pale blue dot
Every living thing on Earth, from giant trees and whales to tiny bacteria, has one surprising thing in common: they all rely on carbon. It’s a bit of a mystery when you think about it. Carbon isn’t the most common element around; that title goes to oxygen. It’s not the most stable, like helium, and …
Continue reading “6 Reasons Why Life is Based on Carbon Instead of Silicon”
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 …
Continue reading “Why are whales unlikely to get cancer? [Peto’s Paradox explained]”
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, …
Continue reading “Biggest crocodile ever recorded: Story of Lolong”
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 …
Continue reading “There’s an emotional support alligator and it helps a man with deep depression!”
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 …
Continue reading “Chimborazo: The farthest point on Earth’s surface from the Earth’s center”
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?
The beluga whale, scientifically known as Delphinapterus leucas, is a remarkable marine mammal known for its striking appearance and incredible adaptability. Characterized by its distinct white coloration in adulthood, bulbous forehead, and absence of a dorsal fin, the beluga is uniquely equipped for life in the cold and icy waters of the Arctic and subarctic …
The debate surrounding the release of captive lions, tigers, and other big cats into the wild is both passionate and complex. While the idea of freeing these magnificent creatures to roam their natural habitats is undeniably appealing, the realities of such a decision are fraught with challenges. From the individual animal’s ability to survive to …
Continue reading “Here’s why we can’t just release captive lions or tigers into the wild”
The ancient seas once brimmed with the terrifying presence of the Otodus megalodon-the largest shark species that ever lived. This prehistoric predator, known as the Megalodon, thrived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago during the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs. Unearthing the actual size of this extinct marine behemoth has been a challenge …
Continue reading “How big was the Megalodon actually? [New Studies]”
There are two distinct species that roam the diverse landscapes of Africa: the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). Despite sharing a common heritage, these two species have evolved to adapt to their specific habitats, leading to striking differences in their physical attributes, diet, social behavior, and more.
