Jun 19 Cats were so nice, they conquered the world twice By Nsikan Akpan Cat domestication happened in two waves during ancient times, according to a new genetic analysis. Continue reading
Jun 16 Your next happy hour buzz, brought to you by bees By Nsikan Akpan, Matt Ehrichs Only two species of yeast --- ale yeast and lager yeast -- have been used for traditional beer brewing over the last 600 years. A lab in North Carolina may have found a third in the strangest place: On bees… Continue reading
Jun 07 Einstein’s theory and ‘bent light’ reveal a way to weigh stars for first time By Andrew Wagner Rather than expose whether celestial objects need to go on a diet, this new weight scale offers a chance to learn more about the life cycle of stars, including our sun. Continue reading
Jun 01 ‘Dancing’ black holes yield stellar object as massive as 49 suns By Andrew Wagner Astronomers announced they have detected another gravitational wave tearing through spacetime, changing of our understanding of black holes and other stellar phenomena. Continue reading
Jun 01 Why more dust storms and Valley fever are blanketing the Southwest By Dave Berndtson Scientists found the frequency of dust storms more than doubled in recent years, along with an 800 percent uptick in Valley fever, a fungal lung infection. Continue reading
May 24 Thar she grows! How whales got so big By Andrew Wagner Using computer models based on a Smithsonian's fossil collection, evolutionary biologists now believe whales' gigantic size was driven by climate change. Continue reading
May 22 Cicadas strike back four years early. But why? By Julia Griffin University of Maryland entomologist Mike Raupp explores why cicadas have emerged ahead of schedule and whether climate change is a factor. Continue reading
May 18 Glass spheres forged by volcanic lightning offer clues about eruptions By Dave Berndtson Scientists have developed a new way to analyze volcanic eruptions -- with lightning -- that is cost effective, relatively simple and safe. Continue reading
May 11 Glaciers will disappear from mainland U.S. in our lifetime, scientists say By Dayana Morales Gomez Of the estimated 150 glaciers that existed when Glacier National Park was created in Montana back in 1910, only 26 remain. Continue reading
May 08 Can’t resist candy? You may have this mutation By Nsikan Akpan If you’re a candy lover or denier, you may want to blame one of your liver hormones, according to a new study. Continue reading