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As humans we are endlessly curious about our past – especially the ancient past. What were our ancient ancestors doing thousands of years ago? Probably not getting hooked on social media platforms like Tik Rock and Twigger (later renamed to Eggs). Jokes aside, the reality of humanity’s ancient past continues to throw up surprises as […]

Meteorites that fall to Earth in a blaze of light allow us to peer back into the physical and chemical properties of their non-terrestrial origins. As we keep our eyes peeled for shooting stars these holidays, these are 5 things we learned about meteorites in 2024. When Mars had liquid water Recent analysis of the […]

Researchers have successfully controlled multiple mechanical oscillators at the quantum level for the first time, a capability essential for creating more powerful quantum systems. Mechanical oscillators turn energy into periodic oscillation. They’re at the heart of all quartz watches, for example. In the quantum realm, macroscopic oscillators could enable ultra-sensitive sensors and quantum computing components. […]

We were absolutely entranced by the midnight sprint of a 3-legged lion through croc-infested waters, filmed by ecologists earlier this year. But that’s not all we learned about the majestic Panthera leo in 2024. Here’s 6 of our favourite lion stories of the year. Watch brave lion brothers cross croc-infested waters in search of love […]

We are diving into our archives and republishing some paid content for free. This long read was originally published in the September 2024 Cosmos print magazine. You can read more amazing long reads if you subscribe now. The insect world is abuzz with life, but is there anything on their minds? Follow Amalyah Hart into a […]

Of all the animals that crawl, wriggle and ooze across the surface of the Earth, these are by far the creepiest we uncovered in 2024. Spider preys on male fireflies blinded by false love A nocturnal species of orb-weaving spider, Araneus ventricosus, has been caught manipulating male fireflies to attract more victims. Scientists in the field […]

We have much thank plants for – the air we breathe, the food we eat, the materials they provide – and we’re learning more and more about them every day! These are 5 of our favourite plant stories of the year. Why do flowers wilt?  Researchers have finally figured out why flowers shrivel up after […]

Break out these 6 food science stories when the food comas hit this silly season. Why does food tastes bad in space? According to astronauts, food doesn’t taste the same in space as it does on Earth. Physiological changes in microgravity could be an important factor in this phenomenon. But research published in July also […]

Louisa Warren is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family connections from Badu Island in the Torres Strait whose impressive career path has led to her becoming the Executive Manager for Indigenous Engagement at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. Warren grew up on tropical Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Country in Cairns, but moved to Brisbane […]

James McCaw is Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Melbourne. His 2024 ARC Laureate Fellowship will focus on preparations for the next pandemic. Mathematical biology is a very broad field. My group works on infectious diseases, studying how viruses and parasites spread within our body, and how they transmit from person to person. […]

Unlike spiders that wait for unsuspecting prey to blunder into their webs, the slingshot or ray spider (Theridiosoma gemmosum) is a more proactive hunter. Lying in wait, it attaches a tension line to a nearby twig or rock and pulls back the centre of its web into a cone. On releasing this tension line, the […]

When it comes to a relaxing summer read, The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes (That Could End the World) might not be the kind of title that springs to mind. But this tongue-in-cheek, hilariously morbid approach to astronomy could actually be the fun read you’re looking for! Written by the bright and bubbly science communicator, […]

We are diving into our archives and republishing some paid content for free. This long read was originally published in the March 2024 Cosmos print magazine. You can read more amazing long reads if you subscribe now. From modest beginnings, weather and climate models have come to dominate our days. Drew Rooke takes a tour across […]

In 2017, NASA discovered and later confirmed comet Oumuamua was the first interstellar object to enter our Solar System. It wasn’t aliens. But artist impressions of ‘Oumuamua’ (The Hawaiian word for “scout”) do resemble an alien spaceship out of a sci-fi novel. This strange depiction is because astronomers don’t quite know how to classify the […]

Researchers in the US have taken inspiration from manta rays’ graceful bird-like motion to design a fast robot that can deftly manoeuvre in water. They say their design for a soft, swimming robot, is suited for complex and unstructured environments, such as deep-sea exploration and environmental monitoring on the surface and underwater. The new soft […]

There is still no evidence that crystals have any healing properties. But that doesn’t mean they’re not a crucial part of other research fields. Here are 5 things scientists did with crystals in 2024 – and a 6th crystalline mystery solved. These pink crystals use magnets to super-cool hydrogen Researchers have made a material capable […]

The Global Methane Budget 2024, released earlier this year, highlights emissions from human activities have increased by 20 per cent in the past two decades.   Methane is one of three core greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. It lasts in the atmosphere for just a few decades, which is shorter when compared to its counterparts, carbon […]

Scores of fascinating science videos were released alongside research in 2024, these are some of our favourites. Feel free to pull them out when the conversation lulls around the table these holidays.  Scientists created their own version of Spider-Man’s web fluid Liquid stream of silk solidifies to a fibre, adheres to and lifts glass laboratory […]

Between 5.97 and 5.33 million years ago, the Mediterranean transformed from a thriving sea to a giant salt basin. The catastrophic event, known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis, was triggered by the movement of the European and African continental plates. They pushed against each other and closed what is now known as the Strait of […]

From the delicate needles which styled garments 40,000 years ago, to the 90 million tonnes of clothes currently discarded each year, fashion has left its mark on the planet – and on us. Here are 8 things we learned this year about fashion’s history – and future. When did fashion begin? The answer is like […]

The mineral calcite is the most stable form of calcium carbonate and is the main mineral found in limestone. It can be found  in the ocean, in shells or hard parts of marine organisms like plankton, coral reefs, types of red algae, oysters and sponges. There is even a stalactitic form of calcite found in […]

We are diving into our archives and republishing some paid content for free. This long read was originally published in the September 2024 Cosmos print magazine. You can read more amazing long reads if you subscribe now. Walking or driving Australia’s Red Centre is a great way to learn about geology. But even geologists agree the […]

Dinosaurs were the dominant creatures on land for more than 150 million years. The Mesozoic era (252–66 million years ago) is sometimes called the “Age of Dinosaurs” or “Age of Reptiles”. During this time, dinosaurs grew to be the largest land animals and biggest predators of all time. We are endlessly amazed by these magnificent […]

Humans can’t go long without water before feeling thirsty enough to rustle up a refreshing beverage. So how do hibernating animals suppress the need to seek out water for months at a time? New research shows that for one animal, it’s all in the mind. A species of squirrel, the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), […]