Science

An eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) attached to an upper set of artificial teeth (Source: Smithsonian Institution) In 1898, a dredging boat pulling debris from the floor of the Chesapeake Bay made a discovery that looked like something from a biological nightmare: a set of human dentures with a live oyster firmly attached to them.The unusual…

Lanmaoa asiatica is a popular edible mushroom species sold in Yunnan that induces Lilliputian hallucinations when undercooked. In 1934, Western scientists first heard reports from Papua New Guinea of wild mushrooms causing visions of tiny people, a phenomenon called “mushroom madness.” Nearly a century later, DNA sequencing has confirmed that a single, identical mushroom species…

Few scientists have reshaped humanity’s understanding of the universe as profoundly as Max Planck. Celebrated as the father of quantum theory, the German physicist not only revolutionised modern physics but also left behind timeless reflections on science, philosophy and the limits of human knowledge. One of his most quoted observations is: “Science cannot solve the…

Milking a snake for the production of antivenom. Image Credit: Barry Rogge/Wikipedia Snakebite envenomation(condition where toxic venom is injected into a body via the bite, sting, or puncture of a venomous animal such as a snake, spider, scorpion, or insect), remains a global health issue, causing up to 100,000 deaths per year and affecting millions…

Representative Image of a mouse and a human side by side, both engaged in sniffing (AI-generated image) A mouse hunting for food might sniff several times a second. A person checking whether a cantaloupe is ripe usually leans in for a single, unhurried breath. On the surface, these look like completely different behaviours. Two complementary…

In Brazil, the blue butterfly Godartiana byses has expanded from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia to Sao Paulo. Butterflies are relocating across the world as climate change and extreme weather continue to alter their habitats. According to a new global study, many species are expanding into new areas, while others are disappearing…

Representative Image (AI-generated) A wildfire that swept through the high-altitude alpine zone of Africa’s Rwenzori Mountains in 2012 has been identified as the first large-scale fire to strike the region in at least 12,000 years, according to a study published in Nature. By analysing ancient lake sediment cores (cylindrical samples of layered mud from the…

Representative Image (AI-generated) Animal bones resting on the floors of South Australia’s underwater caves are revealing far more than the identity of the creatures they once belonged to. According to a new study published in PLOS One, the cave environment itself leaves distinct “fingerprints” on bones, helping scientists reconstruct how they were deposited, the environmental…

In March 2016, researchers identified the globe skimmer dragonfly, Pantala flavescens, as the world’s longest-distance flying insect. Led by researchers at Rutgers University-Newark, the study used genetic analysis rather than direct observation to reach its conclusion, comparing DNA samples collected from dragonfly populations scattered across multiple continents. Rutgers University-Newark findings suggested these insects were travelling…

Millie Pradawong developed an AI and CRISPR tool to improve microalgae biofuel production. A fourteen-year-old teen in United States has developed a computational tool with the help of machine learning and CRISPR gene editing to improve biofuel production. Millie Pradawong is one of the ten finalists in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge this year.Her project…