scientific discovery

In an astonishing turn of events, construction work on a new artificial island off the coast of Java, Indonesia, has dredged up a treasure trove of ancient fossils—more than 6,700 specimens in total—from a sunken landscape once known as Sundaland. Among the abundant fish, reptile, and mammal remains, two hominin skull fragments have emerged as the first evidence of Homo erectus beyond Java, reshaping our understanding of early human dispersal in Southeast Asia.

The spiny echidna—one of Australia’s most unique mammals—has long intrigued biologists with its peculiar reproductive strategy. Unlike marsupials such as kangaroos that bear live young into permanent pouches, echidnas lay a single leathery egg and then form a temporary “pseudo-pouch” to carry and nourish the hatching juvenile, known as a puggle. Now, researchers from the University of Adelaide have delved into this pseudo-pouch environment for the first time, revealing how its microbial community shifts dramatically during lactation to protect the vulnerable newborn.

In a groundbreaking discovery that links Britain’s icy past to the future of Earth’s polar regions, scientists have found the first clear evidence that massive icebergs once floated off the coast of Britain during the last ice age. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that colossal, flat-topped “tabular” icebergs the size of Cambridge drifted across the North Sea between 18,000 and 20,000 years ago.

In a thrilling milestone for planetary science, NASA's Lucy spacecraft has successfully imaged asteroid Donaldjohanson, revealing intricate geological features and a surprising shape during its second asteroid flyby. The close encounter, which occurred on April 20, 2025, saw Lucy pass just 600 miles (960 km) from the asteroid, capturing detailed observations that may unlock secrets of our solar system's ancient past.

Microplastics have been detected for the first time in human ovarian follicular fluid—a discovery that may have serious implications for women’s fertility and reproductive health. The peer-reviewed study, published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, found microplastic particles in the ovarian fluid of 14 out of 18 women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment at a fertility clinic in Salerno, Italy.

Following news that astronomers have detected a potential life signature from K2-18b, a planet 120 light-years away, Rice University's Luis Campos and Scott Solomon are offering historical and scientific perspectives on what the discovery could mean.

In a breakthrough that bridges the gap between physical and mental health, researchers at McMaster University have identified a novel link between body fat and anxiety. Published in Nature Metabolism, the study reveals how psychological stress activates fat cells in a way that directly impacts anxiety-related brain activity, offering new hope for future treatments.

For decades, planetary scientists have puzzled over a major Martian mystery: why are the strongest traces of Mars’ ancient magnetic field found almost exclusively in the planet’s southern hemisphere? A new study may finally have the answer—and it lies at the heart of the Red Planet.