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Ancient Bronze Statues Unearthed from Etruscan Healing Spring in Italy
Bronze statues, including snake sculptures and a child priest holding a divination ball, have been unearthed at a sacred hot spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy. Dating back to the Etruscan era and later used by Romans, the site was a place for votive offerings tied to healing rituals. The excavation also revealed preserved organic remains, suc...
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Alien Plant Fossil Discovered Near Utah, Cannot Be Linked to Any Known Plant Family
An ancient plant fossil discovered near Rainbow, Utah, has defied classification, according to a study in Annals of Botany. Named Othniophyton elongatum, the fossil shows no connection to any known plant families, modern or extinct. Found in the Green River Formation, the specimen revealed unique features, such as stamens retained after fertilisati...
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Permafrost Thawing Could Accelerate Climate Change, Here’s What It Means
Permafrost, a frozen layer rich in organic matter, is degrading due to rising temperatures. By the end of the century, researchers predict significant thawing, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. In a study by Zhengzhou University and Purdue University, thawing scenarios under two climate pathways (SSP126 and SSP585) project the release of up to ...
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Can Plant-Based Diet Help With Skin Care?
Let's explore the science behind it and understand how adopting this lifestyle can improve your skincare regimen.
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Drought-Stressed Plants Emit Sounds That Guide Moth Egg-Laying Choices
A study published on November 14 via bioRxiv highlights that drought-stressed plants emit ultrasonic sounds influencing moth egg-laying decisions. Experiments showed Egyptian cotton leafworm moths avoided dehydrated plants and preferred healthier ones. Even laboratory-raised moths demonstrated this innate behaviour. The findings suggest potential f...
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NASA’s Astronaut Sunita Williams Grows Lettuce in Space: Everything You Need to Know
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is leading a space farming experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS), aimed at advancing agricultural techniques for both space and Earth. The experiment, part of NASA’s Plant Habitat-07 study, involves cultivating “Outredgeous” romaine lettuce in microgravity to examine how water availability affe...
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Ancient Egyptians Consumed Psychedelic Cocktails Mixed With Bodily Fluids, Alcohol
The research combined chemical and DNA analyses uncovered the first physical evidence of plants with psychotropic and medicinal properties in an Egyptian mug.
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Fossilised Dinosaur Droppings Could Reveal Secrets Behind Their Evolution into a Dominant Species, Says Study
A study published in Nature has analysed 200-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur faeces (coprolites), uncovering critical insights into early ecosystems. According to researchers, coprolites contained undigested plant matter, prey remains, and even charcoal, offering a glimpse into dinosaur diets and environmental conditions during the Late Triass...
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Brazilian Flowers Employ Pollen Catapults to Dominate Pollination Battles
Flowers of Hypenia macrantha in Brazil have been observed using an intriguing strategy to boost their chances of successful pollination. These blooms, which feature both male and female reproductive organs, employ a pollen catapult mechanism. When hummingbirds visit during the flower's male phase, the plant releases a burst of pollen, knocking off ...
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2,200-Year-Old Egyptian Vase Reveals Evidence of Hallucinogenic Rituals
A 2,200-year-old Egyptian vase depicting the dwarf god Bes has been found to contain traces of a hallucinogenic drink. Chemical analysis revealed ingredients like wild rue, Egyptian lotus, and Cleome plants, known for their psychotropic effects. Other components, such as sesame, pine nuts, and grapes, suggest the drink was designed to mimic blood.
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Conservation Expert Warns Earth Is In Midst Of Sixth Great Extinction, Calls for Immediate Action
Dr Jane Goodall, the celebrated primatologist, has warned that the world is in the midst of the sixth great extinction. Speaking during her European tour, she urged global leaders to take urgent steps to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Dr Goodall highlighted deforestation, habitat destruction, and the climate crisis, calling for stronger regulatio...
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Study Finds Industrial Aerosols May Cause Local Snowfall by Freezing Clouds
A new study led by the University of Tartu has shown that industrial emissions, particularly aerosol particles, can influence local snowfall by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds. Using satellite and ground-based radar observations, researchers found that factories, including cement plants and power stations, may cause localised snow pl...
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World’s Largest Living Organism Pando Might Be The Oldest Living Thing, Reveals New Study
Pando, a massive quaking aspen spanning 100 acres in Utah, is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. Research suggests that Pando has witnessed and survived vast environmental changes since humans began migrating out of Africa. The genetically linked stems span an interconnected root system that highlights plant resilience. Challenges...
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New Fire-Resilient Dicliptera Polymorpha Discovered in India’s Western Ghats
In a significant botanical breakthrough, scientists from Pune's Agharkar Research Institute have documented Dicliptera polymorpha, a dual-blooming plant thriving in the fire-prone grasslands of the Northern Western Ghats. With blooms triggered by both post-monsoon rains and fires, this species represents a rare adaptation to its unique environment.
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Scientists Reveals New Method to Analyse 3D Structure of Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have successfully identified the 3D structure of an artificial light-harvesting complex II (LHCII). This structure mimics the natural LHCII found in plants and plays a critical role in photosynthesis. Using in vitro reconstitution and cryo-electron microscopy, the team demonstrated that the artificial co...
