Reptile Preceding Dinosaurs Discovered

Medicine & Technology Jan 24, 2015

Paleontologists have discovered a new species of reptile after putting together the remains of a new crocodile-like species that lived long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Doomsday Clock Moves Even Closer to Midnight

Jan 23, 2015

The world could be closer to coming to an end, if you believe the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists who moved the clock two minutes closer to midnight. The clock now sits at three minutes to midnight making this the closest it has been to midnight since 1984 during the height of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Reprogramming the World: Putting a Kill Switch in GMOs

Jan 23, 2015

Two separate teams of researchers have designed a "kill switch" system into their genetically modified organisms, that would automatically eliminate the GMOs if they were to escape the lab.

"Living Fossil" Frilled Shark Comes Up From Ocean Depths

Jan 23, 2015

A rare frilled shark was caught off the coast of Australia in a fishing trawler. This rarely spotted living fossil dates back 80 million years with a face that won't win it any beauty contests and looks like something that might come out of a Hollywood horror movie.

Greenland's Massive Ice Sheets Reveal New Lakes Below

Jan 22, 2015

Scientists have discovered changes in the subglacial lakes that have formed below the massive Greenland ice sheet. These lakes could make the ice more sensitive to changes in the climate than many previously believed.

New Island Created By Volcano in Tonga

Jan 22, 2015

The Earth continues to change its landscape right before our eyes. A volcanic eruption in Tonga has created a new island, but one scientist says it could soon vanish just as quickly as it formed.

Dust on the Ocean Floor Reveals Ancient Supernova

Jan 21, 2015

Scientists have made a startling discovery while exploring the ocean floor that could change how we understand supernovae. Researchers now believe that exploding stars, often far beyond the confines of our solar system, have deposited extraterrestrial dust at the bottom of the oceans, and that could give us better insights into the composition of far off galaxies.

Through Time and Stone--X-Rays Help Solve 2,000 year old mystery from Mt. Vesuvius

Jan 21, 2015

When Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it destroyed several Roman towns including Pompeii and Herculaneum. With Herculaneum's destruction, hundreds of writings from the time were buried for what some believed could be all of eternity. However, scientists have now succeeded in reading parts of an ancient scroll buried by the eruption.

Fertilizers Pose a Threat to the Future of Our Planet

Jan 21, 2015

While the concept of feeding our flora may seem innocuous, the use of fertilizers on our crops could be destroying the planet. A new study published in the journal Science by researchers from the University of Wisconsin reveals that excessive use of artificial fertilizers, which contain phosphorus and nitrogen, could pose a threat to the future of planet Earth.

The Pope's Forward-thinking Climate Stance Faces Conservative Opposition

Jan 20, 2015

Pope Francis has been finding himself in warm―not holy―waters with conservatives ever since he recently announced the Catholic Church's stance on climate change. He's gone on to publicly state that our planet's altering landscape and atmosphere composition is not just a political issue, but a "human" one as well. The currently appointed pontiff is in the midst of drafting an encyclical, a papal letter to be sent to the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, which will highlight how the church can catalyze positive climate change. But those within the church are questioning whether or not the leader of the faith should be getting involved.

Can You Really Smell When It’s About to Rain? Scientists Now Know Why

Jan 20, 2015

Do you always know before and after it rains simply because of the smell? Now, researchers have discovered the origin of the earthy, sweet smell that lingers in the air. And though scientists have been baffled by the source of this aroma, known as Petrichor, for many years now researchers from MIT have found its origin with the help of high-speed photography.

Marine Mammals Can Suffer from Irregular Heartbeats When Diving Deep

Jan 19, 2015

Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz have found that marine mammals like seals and dolphins can suffer from irregular heartbeats when they dive deep in the search for food. According to researchers, who believed they have evidence of cardiac rhythm complications in both Weddell seals and bottlenose dolphins, said the problem takes place as they hold their breath during deep dives.

Sea Turtles Use Earth’s Magnetic Field as a GPS

Jan 18, 2015

Female sea turtles will swim for thousands of miles to return to their place of birth to lay eggs. For years, how they found their home has remained a mystery to researchers. However, according to a new study, these sea turtles find their way home by relying on the unique magnetic signatures along the coast.

2014 Is Officially the Warmest Year on Record

Jan 18, 2015

Scientists from both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA calculated that in 2014 the world experienced its hottest year in the 135 total years of record keeping. The Japanese weather agency and an independent group from the University of California Berkeley also measured 2014 and determined it was the hottest year on record.

Don’t Believe In Climate Change? NOAA Says 2014 Brought Hottest Summer To Date

Jan 17, 2015

In the midst of the United Nation's Climate Change Summit, held in New York City late last summer, many skeptics bolstered their opinions about the current climate change issues at hand. But with heat waves well into the 100's, the sounds of skepticism were silenced by the buzzing of air conditioners hanging near the window. And as it so happens, when researchers and politicians turned to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admistration (NOAA) for answers, a new study revealed that the blistering heat we felt was unlike anything we had ever seen before.