New research reveals why early human attempts to leave Africa repeatedly failed—until one group succeeded spectacularly around 50,000 years ago. Scientists discovered that before this successful migration, humans began using a much broader range of environments across Africa, from dense forests to harsh deserts. This ecological flexibility, developed over thousands of years, gave them the …

Scientists finally know why early human migrations out of Africa failed Read More »

Caffeine appears to do more than perk you up—it activates AMPK, a key cellular fuel sensor that helps cells cope with stress and energy shortages. This could explain why coffee is linked to better health and longer life. ​Caffeine appears to do more than perk you up—it activates AMPK, a key cellular fuel sensor that …

Scientists reveal your morning coffee flips an ancient longevity switch Read More »

Zooplankton like copepods aren’t just fish food—they’re carbon-hauling powerhouses. By diving deep into the ocean each winter, they’re secretly stashing 65 million tonnes of carbon far below the surface, helping fight climate change in a way scientists are only just starting to understand. ​Zooplankton like copepods aren’t just fish food—they’re carbon-hauling powerhouses. By diving deep …

Tiny creatures, massive impact: How zooplankton store 65 million tonnes of carbon annually Read More »

At Flinders University, scientists have cracked a cleaner and greener way to extract gold—not just from ore, but also from our mounting piles of e-waste. By using a compound normally found in pool disinfectants and a novel polymer that can be reused, the method avoids toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide. It even works on …

This breakthrough turns old tech into pure gold — No mercury, no cyanide, just light and salt Read More »

Imagine detecting a single trillionth of a gram of a molecule—like an amino acid—using just electricity and a chip smaller than your fingernail. That’s the power of a new quantum-enabled biosensor developed at EPFL. Ditching bulky lasers, it taps into the strange world of quantum tunneling, where electrons sneak through barriers and release light in …

Self-lighting chip uses quantum tunneling to spot a trillionth of a gram Read More »

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking technique called RAVEN that can capture the full complexity of an ultra-intense laser pulse in a single shot—something previously thought nearly impossible. These pulses, capable of accelerating particles to near light speed, were once too fast and chaotic to measure precisely in real time. With RAVEN, researchers can now instantly …

One shot, game changed: How RAVEN captured a petawatt laser and supercharged fusion research Read More »

Cats overwhelmingly choose to sleep on their left side, a habit researchers say could be tied to survival. This sleep position activates the brain’s right hemisphere upon waking, perfect for detecting danger and reacting swiftly. Left-side snoozing may be more than a preference; it might be evolution’s secret trick. ​Cats overwhelmingly choose to sleep on …

Why cats prefer sleeping on their left side—and how it might help them survive Read More »

A groundbreaking study suggests that the famous Cambrian explosion—the dramatic burst of diverse animal life—might have actually started millions of years earlier than we thought. By analyzing ancient trace fossils, researchers uncovered evidence of complex, mobile organisms thriving 545 million years ago, well before the traditionally accepted timeline. These early creatures likely had segmented bodies, …

These 545-million-year-old fossil trails just rewrote the story of evolution Read More »

At current emission rates, we re just over three years away from blowing through the remaining carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5 C. This new international study paints a stark picture: the pace of climate change is accelerating, seas are rising faster than ever, and the Earth is absorbing more heat with devastating consequences …

Only 3 years left: The carbon budget for 1. 5 °C is almost gone Read More »

Remove the top male spotty fish and, within minutes, the next-in-line female morphs into the tank s new tyrant charging and nipping rivals while her body quietly begins a weeks-long transition to male. ​Remove the top male spotty fish and, within minutes, the next-in-line female morphs into the tank s new tyrant charging and nipping …

Sex swap in seconds: The fish that takes charge and changes gender Read More »