Scientists have revealed how the body’s microscopic cold sensor, TRPM8, detects both chilly temperatures and the cooling effect of menthol. The discovery finally shows how the sensation of “cool” works at the molecular level—and could inspire new treatments for pain and eye disorders.
Bird droppings helped build one of ancient Peru’s most powerful kingdoms
New research suggests seabird guano helped transform the Chincha Kingdom into one of the most prosperous societies in ancient Peru. Chemical clues in centuries-old maize show farmers fertilized their crops with guano gathered from nearby islands, dramatically boosting yields in the desert landscape. The resulting agricultural surplus fueled trade, population...
Antarctica has a strange gravity hole and scientists finally know why
Gravity may seem constant, but it actually varies across the planet—and one of the strangest places is Antarctica, where gravity is slightly weaker than expected. Scientists have traced this “gravity hole” to slow, deep movements of rock inside Earth that unfolded over tens of millions of years. Using earthquake data...
Scientists discover tiny ocean fungus that kills toxic algae
Scientists have discovered a newly identified marine fungus that can infect and kill toxic algae responsible for harmful blooms. The microscopic parasite, named Algophthora mediterranea, attacks algae such as Ostreopsis cf. ovata, which produces toxins that can irritate the lungs, skin, and eyes of people exposed during coastal blooms. Remarkably,...
Koalas survived a devastating population crash and their DNA is bouncing back
Koalas suffered a massive population decline that left them with dangerously low genetic diversity. However, new genomic research suggests their rapid rebound may be helping reverse some of that genetic damage. As koala numbers rise, recombination is mixing their remaining DNA into new combinations, which can rebuild functional diversity. The...
Study Reveals Climatic Fingerprints of Wildfires and Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanoes and wildfires can inject millions of tons of gases and aerosol particles into the air, affecting temperatures on a global scale.
Canadian Drinking Water at Risk Long After Wildfires, UBC Study Warns
Canada’s drinking water can remain at risk long after wildfires burn out, according to a UBC-led global review that found water-quality impacts often emerge months or years later—not just immediately after a fire.
Hunting Pressure is Shrinking Safe Space for Mandrills in Equatorial Guinea
Researchers from the University of Bristol Veterinary School, in collaboration with Bristol Zoological Society and partners in Equatorial Guinea, have uncovered alarming evidence that hunting pressure is dramatically reducing the safe habitat available to mandrills inside Monte Alén National Park, one of Central Africa’s most important rainforest strongholds.
Humpback whale recovery is changing who fathers the calves
A new study shows that as humpback whale populations recover from past whaling, older males are gaining a major advantage in reproduction. Early in the recovery, breeding groups were dominated by younger whales. But as more mature males returned, they increasingly fathered more calves than their younger rivals. Scientists say...
T. rex took 40 years to reach full size, study finds
Tyrannosaurus rex may have taken far longer to grow up than scientists once thought. By analyzing growth rings in fossilized leg bones from 17 tyrannosaur specimens and using new statistical methods, researchers found that the famous predator likely took about 40 years to reach its full size—around eight tons—rather than...