Science

In 1982, Israel released 28 wild donkeys to its desert; 44 years later, they created an oasis in one of Earth’s most extreme places

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In 1982, Israel released 28 wild donkeys to its desert; 44 years later, they created an oasis in one of Earth’s most extreme places

Donkeys are more than just packs of animals and load carriers; these herbivores have the capacity to contribute more to the environment than most humans. Over four decades ago, authorities in Israel released 28 wild donkeys into the Ramon Crater, an extremely arid area of Israel’s Negev Desert. The animals’ daily habits completely transformed the … Read more

Scientists turned human poop into concrete; one mixture was 42% stronger after 91 days of curing |

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Scientists turned human poop into concrete; one mixture was 42% stronger after 91 days of curing |

Concrete has a major environmental cost, while human waste creates another difficult waste-management challenge. Researchers have now brought the two problems together in an unusual laboratory experiment. A team converted treated faecal sludge into biochar and used the resulting material to replace part of the cement in concrete. The researchers tested mixtures containing 5%, 10% … Read more

No-dad pup: Female shark produced baby without a male in Illinois zoo |

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No-dad pup: Female shark produced baby without a male in Illinois zoo |

A two-month-old epaulette shark pup, born through apparent parthenogenesis, is now on display at Brookfield Zoo’s Living Coast exhibit.Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo A female epaulette shark at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois produced a pup in 2023 despite having no contact with a male for years, in a rare example of parthenogenesis among sharks. The female, which … Read more

Scientists found a surprising use for apple waste. It removed up to 100% of toxic lead from water in lab tests |

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Scientists found a surprising use for apple waste. It removed up to 100% of toxic lead from water in lab tests |

Lead contamination in water is being studied through different approaches, including the use of waste materials that can help remove metal ions from water. Apple pomace, the residue left after juice production, was among the waste materials researchers examined for its ability to remove lead ions from water in laboratory experiments.Researchers compared untreated raw apple … Read more

A narwhal can grow a single 10-feet tooth through its upper lip; scientists used 3D X-rays and 3 particle accelerators to discover how nature’s only straight tusk stays straight

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A narwhal can grow a single 10-feet tooth through its upper lip; scientists used 3D X-rays and 3 particle accelerators to discover how nature’s only straight tusk stays straight

An international team of biologists, chemists and physicists has used sophisticated 3D X-ray technology to investigate the tooth at an unprecedented level. A unicorn may be a mythical creature, but nature made something very similar under the Arctic ice. Wondering what? Well, the narwhal has a strange tusk that can reach nearly 10 feet long … Read more

A Scottish river project set out to revive oysters that once covered an area the size of Edinburgh; now, 60,000 have been returned |

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A Scottish river project set out to revive oysters that once covered an area the size of Edinburgh; now, 60,000 have been returned |

A Scottish restoration project has returned 60,000 native oysters to the Firth of Forth, reviving a species that once formed vast oyster beds across an area roughly comparable to the size of Edinburgh. The Restoration Forth partnership originally aimed to return 30,000 European flat oysters to the estuary, but the target was later doubled after … Read more

Archaeologists were excavating a Roman cemetery in Poland when they found a much older man buried with two decapitated human heads, 42 animal teeth and a battle axe

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Archaeologists were excavating a Roman cemetery in Poland when they found a much older man buried with two decapitated human heads, 42 animal teeth and a battle axe

Ancient Polish burial reveals man with 2 skulls, 42-tooth necklace and battle axe (Image Credit: X/ @sputnik_brasil) Archaeologists investigating a Roman-period cemetery in Poland made an unexpected discovery when they came across a burial that was thousands of years older than the surrounding graves. Instead of a Roman-era burial, they found the nearly complete skeleton … Read more

After losing about 140.5 billion tons of ice a year for two decades, Antarctica temporarily reversed course, gaining a record 695 billion tons in 2021-23 as tropical warmth drove heavy snowfall

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After losing about 140.5 billion tons of ice a year for two decades, Antarctica temporarily reversed course, gaining a record 695 billion tons in 2021-23 as tropical warmth drove heavy snowfall

Representative Image (AI-generated) Antarctica has been losing mass for years as glaciers shed ice into the ocean, contributing to rising sea levels. But between 2021 and 2023, the continent experienced an unusual and temporary reversal. Instead of continuing to lose mass at its recent rate, Antarctica gained about 695 billion tonnes over 22 months, marking … Read more

Agnikul Cosmos: Indian startup Agnikul Cosmos unveils testing & manufacturing hubs in Chennai to validate reusable rocket stages

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Agnikul Cosmos: Indian startup Agnikul Cosmos unveils testing & manufacturing hubs in Chennai to validate reusable rocket stages

STIF is a fully in-house facility for testing reusable rocket stages under flight-like operating conditions NEW DELHI: In a giant step towards attaining reusable launch vehicle technology like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated two new assembly and testing facilities in Chennai.The company unveiled the Stage Testing & Inspection Facility (STIF) … Read more

In 2018, scientists moved wolves to an isolated island to rebuild its ecosystem; five years later, researchers found out if it worked |

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In 2018, scientists moved wolves to an isolated island to rebuild its ecosystem; five years later, researchers found out if it worked |

A new study reveals that wolves brought back to Isle Royale National Park are building a self-sustaining population. Researchers observed the wolves from September 2018 to September 2023 after the National Park Service released 19 animals captured in Minnesota, Michigan and Ontario. The population grew steadily during this period, reaching a minimum of 27 wolves … Read more