Scientists attached electrodes to the leaves of Venus flytraps to force them to snap shut. A new robotic grabber is ripped from the plant world. It’s made with a severed piece of a Venus flytrap. The novel device can grasp tiny, delicate objects. The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is aContinue Reading
It was suspected, but it took seeing one in a distant galaxy to know for sure. Astrophysicists had thought that if a magnetar ever exploded, it would release one of the highest bursts of energy ever seen in the universe. But until now they could never prove it. Then oneContinue Reading
The raging flood of mud, ice and debris smashed through two hydroelectric dams. As many as 200 workers are still missing. At least 18 people are dead and as many as 200 are missing after a piece of a Himalayan glacier broke off Sunday (Feb. 7), triggering an avalanche andContinue Reading
The effect may be temporary, experts said. Men who have recovered from COVID-19 may be at risk of developing low sperm count, at least in the short-term, a small new study suggests. The study researchers, from the University of Florence in Italy, analyzed semen samples from 43 men ages 30Continue Reading
Mysteries abound at the most famous archaeological site in the U.K. A medieval ship burial in England that is so impressive and mysterious that it’s been compared to the world of the Old English epic “Beowulf” is now captivating viewers of the Netflix drama “The Dig.” But who is actuallyContinue Reading
Amid a shortage of vaccine supplies and the threat of emerging coronavirus variants, such an approach might provide an answer for both. Researchers at the University of Oxford in the U.K. will begin to test what happens when they give people a mix of different COVID-19 vaccines. Amid a shortageContinue Reading
Astronauts and animals that spent time in space show similar symptoms. Space travelers face a number of health risks. Astronauts have reported loss of bone and muscle. Some have developed immune disorders or heart and liver issues. A new study finds that energy-producing structures in cells might be to blameContinue Reading
The most recent six years were the warmest ever recorded The year 2020 capped off the warmest decade on record. And last year tied with 2016 for the hottest, according to new data. This record-warmth occurred even while 2020 saw decreased carbon-dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel use. “That’s not surprising atContinue Reading
A worrisome new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa, known as B.1.351, has already spread to more than 30 countries. A worrisome new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa, known as B.1.351, has already spread to more than 30 countries. Experts are particularly alarmed by this variant becauseContinue Reading
The same materials that protect people from COVID-19 are creating a global garbage crisis Tanveer Adyel began to notice the trash in March. This was early in the COVID-19 pandemic. He saw latex gloves and blue, disposable masks littering his garden and street. Other types of personal protective equipment, orContinue Reading