Category: 7. SciTech

A weird-looking parasitic plant has discarded all its photosynthesis machinery – and nevertheless has found a way to thrive.

A new analysis of seven Balanophora species has found that these crazy plants have reduced their plastid genomes, or plastomes – the parts of their cells that…

Sarah Sajedi was visiting Phi Phi Island, Thailand, when she was dazzled by the beautiful scenery of the Andaman Sea. However, when she looked down at her feet, she saw that the white sandy beach was covered with plastic debris, most of which was from plastic bottles.

After many years in the…

People deemed “cool” boast six surprisingly similar personality traits across cultures, according to a new study that hints at the role…

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.

Standing in the middle of a field, we can easily forget that we live on a round planet. We’re so small in comparison to the Earth that from our point of view, it looks flat.

The world is full of such shapes—ones that look flat to…

Generations of ancient, solitary bees made a home within the tooth holes of a fossilized jawbone, which was recently uncovered in a cave on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

It’s the first time we’ve ever seen ancient bees taking up residence in the pre-existing cavities of a fossil, and it…

Every fall, squirrels stash thousands of nuts and other snacks in preparation for winter. For our fluffy-tailed friends, survival…

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China’s U.S. embassy, rejected the notion that Chinese investments were violating people’s rights. In an email, Liu said the country’s Belt and Road Initiative, the umbrella for its overseas infrastructure investments, aims to support green economic growth.

Bronze Age pottery unearthed in northwest China has revealed the secret to making red rice wine that was ceremonially consumed in the region in…