Topic

Science & Nature

A collection of 186 issues

The Prolific Pen: How One Doctor's Writings Became an Eighth of All Surviving Ancient Greek Literature

Galen, a Roman-era Greek physician, was so prolific that his surviving medical and philosophical writings account for a staggering one-eighth of all classical Greek literature that exists today. His work's preservation was due to its immense influence, which shaped medicine for over 1,500 years.

Drone Submarine Reveals Monumental, Hidden World Under Antarctica's Ice

In early 2023, the unmanned submarine 'Ran' mapped the seafloor beneath West Antarctica's Dotson Ice Shelf for the first time. The survey revealed colossal, 1,300-foot-long ridges and intricate ice formations, offering crucial new data on ice melt and future sea-level rise.

Forbidden Feast: President Taft's Old-School Soup Is Now Illegal

President Taft's favorite dish was green sea turtle soup, a Gilded Age delicacy. Today, this specific soup is illegal in the U.S. because the turtle is protected under the Endangered Species Act, turning a presidential feast into a powerful lesson in conservation.

When the RAF Airdropped Cats into Borneo: The Bizarre True Story of Operation Cat Drop

In the 1950s, the WHO used DDT in Borneo to fight malaria. This inadvertently killed local cats via biomagnification, leading to a rat plague that destroyed crops. The solution was Operation Cat Drop, where cats were parachuted into villages to restore ecological balance.

Flopped or Terrified? The Unseen Truth About Tonic Immobility in Rabbits

The common practice of 'trancing' a rabbit by placing it on its back induces a state of tonic immobility. Far from being relaxed, the rabbit is experiencing a fear-based, involuntary paralysis—a last-resort defense mechanism that causes significant physiological and psychological stress.

The Dragonfly's Perilous Gamble: A 2,000 km Migration Across the Indian Ocean

A study reveals the incredible 2,000 km migration of the Globe Skimmer dragonfly across the Indian Ocean from India to Africa. Relying on seasonal winds, these tiny insects face a perilous journey where only 15-40% are estimated to survive, making it the longest known insect migration.

The Cult of Lysenko: How Pseudoscience and Political Power Starved Millions

Trofim Lysenko, a Soviet agronomist, rejected genetics for his own pseudoscientific theories. Backed by Stalin, his policies, like planting seeds densely, were forced upon farmers, leading to catastrophic crop failures and contributing to devastating famines in the USSR and China.

The Accidental Ecosystem: How Novel Microbes Were Found Hiding in a Research Ship's Goo

In a surprising discovery, scientists found entirely new groups of bacteria and archaea, dubbed 'ShipGoo001,' hiding in a clay-like goo inside the rudder housing of the research vessel JOIDES Resolution. The find highlights life's ability to thrive in unexpected, human-made environments.

Nature's Predator: How the Pit Viper Got Its Name and Its Sixth Sense

Pit vipers are named for the deep 'pit' organs on their faces, located between the eyes and nostrils. These are not just holes; they are sophisticated stereoscopic infrared sensors that give the snake a sixth sense, allowing it to 'see' heat and strike prey with deadly accuracy in total darkness.