Around 4 million years ago, the ancestors of humans and chimpanzees diverged, genetic evidence suggests. What, if the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans would suddenly die before giving birth to any babies? What would the Earth be like if humans had never existed? Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark demonstrated that the Earth …
Category Archives: Planet Earth
Top 15 Animals with Misleading Names
Animals can sometimes have misleading names and carry titles that either exaggerate their features, misrepresent their behavior or habitat, or simply confuse them with entirely different species. Here are the top 15 animals known for their misleading names:
Top 10 Misconceptions about Earth
Our home planet is a complex and wondrous place, brimming with mysteries and surprises. Yet, in the vast expanse of knowledge we hold about Earth, some misconceptions have taken root. These widely held but incorrect beliefs often stem from outdated textbooks, misunderstood science, or the oversimplification of complex concepts for ease of learning. They range …
10 Largest Crocodiles Ever Recorded
Crocodiles are some of the largest and most fearsome predators on the planet, capable of taking down prey many times their size. These prehistoric-looking creatures have fascinated people for centuries, with many individuals wondering just how big they can get. Here are the ten largest crocodiles ever recorded, including their impressive sizes and the stories …
6 Reasons Why Life is Based on Carbon Instead of Silicon
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 …
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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 …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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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?
