Murder hornets and monkey cannibals: 10 times nature freaked us out in 2020

 Posted on April 30, 2023  |  6 minutes  |  1262 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Stomach-bursting eels! Tongue-devouring sea lice! Nature can be the best at being the absolute worst, and 2020 gifted us with a petrifying parade of shudder-inducing science. From baby-eating cannibal monkeys to vampire parasites, here are 10 times this year when nature proved that it was positively horrific. You're welcome. Bone-eaters(opens in new tab)Scavengers in the deep ocean eagerly devour alligator corpses — some pick the bones clean, while others munch on the bones, scientists recently discovered. [Read More]

Odd radio circles could come from giant black holes, new study finds

 Posted on April 30, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  553 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Scientists have just taken the crispest image yet of one of the universe's most mysterious phenomena: odd radio circles. The stunning portrait could reveal clues about the origin of these enormous rings of faint radio waves that stretch roughly 1million light-years across.  Until now, astronomers had no idea where the rings came from, but the new observations of the five confirmed ORCs have revealed that three of the radio circles are looped around galaxies with supermassive black holes — black holes with masses that are millions to billions times the mass of the sun, and which sit at the center of most large galaxies. [Read More]

Sports bras for large breasts deals: Find all the support you need

 Posted on April 30, 2023  |  10 minutes  |  2001 words  |  Patria Henriques

These sports bras for large breasts deals are the perfect solution for those needing a more substantial sports bra to support you while you exercise. Whether you’re a keen runner that needs a high level of support, or you’re simply looking for a low-impact sports bra that will be perfect for your daily yoga routine, we’ve got plenty of deals for you to consider. Finding the right sports bra for your breast size is extremely important. [Read More]

The Real Science and History of Vampires

 Posted on April 30, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  581 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Vampires are everywhere these days. Last weekend, the new vampire film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" broke box office records, taking in over $70 million and may end up being one of the largest openings in history. The film is based on the best-selling "Twilight" series, which of course joins a long list of other vampire-themed best-sellers dating back decades. The public's thirst for vampires seems as endless as vampires' thirst for blood. [Read More]

This Towering Plant Is Invading the US, and It’s Causing Serious Sunburns

 Posted on April 30, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  662 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 9:45 a.m. E.T. on Wednesday, June 20 The giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a towering weed that can cause vision loss and intense burns. But no, this poisonous plant doesn't come from Professor Sprout's botany syllabus at Hogwarts; instead, it's very real and was recently identified in Virginia, according to news reports. A Virginian came across the giant plant and suspected that it could be bad news. [Read More]

Tomb Tells Tale of Family Executed by China's 1st Female Emperor

 Posted on April 30, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  792 words  |  Fernande Dalal

A 1,300-year-old tomb, discovered in Xi'an city, China, holds the bones of a man who helped the nation's only female emperor rise to power. The epitaphs in the tomb describe how she then executed him and his entire family. Located within a cave, the tomb contains the remains of Yan Shiwei and his wife, Lady Pei. While little is left of the individual's skeletons, archaeologists found colorful ceramic figurines, a mirror with a gold plaque and, most importantly, epitaphs inscribed on bluestones. [Read More]

'It Was Just Dead Brain Tissue': Seattle Woman Dies from Extremely Unusual Infection

 Posted on April 29, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  710 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

It started with a sinus infection that wouldn't go away. So, in an attempt to give the 69-year-old Seattle woman some relief, doctors recommended that she use a neti pot regularly to rinse out her sinuses. And that's where things went wrong, according to a recent report of the woman's case. The first sign of trouble was a quarter-size rash on the right side of her nose and some raw, red skin around the outside of her nasal passages, according to the case report, published in September in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. [Read More]

'Lost' Caravaggio Painting Worth $170 Million Bought Before Auction — But Is It Authentic?

 Posted on April 29, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  437 words  |  Patria Henriques

A previously unknown Caravaggio painting that was found just a few years ago was expected to fetch up to $170 million at auction this week — but it never made it to the auction block. Instead, an unnamed buyer quietly purchased the painting yesterday (June 25) before the June 27 auction in Toulouse, France, could take place, The Guardian reported. The sumptuously painted canvas shows the grisly biblical scene of Judith — a Jewish woman — beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes, to save her people. [Read More]

A dozen ultra-high-energy particle accelerators discovered in the Milky Way

 Posted on April 29, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  746 words  |  Fernande Dalal

A century-old celestial mystery is one step closer to being solved as researchers discover a dozen ultra-powerful natural particle accelerators in our galaxy.  The findings help astronomers understand the origin of cosmic rays — charged particles and atomic nuclei flying through space at near light speed that have been imbued with mind-boggling amounts of energy.  Discovered in 1912, cosmic rays arrive from almost every direction in the Milky Way, though scientists have yet to determine exactly how they reach their ultra-fast speeds, according to NASA. [Read More]

A Whiff of Coffee Can Wake You Up

 Posted on April 29, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  314 words  |  Patria Henriques

Ah, wake up and smell the coffee … and that's all you may need to do to pep up in the morning, a new study finds. An international group of scientists reports that inhaling the rich, warm aroma of a hot cup of joe may alter the activity of some genes in the brain, reducing the effects of sleep deprivation — no drinking required. Coffee has been a part of the human diet for more than 1,000 years, and is now the most widely consumed beverage worldwide. [Read More]