Why Do Geysers Erupt? It Boils Down to Plumbing
Posted on February 3, 2023
| 4 minutes
| 691 words
| Arica Deslauriers
Like a hidden world of chutes and ladders, the loopy plumbing beneath geysers may explain what causes them to erupt, a new study finds. This finding could settle a long-standing debate over the workings of geysers.
Geysers erupt — sending steam and hot water hundreds of feet into the air, and often releasing a frightening screech and the stench of rotten eggs — because of a series of loops and side chambers hidden deep below the surface that allows water to boil first at the top and then cascade downward, the study found.
[Read More]200 more copies of Newton's 'Principia' masterpiece found in Europe by scholar sleuths
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 5 minutes
| 868 words
| Arica Deslauriers
A pioneering book of science theory published by Sir Isaac Newton in 1687 was long considered to be exceptionally rare; by the 20th century, only 189 first edition copies were known worldwide. But after years of sleuthing, a pair of historians tracked down nearly 200 additional copies of the book — and they suspect that hundreds more are yet to be found.
The book is Newton's "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica,"
[Read More]5 Great Ray Bradbury Quotes About Death
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 4 minutes
| 741 words
| Trudie Dory
Ray Bradbury, known for his imaginative and evocative tales of Martian lands and sinister carnival characters, died Tuesday (June 5) at the age of 91.
During his lengthy career as a sci-fi writer, Bradbury mused on death (and life) at length, even citing his inspiration for writing as a desire to live forever.
Here are some of Bradbury's most provocative thoughts on dying.
1. Writing as the protagonist's dying grandmother in his 1957 novel "
[Read More]Alien organisms could hitch a ride on our spacecraft and contaminate Earth, scientists warn
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 4 minutes
| 724 words
| Fernande Dalal
The growing demand for space exploration is increasing the chances of alien organisms invading Earth and of Earth-based organisms invading other planets, scientists have argued in a new paper.
The researchers point to humanity's record of moving species to new environments on Earth, where those organisms can become invasive and harm the native species; they say such behavior suggests the same could happen with alien life from another planet contaminating Earth and vice versa, according to the paper, published Nov.
[Read More]Genes from tiny viruses can turn bacteria into superbugs
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 6 minutes
| 1068 words
| Fernande Dalal
Viruses that infect bacteria may drive the evolution of drug-resistant superbugs by inserting their genes into the bacterial DNA, a new study suggests.
The bacteria-attacking viruses, called phages, act as parasites in that they depend on their hosts for survival. The viral parasites often kill off their microbial hosts after infiltrating their DNA, said senior study author Vaughn Cooper, director of the Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
[Read More]Growing Up Giraffe-Style
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 251 words
| Trudie Dory
Two of the San Diego Zoo's youngest giraffes were staying close to each other on Monday morning, October 10. The shorter of the giraffes, which also has a lighter-colored coat, was born on August 30 and is the second male calf born to his mother, Nicki. He weighed 162 pounds at birth and weighs in today at 244 pounds.
Keepers report that the unnamed giraffe is curious, confident and bold. Imara, the giraffe with the darker spots was born at the Zoo March of 2011.
[Read More]Haboob Hubbub: The Science of the Monster Phoenix Dust Storm
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 2 minutes
| 370 words
| Trudie Dory
The massive dust storm that swept through Phoenix, Ariz., last night (July 5), reducing visibility to near zero and delaying flights, was a whopper, meteorologists said.
The dust storm is what's called a a haboob (Arabic for "strong wind"). In the United States, haboobs are common in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. But yesterday's haboob was more like something you'd see in the Middle East or other arid regions around the world, said Ken Waters, the warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix.
[Read More]How Coffee Changed the World
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 3 minutes
| 610 words
| Mittie Cheatwood
Each Monday, this column turns a page in history to explore the discoveries, events and people that continue to affect the history being made today.
Did you hear the one about the goat, the monk and the Indian pilgrim?
There's no crass punchline to this story, just a punchy drink that is the world's second most important commodity, after oil.
Discovered more than 1,000 years ago by goats roaming the hills of Ethiopia, coffee today employs 500 million people, from the workers toiling in the fields of Kenya to the teenage baristas at your neighborhood Starbucks.
[Read More]How Orangutans Survive Potential Starvation
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 5 minutes
| 880 words
| Arica Deslauriers
Orangutans in Borneo can survive potential starvation by using their body fat and muscles as energy until a bounty of food is available, researchers find, adding that the results may someday shed light on the eating habits of our earliest ancestors.
The findings may also speak to various low-carb, high-protein diets, because essentially weight comes down to caloric intake for these orangutans as it does us, the researchers say.
In Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia, forests go through periods of high fruit yield, where around 80 percent or more of the plants will produce fruit all at once.
[Read More]How to Jump-Start Your Exercise Routine
Posted on February 2, 2023
| 5 minutes
| 873 words
| Fernande Dalal
Live Science is bringing our readers a monthly series on personal health goals, with tips and tricks we've gathered from the many health experts we've interviewed. Each month, we'll focus on a different goal, and the goal for March is Exercise. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to connect with other readers who are working toward these goals.
Jump to: January — Lose Weight | February — Eat Healthy | April — Cope with Allergies | May — Protect Yourself from Sun and Heat | June — Stay in Shape Outdoors
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