-
Ancient Bronze Statues Unearthed from Etruscan Healing Spring in Italy
Bronze statues, including snake sculptures and a child priest holding a divination ball, have been unearthed at a sacred hot spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy. Dating back to the Etruscan era and later used by Romans, the site was a place for votive offerings tied to healing rituals. The excavation also revealed preserved organic remains, suc...
-
Alien Plant Fossil Discovered Near Utah, Cannot Be Linked to Any Known Plant Family
An ancient plant fossil discovered near Rainbow, Utah, has defied classification, according to a study in Annals of Botany. Named Othniophyton elongatum, the fossil shows no connection to any known plant families, modern or extinct. Found in the Green River Formation, the specimen revealed unique features, such as stamens retained after fertilisati...
-
Permafrost Thawing Could Accelerate Climate Change, Here’s What It Means
Permafrost, a frozen layer rich in organic matter, is degrading due to rising temperatures. By the end of the century, researchers predict significant thawing, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. In a study by Zhengzhou University and Purdue University, thawing scenarios under two climate pathways (SSP126 and SSP585) project the release of up to ...
-
Can Plant-Based Diet Help With Skin Care?
Let's explore the science behind it and understand how adopting this lifestyle can improve your skincare regimen.
-
Drought-Stressed Plants Emit Sounds That Guide Moth Egg-Laying Choices
A study published on November 14 via bioRxiv highlights that drought-stressed plants emit ultrasonic sounds influencing moth egg-laying decisions. Experiments showed Egyptian cotton leafworm moths avoided dehydrated plants and preferred healthier ones. Even laboratory-raised moths demonstrated this innate behaviour. The findings suggest potential f...
-
NASA’s Astronaut Sunita Williams Grows Lettuce in Space: Everything You Need to Know
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is leading a space farming experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS), aimed at advancing agricultural techniques for both space and Earth. The experiment, part of NASA’s Plant Habitat-07 study, involves cultivating “Outredgeous” romaine lettuce in microgravity to examine how water availability affe...
-
Ancient Egyptians Consumed Psychedelic Cocktails Mixed With Bodily Fluids, Alcohol
The research combined chemical and DNA analyses uncovered the first physical evidence of plants with psychotropic and medicinal properties in an Egyptian mug.
-
Fossilised Dinosaur Droppings Could Reveal Secrets Behind Their Evolution into a Dominant Species, Says Study
A study published in Nature has analysed 200-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur faeces (coprolites), uncovering critical insights into early ecosystems. According to researchers, coprolites contained undigested plant matter, prey remains, and even charcoal, offering a glimpse into dinosaur diets and environmental conditions during the Late Triass...
-
Brazilian Flowers Employ Pollen Catapults to Dominate Pollination Battles
Flowers of Hypenia macrantha in Brazil have been observed using an intriguing strategy to boost their chances of successful pollination. These blooms, which feature both male and female reproductive organs, employ a pollen catapult mechanism. When hummingbirds visit during the flower's male phase, the plant releases a burst of pollen, knocking off ...
-
2,200-Year-Old Egyptian Vase Reveals Evidence of Hallucinogenic Rituals
A 2,200-year-old Egyptian vase depicting the dwarf god Bes has been found to contain traces of a hallucinogenic drink. Chemical analysis revealed ingredients like wild rue, Egyptian lotus, and Cleome plants, known for their psychotropic effects. Other components, such as sesame, pine nuts, and grapes, suggest the drink was designed to mimic blood.
-
Conservation Expert Warns Earth Is In Midst Of Sixth Great Extinction, Calls for Immediate Action
Dr Jane Goodall, the celebrated primatologist, has warned that the world is in the midst of the sixth great extinction. Speaking during her European tour, she urged global leaders to take urgent steps to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Dr Goodall highlighted deforestation, habitat destruction, and the climate crisis, calling for stronger regulatio...
-
Study Finds Industrial Aerosols May Cause Local Snowfall by Freezing Clouds
A new study led by the University of Tartu has shown that industrial emissions, particularly aerosol particles, can influence local snowfall by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds. Using satellite and ground-based radar observations, researchers found that factories, including cement plants and power stations, may cause localised snow pl...
-
World’s Largest Living Organism Pando Might Be The Oldest Living Thing, Reveals New Study
Pando, a massive quaking aspen spanning 100 acres in Utah, is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. Research suggests that Pando has witnessed and survived vast environmental changes since humans began migrating out of Africa. The genetically linked stems span an interconnected root system that highlights plant resilience. Challenges...
-
New Fire-Resilient Dicliptera Polymorpha Discovered in India’s Western Ghats
In a significant botanical breakthrough, scientists from Pune's Agharkar Research Institute have documented Dicliptera polymorpha, a dual-blooming plant thriving in the fire-prone grasslands of the Northern Western Ghats. With blooms triggered by both post-monsoon rains and fires, this species represents a rare adaptation to its unique environment.
-
Scientists Reveals New Method to Analyse 3D Structure of Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have successfully identified the 3D structure of an artificial light-harvesting complex II (LHCII). This structure mimics the natural LHCII found in plants and plays a critical role in photosynthesis. Using in vitro reconstitution and cryo-electron microscopy, the team demonstrated that the artificial co...
