nature

New Research Suggests That A Volcanic Eruption May Have Triggered A ‘Butterfly Effect’ That Caused The Black Death

A volcanic eruption in 1345 may have caused lower temperatures in Europe, thereby forcing Europeans to import more grain from the Black Sea — inadvertently introducing the plague to overcrowded medieval cities.

By Austin Harvey • Dec 5, 2025

News

New Research Suggests That A Volcanic Eruption May Have Triggered A ‘Butterfly Effect’ That Caused The Black Death

A volcanic eruption in 1345 may have caused lower temperatures in Europe, thereby forcing Europeans to import more grain from the Black Sea — inadvertently introducing the plague to overcrowded medieval cities.

By Austin Harvey • December 5, 2025

These Trumpet-Like Conch Shells Found In Spain May Have Been Used For Communication 6,000 Years Ago

The conch shells, which were collected and modified by prehistoric humans around 4000 B.C.E., are capable of producing sounds akin to a French horn.

By Kaleena Fraga • Dec 3, 2025

News

These Trumpet-Like Conch Shells Found In Spain May Have Been Used For Communication 6,000 Years Ago

The conch shells, which were collected and modified by prehistoric humans around 4000 B.C.E., are capable of producing sounds akin to a French horn.

By Kaleena Fraga • December 3, 2025

The Grisly History Of Bamboo Torture, The Excruciating Method Of Tormenting Victims With Fast-Growing Bamboo Shoots

First documented in East Asia in the 19th century, bamboo torture involves suspending a victim above a bamboo shoot, then waiting for this fast-maturing plant to pierce through their body as it grows.

By Ainsley Brown • Nov 21, 2025

The Grisly History Of Bamboo Torture, The Excruciating Method Of Tormenting Victims With Fast-Growing Bamboo Shoots

First documented in East Asia in the 19th century, bamboo torture involves suspending a victim above a bamboo shoot, then waiting for this fast-maturing plant to pierce through their body as it grows.

By Ainsley Brown • November 21, 2025

City Raccoons Are Domesticating Themselves — And Evolving To Be More Like Pets To Get Our Trash

Researchers say North American raccoons who live in cities are beginning to look and act differently from their rural counterparts.

By Austin Harvey • Nov 21, 2025

News

City Raccoons Are Domesticating Themselves — And Evolving To Be More Like Pets To Get Our Trash

Researchers say North American raccoons who live in cities are beginning to look and act differently from their rural counterparts.

By Austin Harvey • November 21, 2025

New Studies Reveal How Prehistoric Humans Traveled With And Bred Their Canine Companions

Two recent studies analyzed the skull shape and genomes of ancient dogs and determined that traveling with and breeding canine companions has been important to humans for over 10,000 years.

By Austin Harvey • Nov 18, 2025

News

New Studies Reveal How Prehistoric Humans Traveled With And Bred Their Canine Companions

Two recent studies analyzed the skull shape and genomes of ancient dogs and determined that traveling with and breeding canine companions has been important to humans for over 10,000 years.

By Austin Harvey • November 18, 2025

The Little-Known Story Of The ‘Year Without A Summer’ That Saw Worldwide Famine And Widespread Snowfall In June

The summerless year of 1816 came after the eruption of Mount Tambora, the Indonesian volcano that violently exploded in April 1815 and sent clouds of ash into the atmosphere that blocked sunlight and caused global temperatures to drop.

By Austin Harvey • Nov 14, 2025

The Little-Known Story Of The ‘Year Without A Summer’ That Saw Worldwide Famine And Widespread Snowfall In June

The summerless year of 1816 came after the eruption of Mount Tambora, the Indonesian volcano that violently exploded in April 1815 and sent clouds of ash into the atmosphere that blocked sunlight and caused global temperatures to drop.

By Austin Harvey • November 14, 2025

Oregon’s Humongous Fungus: The Incredible Story Of The Largest Organism In The World

The Humongous Fungus in Oregon's Malheur National Forest is 8,000 years old and covers an area of 2,000 acres, making it the largest living thing by area on planet Earth.

By Ainsley Brown • Nov 13, 2025

Oregon’s Humongous Fungus: The Incredible Story Of The Largest Organism In The World

The Humongous Fungus in Oregon's Malheur National Forest is 8,000 years old and covers an area of 2,000 acres, making it the largest living thing by area on planet Earth.

By Ainsley Brown • November 13, 2025

Scientists In Australia Just Announced The Discovery Of A Horned Bee That They’ve Named ‘Lucifer’

Officially known as Megachile lucifer, this black-and-white bee has two protuberances at the front of its head that may be used to access flowers, though their exact purpose remains a mystery.

By Ainsley Brown • Nov 11, 2025

Science News

Scientists In Australia Just Announced The Discovery Of A Horned Bee That They’ve Named ‘Lucifer’

Officially known as Megachile lucifer, this black-and-white bee has two protuberances at the front of its head that may be used to access flowers, though their exact purpose remains a mystery.

By Ainsley Brown • November 11, 2025

Researchers Are Developing A Genetically Modified Fungus That Can Trap And Kill Mosquitoes

The genetically engineered Metarhizium fungus is just as attractive to mosquitoes as it is deadly.

By Kaleena Fraga • Nov 7, 2025

News

Researchers Are Developing A Genetically Modified Fungus That Can Trap And Kill Mosquitoes

The genetically engineered Metarhizium fungus is just as attractive to mosquitoes as it is deadly.

By Kaleena Fraga • November 7, 2025

Researchers Just Identified A ‘Polar Rhino’ That Lived In The Canadian Arctic 23 Million Years Ago

Due to its small, pony-sized body and horn-less skull, researchers were initially baffled as to what Epiaceratherium itjilik was, calling the creature "a little bit of a weirdo."

By Ainsley Brown • Nov 6, 2025

Science News

Researchers Just Identified A ‘Polar Rhino’ That Lived In The Canadian Arctic 23 Million Years Ago

Due to its small, pony-sized body and horn-less skull, researchers were initially baffled as to what Epiaceratherium itjilik was, calling the creature "a little bit of a weirdo."

By Ainsley Brown • November 6, 2025