Sediments from a Roman latrine at Vindolanda show soldiers were infected with multiple intestinal parasites, including roundworm, whipworm, and Giardia — the first time Giardia has been identified in Roman Britain. These parasites spread through contaminated food and water, causing diarrhea, weakness, and long-term illness. Even with sewers and communal...
Scientists found climate change hidden in old military air samples
Old military air samples turned out to be a treasure trove of biological DNA, allowing scientists to track moss spores over 35 years. The results show mosses now release spores up to a month earlier than in the 1990s. Even more surprising, the timing depends more on last year’s climate...
This “mushroom” is not a fungus, it’s a bizarre plant that breaks all the rules
Balanophora is a plant that abandoned photosynthesis long ago and now lives entirely as a parasite on tree roots, hidden in dark forest undergrowth. Scientists surveying rare populations across East Asian islands uncovered how its cellular machinery shrank but didn’t disappear, revealing unexpected similarities to parasites like malaria. Some island...
Fine Particles in Pollution are Associated with Early Signs of Autoimmune Disease
A new study has linked air pollution exposure and immune-system changes that often precede the onset of autoimmune diseases.
Microencapsulated B-Vitamins Help Dairy Cows Produce More Milk with Fewer Emissions
A new international study led by McGill University in collaboration with Jefo Nutrition shows that supplementing dairy cow diets with microencapsulated B-vitamins can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing milk yield and quality.
Remote Southern Ocean Seabirds Study Highlights Reach of ‘Forever Chemicals’
Seabirds in one of the remotest parts of the planet are being exposed to a wide range of forever chemicals, scientists have discovered.
A stunning new forecast shows when thousands of glaciers will vanish
New research reveals when glaciers around the world will vanish and why every fraction of a degree of warming could decide their fate.
Ancient oceans were ruled by super predators unlike anything today
Long before whales and sharks, enormous marine reptiles dominated the oceans with unmatched power. Scientists have reconstructed a 130-million-year-old marine ecosystem from Colombia and found predators operating at a food-chain level higher than any seen today. The ancient seas were bursting with life, from giant reptiles to rich invertebrate communities....
Earth may have been ravaged by “invisible” explosions from space
Cosmic “touchdown airbursts” — explosions of comets or asteroids above Earth’s surface — may be far more common and destructive than previously thought, according to new research. Unlike crater-forming impacts, these events unleash extreme heat and pressure without leaving obvious scars, making them harder to detect.
Residents in Hot, Humid Regions More Likely to Have Kidney Failure
Australians living in consistently hot and humid northern regions are at greater risk of kidney failure than their compatriots in more temperate and less remote locations, researchers have found.