The world of amphibians is a diverse and fascinating one, with creatures of all shapes and sizes inhabiting various ecosystems around the globe. However, in the realm of tiny vertebrates, one species stands out above the rest – the flea toad. These miniscule frogs, discovered in Brazil’s Serra Bonita mountain range in 2011, have captured
Science
Object permanence, the concept that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight, is a cognitive ability that is not common among animals. However, Oriental pied hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) have been identified as one of the few species with an advanced understanding of this concept. This new study confirms that these birds
In the wilds of Karnataka in southwest India, researchers stumbled upon a truly bizarre sight – a frog adorned with a mushroom growing on its skin. The frog in question, a Rao’s Intermediate Golden-backed Frog, was spotted sporting a Bonnet Mushroom on its back, creating a truly unique and unexpected pairing. During a routine expedition
The transition from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to farming in late Stone Age Europe was far from peaceful, according to a recent study. Researchers have discovered that in southern Scandinavia, the population was entirely replaced by farmer-settlers not once, but twice within a span of just a thousand years. The DNA profiles of the newcomers show little
Mars, a dusty and quiet planet in its current state, has a surprisingly violent history that could hold important clues about Earth’s own past. According to a recent survey of the Martian surface, the red planet was once filled with volcanoes that resembled the early stages of Earth before the formation of tectonic plates. Planetary
Air pollution is a global crisis that poses severe threats to public health. As countries grapple with this issue, a new study conducted in China reveals a shocking correlation between air quality and suicide rates. The study, which analyzed data from over 1,400 air quality monitoring stations, brings to light the detrimental impact of breathing
When six-year-old Lucas was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumor, the prognosis was devastating. His parents were faced with the unimaginable reality that their son was going to die. However, seven years later, Lucas is now 13 years old and miraculously, there is no trace of the tumor left. This remarkable outcome has
The world of science and engineering is filled with fascinating facts and groundbreaking discoveries. One such fact is the freezing of an underground river to enable the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The completion of the LHC marked a significant milestone in the field of particle physics, particularly with the discovery of the
In a groundbreaking mission, NASA has brought back fragments from the Bennu asteroid for analysis. Early findings have already captivated scientists, pointing towards the possibility that Bennu’s material originated from an ancient ocean world. The presence of a phosphate crust on the asteroid is a key factor in this assumption, as it has never been
Scientists have recently delved into the intricate relationship between obesity and mitochondria, shedding light on how the condition affects these cellular powerhouses in mice. Mitochondria, known as the “powerhouses of the cell,” play a crucial role in generating energy. However, individuals with obesity often experience impaired mitochondrial function, and the impact of this impairment on