The recent bird flu outbreak in the United States is not just a concern for hunters, farmers, and poultry producers. City dwellers, especially those with pets, also need to be vigilant, according to scientists. The New York City Virus Hunters (NYCVH) Program has conducted a community science project that reveals a small number of birds
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In a remarkable discovery in southern Germany, scientists have unearthed a rare fossil of a six-armed brittle star in the process of regenerating one body half. This exceptional find, dating back 155 million years, sheds light on the ancient origins of asexual reproduction in star-shaped echinoderms. The fossil was excavated from a limestone deposit that
Tree ring data confirms that the Northern Hemisphere has not experienced a summer as hot as the one in 2023 for over 2,000 years. This extreme heatwave, not seen since the height of the Roman Empire, marks a significant milestone in the history of Earth’s climate. The findings suggest that the 2015 Paris Agreement target
Perseverance’s landing on Mars marked a monumental moment in space exploration, with the rover set to uncover the mysteries of the red planet’s past. The Jezero Crater, once home to an ancient lake, offered the perfect setting for Perseverance to search for evidence of ancient life. The collection of 23 samples from different geological areas
The warm patches of water in the Pacific Ocean known as “blobs” have been causing significant harm to marine ecosystems since 2010. Recent research has linked the appearance of these blobs to a reduction in aerosol emissions in China. This unintended consequence of environmental policy highlights the complex interactions at play in our planet’s climate
Adenomyosis, a chronic condition affecting the uterus, remains largely unknown to many despite its prevalence among women. BBC presenter Naga Munchetty’s personal battle with this condition shed light on the debilitating symptoms, including irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and fertility issues. What causes adenomyosis, how is it diagnosed, and what treatment options are
The ubiquity of plastic pollution in our environment has presented a silent but menacing threat to human health. From the food we eat to the air we breathe, miniscule fragments of plastic invade our bodies without us even realizing it. Recent studies have revealed that the average person unknowingly inhales a credit card’s worth of
Plants have a hidden world of communication that is imperceptible to the human eye. Airborne compounds surround plants, much like smells in the air, that serve as a means of communication and protection for these organisms. Scientists have been aware of these plant defenses since the 1980s, having detected them in a wide array of
Cells in our body contain a genetic code that provides instructions for producing the necessary proteins essential for our survival. Over time, these cells undergo modifications known as ‘genetic switches,’ which influence the interpretation of genetic instructions without altering the genetic code itself. These epigenetic changes play a crucial role in estimating the biological age
Vaccination has been a critical tool in saving lives around the world. Research indicates that an astounding 154 million lives have been saved since 1974 through the World Health Organization’s expanded global immunization program. The primary goal of this program was to ensure that vaccines are available to all children, with a focus on preventing