Scientists found modern domestic horses’ homeland in southwestern Russia
Much of human history was made astride, or beside, a horse. The animal’s stolid speed and strength powered massive migrations of people, pulled plows...
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Vikings lived in North America by at least the year 1021
Vikings inhabited North America exactly 1,000 years ago, a new study finds. Counting tree rings reveals that wooden objects previously found at an archaeological...
Here’s the physics of why ducklings swim in a row behind their mother
There’s physics to having your ducklings in a row. By paddling in an orderly line behind their mother, baby ducks can take a ride...
Here’s what we know about booster shots for Moderna’s and J&J’s COVID-19 vaccines
Millions of people who got Moderna’s or Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccines are expected to soon be lining up for another dose. On October...
An agile gecko found in India named after the legendary Jackie Chan
Martial arts legend Jackie Chan may not be aware of this yet but some of his biggest fans are a group of adoring herpetologists...
COVID-19 testing in schools works. So why aren’t more doing it?
In August 2020, the school superintendent in Omaha, Neb., approached a microbiology lab at the local university’s medical center. School districts across the country...
An atomic clock measured how general relativity warps time across a millimeter
A millimeter might not seem like much. But even a distance that small can alter the flow of time. According to Einstein’s theory of...
5 cool things to know about NASA’s Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids
For the first time, a spacecraft is headed to Jupiter’s odd Trojan asteroids. What Lucy finds there could provide a fresh peek into the...
Barnacles are famed for not budging. But one species roams its sea turtle hosts
Barnacles aren’t exactly renowned for their athleticism, staying glued in place for much of their lives. But turtle-riding barnacles are fidgety travelers. As adults,...
Earth is reflecting less light. It’s not clear if that’s a trend
The amount of sunlight that Earth reflects back into space — measured by the dim glow seen on the dark portions of a crescent...
A new treatment could restore some mobility in people paralyzed by strokes 
What has Perseverance found in two years on Mars? 
This robot automatically tucks its limbs to squeeze through spaces 
Greta Thunberg’s new book urges the world to take climate action now