Smart News Science

Early humans in Europe snacked on seaweed and aquatic plants for thousands of years, though how they prepared and ate them is unclear.

New Research

Early Europeans Ate Seaweed for Thousands of Years

Researchers found biomarkers of seaweed and other aquatic plants in samples of dental plaque

Bison were nearly hunted to extinction but are now thriving in several national parks, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

The Ecological Benefits of Rehoming a National Park's Booming Bison Population

In Theodore Roosevelt National Park, staffers are keeping the local ecosystem in balance by sending 300 bison to Native American tribes

Pepper X, the world's hottest pepper

The World Has a New Hottest Pepper

Pepper X is three times spicier than the previous record-holder, the Carolina Reaper

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 7.5 percent of all adults in the U.S. had experienced long Covid.

Reduced Serotonin Levels Could Cause Long Covid Symptoms, Study Finds

Researchers identify a mechanism through which inflammation related to the virus leads to lower levels of the neurotransmitter

Boats got stuck on Lake Titicaca's dried bed in September in Huarina, Bolivia, due to drought.

This September Was the Earth’s Hottest on Record

The scorching month follows the hottest June, July and August in recorded human history

Gene-editing silkworms produced this spider silk.

Genetically Modified Silkworms Can Produce Spider Silk That's Stronger Than Kevlar

The sturdy, biodegradable fibers could one day be used for surgical sutures or armored vests

Peeps has indicated it would remove Red Dye No. 3 from its ingredients after Easter 2024.

What to Know About California's New Law Banning Food Additives, Including Red Dye No. 3

Already prohibited in multiple countries for its potential harmful effects in humans, the colorant's future is now in serious doubt in the United States

A Herculaneum scroll being scanned at Institut de France by Brent Seales and his team

Cool Finds

This 21-Year-Old Used A.I. to Decipher Text From a Scroll That Hasn’t Been Read in 2,000 Years

The papyrus scroll is one of hundreds that were carbonized in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E.

Chinese mitten crabs compete with native species for habitat and food.

These Furry-Clawed Crabs Are Wreaking Havoc in the United Kingdom

Conservation officials have installed the first Chinese mitten crab trap in England, and they are asking the public to report any sightings

The cave lion skeleton from Siegsdorf in Germany with a replica of a wooden spear that may have been used to kill it. The authors theorize that Neanderthals may have stabbed the lion while it was resting or after it had been injured.

Neanderthals May Have Hunted Cave Lions

Researchers say well-preserved bones may be the earliest direct evidence of the hunting of large predators

Temperature varies from person to person and it differs throughout the day.

What's Really the Average Human Body Temperature?

Long thought to be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the measurement is highly personal and varies depending on time of day, among other factors, new research finds

Close examination of drill marks on the sculpture shows how carvers created surfaces to evoke the textures of the represented elements, such as skin, wool or linen.

Art Meets Science

Vibrant Paint Once Decorated the 2,500-Year-Old Parthenon Marbles

New research has revealed that ancient artists used color to create highly detailed designs

In the new study, long-tailed macaques, or crab-eating macaques, received kidney tranplants from genetically edited pigs. One of the monkeys survived for just over two years after the transplant.

Monkeys With Transplanted Pig Kidneys Survive for Up to Two Years

The study brings scientists one step closer to conducting trials in human patients, researchers say

An artist's rendition of the Pysche asteroid. Data suggests that Psyche is between 30 and 60 percent metal, unlike any object in the solar system scientist's have observed up close before.

NASA Launches Mission to Study Distant Asteroid

The metal-rich object could hold clues about how our planet formed

Neurergus kaiseri, also called Luristan newt, is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. 

Amphibians Are in Decline Across the Globe

About 41 percent of all species across the planet meet IUCN criteria for classification as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable

Painted by Leonardo da Vinci sometime between 1503 and 1519, the Mona Lisa is on display at the Louvre.

Art Meets Science

Scientists Are Still Unraveling the Secrets of the 'Mona Lisa'

A new chemical analysis sheds new light on how Leonardo da Vinci painted the iconic portrait

More than 52 million birds died in the U.S. because of avian flu outbreaks in 2022.

Editing Chicken Genes Could Slow the Spread of Bird Flu, Study Suggests

Using CRISPR technology, researchers edited a protein gene that increased chickens' resistance to the virus. But the process is far from practical use

California condors are attracted to shiny things and sometimes ingest wrappers, coins and padlock keys.

'Love Locks' at the Grand Canyon Could Be Harming Endangered California Condors

Park service officials urged visitors to stop attaching padlocks to fences and throwing keys into the canyon below, where the birds could eat them

Grazer, also known as 128 Grazer, stands in a river in September 2023, after bulking up for hibernation.

Meet Grazer, the Winner of Fat Bear Week 2023

A fiercely aggressive mother and a skilled angler, the massive brown bear has been crowned this year's champion in the annual online popularity contest

With their mating season approaching, two male Nubian ibex fight for supremacy on a cliffside. The photograph won the Animals in their Environment category.

See 12 Winning Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest

The stunning entries showcase the behaviors of ancient and elusive species, from horseshoe crabs to tapirs and orcas—as well as the threats they face

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