مقالات علمية

Though there have been many cases of sinkholes swallowing up garbage bins, trees or even a car or two, one large enough to devour entire buildings, has never been encountered before! That however changed when the ground suddenly gave away on January 29th, 2013 in central Guangzhou, the capital of China's Guangdong Province....

Cycling or even walking in urban areas can be a little treacherous, thanks to the fact that one is sharing the road with vehicles that are Increasingly getting larger and heavier. A 2009 study conducted by the World Health Organization revealed that of the 1.27 million people that perish in road traffic crashes each year, about half, are pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists. Now there may be a solution that could provide at least some relief to protect this vulnerable group - An airbag!...

It is a known fact that some species of the lowly dung beetle that feed off animal droppings, first form their finds into little balls and roll them away to a safe distance. However, what the scientists had never been able to figure out is how the beetle is able to navigate itself and its tasty little morsel in a straight line away from the pile of droppings where they are likely to encounter competitors. Now, thanks to a team of Swedish researchers the mystery has been at least partially solved and the answer, is causing quite a stir amongst the scientific community....

On January 11th, professional diver and excursion expert, Keller Laros and his team did what they do every night - Lead a group of tourist divers into the ocean off the Hawaiian island of Kona, to experience the stingrays, up close. While that in itself was a magical experience, what happened that night, was even more unforgettable!...

While snowflakes - those fluffy conglomerations of frozen ice crystals may appear to be indistinguishable from one another, they are all unique in structure, and come in all kinds of really cool shapes and patterns. However, so far the only way to discover this has been by viewing them under a microscope, which means that only a select few have been able enjoy and appreciate their true beauty. But, things are about to change....

In December 2012, three men braved Antarctica's treacherous and remote Princess Ragnhild Coast to seek out a colony of Emperor Penguins that has hitherto just been suspected to exist. They were not disappointed!...

While summers in the world's driest inhabited continent AKA Australia can get a little uncomfortable, this year seems to be starting out a little more extreme than usual. On Monday January 8th, the Australian meteorological dept reported an average continent temperature of 104.6°F (40.33°C) - Surpassing a record set in 1972. And, the forecast for the rest of the season looks even worse....

When Space Shuttle Discovery launched off to Space on its final mission on February 24th, 2011, among its roster of astronauts was a 'trainee' - And not just any ordinary rookie either, but the world's first humanoid robot astronaut that was heading to the International Space Station as a permanent resident....

Giant squids, the kind referred to in Jules Verne's 1870 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, have been known to exist for many centuries. However, finding the world's largest invertebrate in its natural habitat had proved a little elusive. Now, thanks to some patient Japanese researchers, we can all finally get a glimpse of this magnificent cephalopod!...

On January 7th, 68-year-old British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his team of five sailed off from the picturesque port of Cape Town, to begin the first leg of what is aptly being called 'The Coldest Journey' - A never before done 2,300-mile trek across the Antarctica in winter!...

Many parts of the Northern Hemisphere have experienced a rather severe winter this year. However, very few can be compared to that felt by the residents of some parts of Russia where the temperatures have dipped as low as -50°Ç - Some of the lowest recorded in the area in the last 50 years!...

All of a sudden, cardboard seems to be showing up in the most unlikely products - First there is the cardboard bike and now, a helmet to go with it. What's surprising is that it is apparently much safer than that ones currently on the market that all use Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPF)....

Thanks to global warming, the ice in the Arctic Ocean is today about half of what it was in the 1980's. Given that the situation can only get worse and governments are unable to come to a consensus about how to reverse the trend, one scientist is proposing a radical solution - To use modern technology to repair the damage....

President Obama already has bragging rights to a fish (Ethiostoma Obama) and lichen (Caloplaca obamae). Now, he can add one more exotic animal species to this list - A lizard that inhabited the earth 65 million years ago, during the era of the mighty dinosaur....

This stunning image of a fire emanating from the spout of a humpback whale may seem like a cleverly photoshopped picture or better still, a new awesome species of the mammal. However, it is neither - Instead it is an optical illusion created by a scientific principle that you may all have heard of - Refraction....

Ever since J.K. Rowling planted the idea of an invisibility cloak in her blockbuster Harry Potter book series, scientists have been falling all over themselves to create a material that can not only camouflage people, but also, buildings. Now a Canadian company claims to have won that race with a magical textile that it aptly calls 'Quantum Stealth'....

Hoping for lots of presents this Christmas? Then you may want to glance up at the skies this Thursday and Friday. That's because if researchers are right, on December 13th and 14th you will be treated to a flurry of 'shooting' stars. What's even more interesting is that one will emanate from an asteroid, the other, from a comet...

We have all experienced how magical our the skies appear on a clear night, when they are all aglow with twinkling stars. However, have you ever wondered how Earth looks from the skies when millions of lights from its residents are all shining in the night? Now, thanks to some amazing footage from NASA, you have to wonder no more....

Though many astronauts have spent more than 365 days in Space, it has not been in one long stretch, but instead broken up through several missions. That is because scientists are not sure of the long-term effects of weightlessness on both the human body and mind, and therefore restrict stays to a maximum of six months....

In 1986, Pixar introduced its pioneering computer animation technique with a short film whose main star was a perky lamp called Luxo Jr. Not only did the film get nominated for an Academy Award, but Luxo Jr. also became a permanent fixture in the company's logo. Now three students from New Zealand's Wellington University have brought this iconic lamp to life - And, it's even more fun than the animated version....

Hawaii's Big Island is home to some of the world's most active volcanoes. However, none are as dynamic or spectacular as the Kilauea, which has been erupting almost nonstop since 1983. However, its recent explosion was so large that for the first time ever, the lava has made a seven-mile journey right into the ocean, making for some stunning visuals!...

Despite decades of research and exploration, the Arctic and the Antarctica are still a constant source of surprise for scientists. Earlier this year, they discovered a thriving microscopic garden under the ice in the Arctic and now, a robust community of ancient bacteria estimated to be about 2,800 years old....

Surfers visiting Sydney's world famous Bondi Beach on Tuesday November 26th, were in for a little shock - The normally crystal clear blue ocean waters had turned a crimson red! However, before you get all concerned, it was not the result of a brutal shark attack, nor oily tomato sauce as was the original rumor! Instead the culprit was an over abundance of algae called noctiluca scintillans or sea sparkle....

Germination, the process through which plants disperse seeds so that they can sprout and grow into new plants can be a little tricky, given that plants are immobile. Some like dandelions use wind, others by growing prickly fruits that stick to the fur or spine of animals. Then there are those that yield sweet fruit that animals seek out and devour. However, in order for that to work successfully, those plants have to get it really right!...