The fossil record on Earth is like a time capsule, offering brief glimpses into moments long past. Recently, scientists in Germany made an extraordinary discovery – a six-armed brittle star fossil in the process of regenerating one body half. This fossil was unearthed from a limestone deposit that was once a thriving ecosystem filled with
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The findings from a recent study utilizing tree ring data have revealed the shocking truth that the Northern Hemisphere has not experienced a summer as hot as the one in 2023 for the past 2,000 years. This extreme heatwave signifies a breach of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5
The mission of NASA’s Perseverance rover to Mars, launched in 2020, has captured the attention of the world. After landing on the red planet in February 2021, the rover has been diligently exploring the Jezero Crater, a site that was once home to an ancient lake. With the goal of finding evidence of ancient life
Adenomyosis is a chronic condition that affects the uterus, yet it remains relatively unheard of, overshadowed by its more recognized counterpart, endometriosis. Despite affecting as many as one in five women, the lack of awareness surrounding adenomyosis is startling. Even BBC presenter Naga Munchetty shared her personal battle with the condition, shedding light on the
In recent years, abnormally warm patches of water in the Pacific Ocean, known as ‘blobs’, have been wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. A new study conducted by an international team of researchers has shed light on a potential link between these blobs and a reduction in aerosol emissions in China. The study suggests that China’s
The pervasive nature of plastic pollution has reached a new height with the discovery of miniscule plastic fragments invading the human body without our knowledge. The average person unknowingly inhales a significant amount of plastic every week, with unknown health effects looming over our future. In 2022, scientists made a groundbreaking finding by uncovering microplastics
Plants may seem static and silent to us, but they are actually engaged in a sophisticated form of communication that is imperceptible to the human eye. Over the years, scientists have discovered that plants emit airborne compounds that serve as signals to communicate and defend themselves. These compounds, akin to smells, play a crucial role
When it comes to understanding the aging process at a cellular level, researchers have long relied on epigenetic clocks to provide valuable insights. These clocks, made up of small modifications in our genetic code, have been used to estimate the biological age of cells and tissues. However, a recent study conducted by researchers in Lithuania
The importance of vaccination cannot be understated, with an astounding 154 million lives saved since 1974 due to the expanded global immunization programme by the World Health Organization (WHO). Research has shown that measles vaccination alone accounts for 60 percent of the total benefit of vaccination over the past 50 years, highlighting the significant impact
Terminal lucidity is a phenomenon that has intrigued researchers for years. It refers to brief episodes of mental clarity that some individuals with advanced dementia experience shortly before their death. These moments are often characterized by the person engaging in meaningful conversation, sharing memories, making jokes, and even requesting meals, activities that were assumed to