Shri rapax fossil Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels A new species of Velociraptor-like dinosaur from the Gobi desert in Mongolia had giant claws and exceptionally thickset hands, which may have enabled it to take down larger prey. The name of the species, Shri rapax, was inspired by “the rapacious features we see in…
The United States is facing a pivotal moment in efforts to keep one of the world’s most contagious diseases at bay. Measles cases have reached a 33-year high just halfway through 2025. This grim milestone has public health experts worried that unless vaccination rates rise, the virus could cause more regular outbreaks every year. As…
First Hormone-Free Male Birth Control Pill Shown Safe in Early Human Trial A hormone-free pill, called YCT-529, that temporarily stops sperm production by blocking a vitamin A metabolite has just concluded its first safety trial in humans, getting a step closer to increasing male contraceptive options By Hannah Seo edited by Lauren J. Young Photo…
Wikipedia already shows signs of huge AI input Serene Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The arrival of AI chatbots marks a historical dividing line after which online material can’t be completely trusted to be human-created, but how will people look back on this change? While some are urgently working to archive “uncontaminated” data from the…
It has been 15 years since the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) started smashing particles together. Since then, I have been one among thousands of researchers scouring its collisions for evidence of new physics that could explain mysteries like dark matter or the existence of matter in the universe. In 2012, the LHC uncovered the Higgs…
Plain-body octopuses can be duped into thinking a fake arm is their own Sumire Kawashima and Yuzuru Ikeda/the University of the Ryukyus Just like humans, octopuses can be fooled by an illusion that makes them think a fake arm is actually theirs. First demonstrated in the late 1990s, the rubber hand illusion involves hiding a…
Could AI Have Prevented SkyWest Airliner’s Near Collision with a B-52 Bomber? A SkyWest pilot’s last-second decision could have prevented a collision that air traffic controllers may not have foreseen By Mark Fischetti edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Jetlinerimages/Getty Images On the evening of July 20, commercial SkyWest Flight 3788 was preparing to land at…
Gluten is a protein found in most types of bread TONO BALAGUER/Getty Images Some people who think gluten worsens their irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms actually experience no more discomfort when they eat the protein, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. IBS commonly causes abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. While the mechanism…
‘Corn Sweat’ Is Making This Heat Wave Even Worse Humid heat is blanketing the eastern U.S. this week, exacerbated by “corn sweat” in the Midwest By Andrea Thompson edited by Meghan Bartels The HeatRisk forecast for July 23, 2025. National Weather Service/NOAA Heat and humidity will once again smother the eastern half of the country…
How Logical Are You? Test Your Skills With These Problems from the New International Logic Olympiad In only its second year, the International Logic Olympiad is already booming as logic becomes more and more crucial in our ever changing world By Emma R. Hasson edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Earlier this month, 36 sharp-witted high…
