues appear to have been produced by separate family groups working independently while sharing techniques. Evidence of varied carving styles and multiple transport routes supports this...
Dinosaur mummy found with hooves and a hidden crest
Scientists have reconstructed the most complete and lifelike profile of Edmontosaurus annectens thanks to an extraordinary preservation process called clay templating, in which a thin clay film captured the dinosaur’s skin, scales, spikes, and even hooves in three dimensions. By combining newly excavated “mummies,” advanced imaging, and artistic reconstruction, researchers...
Scientists discover hidden wolf DNA in most dogs
Researchers studying thousands of canine genomes discovered that wolf DNA is still present in most dog breeds. This ancient genetic influence shows up in traits like body size, behavior, and environmental resilience. Even dogs bred far from wolves, including tiny chihuahuas, carry detectable wolf ancestry. The findings highlight how deeply...
The July 4 Floods in Texas Weren’t a One-Off. They Were a Warning
On July 14 this past summer, I pulled up to the Kerrville Kroc Corps Community Center, dodging puddles and sinkholes from a recent thunderstorm in a town where the last thing needed was more rain.
3-D Printing Researchers Develop Fast-Curing, Environmentally Friendly Concrete Substitute
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a quick-setting, environmentally friendly alternative to concrete they hope can one day be used to rapidly 3-D print homes and infrastructure.
New Data Reveals How Australia’s Threatened Reptiles and Frogs are Disappearing – and What We Have to do
Australia is home to extraordinary reptiles and frogs, from giant lace monitors to tiny alpine froglets.
Scientists studied 47,000 dogs on CBD and found a surprising behavior shift
Data from over 47,000 dogs reveal that CBD is most often used in older pets with chronic health issues. Long-term CBD use was linked to reduced aggression, though other anxious behaviors didn’t improve. The trend was strongest among dogs whose owners lived in cannabis-friendly states.
A strange ancient foot reveals a hidden human cousin
Researchers have finally assigned a strange 3.4-million-year-old foot to Australopithecus deyiremeda, confirming that Lucy’s species wasn’t alone in ancient Ethiopia. This hominin had an opposable big toe for climbing but still walked upright in a distinct style. Isotope tests show it ate different foods from A. afarensis, revealing clear ecological...
Bird flu’s surprising heat tolerance has scientists worried
Researchers discovered why bird flu can survive temperatures that stop human flu in its tracks. A key gene, PB1, gives avian viruses the ability to replicate even at fever-level heat. Mice experiments confirmed that fever cripples human-origin flu but not avian strains, especially those with avian-like PB1. These findings highlight...
Polluted air quietly erases the benefits of exercise
Long-term inhalation of toxic air appears to dull the protective power of regular workouts, according to a massive global study spanning more than a decade and over a million adults. While exercise still helps people live longer, its benefits shrink dramatically in regions with heavy fine particle pollution—especially above key...