Blogs - Page 18 of 51 - This Week in Science

Geology

The Dyatlov Pass Mystery: Science Reveals Clues Behind a Tragic Night

In February 1959, nine Russian hikers set off into the Ural Mountains on an adventure that would become one of the 20th century’s most enduring mysteries. Found weeks later under chillingly bizarre circumstances, their deaths sparked countless theories—ranging from avalanches to UFOs. What truly happened that fateful night? Recent scientific research provides a compelling explanation […]

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Psychology

Bigfoot ‘Exists’

Imagine walking through a dense forest. The air is still, the ground covered in a soft carpet of fallen leaves. Suddenly, a sound—a knock, a howl—breaks the silence. You freeze. Could it be? For decades, such moments have fueled the fascination with one of America’s most enduring legends: Bigfoot. Whether you believe in Bigfoot or […]

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Psychology

Squeeze the Truth: Rethinking How We Measure Attractiveness

Have you ever wondered if our snap judgments about someone’s attractiveness go beyond the numbers we assign on a scale? Imagine expressing how attractive you find someone not by rating them on a scale from 1 to 10 but by the strength of your grip. A recent study (that is bizarrely short) has introduced a […]

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Announcements

Next Week in Science, December 20, 2024

Do we take a holiday break? Yes and no. We’ll still be using our normal monitoring systems, and the website will still be up and running. Maybe even some holiday-themed articles? But otherwise, we do spend time with our families and friends. Thanks for reading! Here’s what’s happening next week. Unlock Science Secrets Discover revolutionary […]

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Meteorology

Extreme Hurricanes Ahead: How Climate Change is Shaping the Future of Storm Seasons

Picture this: one year, the Atlantic is a hurricane hotspot with record-breaking storms. The next, it’s eerily calm. This dramatic flip-flop in storm activity is not just weather being moody—it’s a glimpse into our climate-altered future. Recent research reveals that the year-to-year variability in North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) activity is increasing. And this isn’t […]

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Biology

Predator’s Gaze: Why Eyes Capture Attention in Humans and Chimps

Imagine locking eyes with a lion. Even in a photo, that intense, piercing gaze sends a shiver down your spine. Why? New research suggests that the eyes of predators don’t just unsettle us—they command our attention in ways deeply rooted in our survival instincts. Scientists have long been fascinated by how primates, including humans and […]

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Meteorology

How Winds Shape Ocean Currents and Climate

Picture a fierce wind sweeping across the icy seas near Greenland’s southern tip. These winds, known as “tip jets,” are no ordinary gusts—they can reshape ocean currents, stir the deep waters, and even affect global climate systems. Scientists have long debated what happens to the fresh water flowing from Greenland’s ice sheet: Does it stay […]

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Biology

The Microbial Key to Earth’s Waterways

Every river is a bustling metropolis, not of humans, but of microbes—tiny organisms working day and night to maintain the planet’s water quality and nutrient cycles. While we often think of rivers as passive channels carrying water to the ocean, they are alive with microbial communities orchestrating Earth’s biogeochemistry. The GROWdb project, a massive scientific […]

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Biology

The Science Behind Spontaneous Human Combustion: Separating Fact from Fiction

What if a body could burst into flames without warning, leaving only ashes and a few intact limbs? Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) has fascinated and terrified people for centuries, often tied to tales of the supernatural. But in the 21st century, science offers a more grounded—and equally intriguing—explanation. Let’s unravel the mystery and discover how […]

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