Why are whales unlikely to get cancer? [Peto’s Paradox explained]

Peto’s Paradox is a captivating conundrum in the realm of evolutionary biology and cancer research, prompting scientists to ponder a perplexing question: Why don’t large-bodied or long-lived animals, like whales and elephants, with their multitude of cells and extended lifetimes, exhibit a proportionally higher incidence of cancer compared to smaller species? Named after the epidemiologist …

5 Reasons Why We Should Search for Exomoons

In his video titled “Why Exomoons Are So Important,” astrophysicist David Kipping passionately elucidates five compelling reasons behind the significance of exploring exomoons. With a career-long dedication to the subject, Kipping artfully dissects the role of exomoons in shaping our understanding of the cosmos. Delving into themes like habitability, the Rare Earth hypothesis, moon formation, …

Conspiracy Theories in the Digital Age

“Easy to make everything a conspiracy theory when you don’t know how anything works.” [Brandon Bradford] In today’s digital age, information is abundant, yet so is misinformation. One of the emerging challenges for the modern era is the widespread belief in conspiracy theories. The quote above provides a succinct analysis of why they emerge: a …

Biggest crocodile ever recorded: Story of Lolong

The biggest crocodile ever held in captivity, also the largest crocodile ever properly measured, Lolong, a saltwater crocodile, stretched an astonishing 6.17 meters (20 feet 3 inches) and weighed a colossal 1,075 kg (2,370 lb). In 2011, his immense size caught the attention of Australian crocodile specialist, Adam Britton from National Geographic. Upon careful measurement, …

There’s an emotional support alligator and it helps a man with deep depression!

When one imagines an emotional support animal, images of furry dogs or purring cats might be the first to come to mind. But for Joseph Henney of Dover, Pennsylvania, it’s a 5.5 feet long (1.7 meters) alligator named Wally who helps him navigate the waves of life’s emotional tides. The huge reptile is actually the …

Scientists Debunk LK-99 Room-Temperature Superconductivity Claims

In a recent wave of excitement, researchers claimed to have synthesized the world’s first room-temperature superconductor, known as LK-99, which supposedly operates at ambient pressure and exhibits superconductivity characteristics due to a unique structural distortion. The intricate details of the claim, rooted in the modifications of the lead-apatite structure and the effects of superconducting quantum …

Elizabeth Langdon Williams: The Pioneering “Human Computer” Behind Pluto’s Discovery

Elizabeth Langdon Williams, born in 1879 in Putnam, Connecticut, was more than just an early female graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She played a crucial role in the quest to discover Planet X, now known as Pluto. In an era before the dawn of electronic computers, Elizabeth was a leading figure among …

Chimborazo: The farthest point on Earth’s surface from the Earth’s center

Many often believe that Mount Everest, standing at a whopping 29,032 feet (8,849 meters), is the closest point to space from Earth. Yet, this is a misconception. The peak that holds this surprising honor is not even the tallest mountain on its own continent. Enter Chimborazo, a majestic peak located in the Andean mountain range …

7 Reasons Why Crocodiles Survived When Dinosaurs Died

The extinction event that led to the demise of the majestic dinosaurs is an enduring puzzle of natural history. However, while these behemoths vanished, a few robust creatures like crocodiles managed to thrive. So, what was the secret of their resilience? Why, and how, crocodiles survived when dinosaurs died?