Scientists just debunked a 50-year myth about Hawaii’s birds
A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is overturning a decades-old belief that Indigenous Hawaiians hunted native waterbirds to extinction. Instead, researchers found no scientific evidence supporting this claim and propose a more complex explanation involving climate change, invasive species, and shifts in land use—many occurring before Polynesian arrival or after traditional…
Read MoreLonely people have worse memory but don’t decline faster, study finds
Loneliness may quietly affect how well older adults remember things—but it might not be speeding up mental decline after all. A large European study tracking over 10,000 people for seven years found that those who felt lonelier started off with weaker memory, yet their memory didn’t deteriorate any faster than those who felt more socially…
Read MoreScientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories
Bread and other carbohydrate staples may be doing more than just filling plates—they could be quietly reshaping metabolism. In a surprising twist, researchers found that mice strongly preferred carbs like bread, rice, and wheat, abandoning their regular diet entirely. Even without eating more calories, they gained weight and body fat, not because they overate, but…
Read MoreMammal ancestors laid eggs, and this 250-million-year-old fossil finally proves it
In the aftermath of Earth’s most catastrophic extinction event, one unlikely survivor rose to dominate a shattered world: Lystrosaurus. Now, a stunning fossil discovery—an ancient egg containing a curled-up embryo—has finally answered a decades-old mystery about whether mammal ancestors laid eggs. Using advanced imaging technology, scientists confirmed that these resilient creatures did reproduce this way,…
Read MoreSmithsonian secrets most likely to blow your mind
Millions of objects stashed at a site open only to select visitors tell the history of Earth’s inhabitants.
Read MoreScientists finally know where the Colorado River’s missing water is going
For years, water managers have been puzzled as the Colorado River kept delivering less water than expected—even when snowpack levels looked promising. New research reveals the missing piece: spring rain, or rather, the lack of it. Warmer, drier springs mean plants are soaking up more snowmelt before it can reach rivers, fueled by sunny skies…
Read MoreThis Artemis 2 astronaut really loves Rise | Space photo of the day for April 14, 2026
“Rise Wiseman” might be the most beloved mission mascot in history.
Read MoreScientists just recreated a rare cosmic reaction never seen before
A breakthrough experiment has shed new light on one of astrophysics’ biggest mysteries: the origin of rare proton-rich elements. For the first time, scientists directly measured a key reaction that creates selenium-74 using a rare isotope beam. The results sharpen models of how these elements form in supernova explosions, cutting uncertainty in half. But the…
Read MoreBlocking a single protein supercharges the immune system against cancer
Scientists have discovered a way to supercharge the immune system’s T cells by blocking a protein called Ant2, forcing the cells to rewire how they generate energy. This shift makes them more powerful, resilient, and effective at finding and destroying cancer cells.
Read MoreThe Lyrids are coming! How I watch meteor showers from the middle of a city
A little patience, luck and a well-placed camera can still deliver a dazzling fireball — even from a city.
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