4 h. ago Scientists find dark oxygen that could reshape our understanding of how life started on Earth

Rocky lumps were found that are capable of producing “dark oxygen” 4,000 metres below sea level completely out of light’s reach

Politics

9 h. ago Life may be hiding in the darkest corners of the moon, scientists say

Mysterious lifeforms may be lurking in the dark shadows of the Moon, scientists say. These permanently shaded areas of the Moon's polar regions could serve as safe havens for microbes.

Politics

11 h. ago Strange lifeforms may be hiding on the moon... and they could jeopardize future space missions

Mysterious lifeforms may be lurking in the dark shadows of the Moon, scientists say. These permanently shaded areas of the Moon's polar regions could serve as safe havens for microbes.

Events

4 d. ago Top genome scientists to map DNA sequence of invertebrate winner 2025

Sanger Institute’s Tree of Life team say genomes offer invaluable insight into how species will fare under climate crisisVoting is now open! Vote for your favourite here“We are following the ‘invertebrate of the year’ series with bated breath,” began the email that arrived in the Guardian’s inbox last week.Mark Blaxter leads the Sanger Institute’s Tree of Life programme, a project that sequences species’ DNA to understand the diversity and origins of life on Earth. But far more importantly, Blaxter and his team are superfans of our invertebrate of the year competition and have offered to map the genome sequence of whoever wins this year. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago First orbital rocket launched from Europe crashes after launch

Failure of Spectrum rocket seconds after blast-off deals blow to continent’s effort to build new space economyThe first orbital rocket launched from continental Europe crashed seconds after blast-off on Sunday, dealing a blow to the continent’s effort to build a new space economy.The Spectrum rocket, developed by the German startup Isar Aerospace, tilted over and crashed back to Earth with a powerful boom just after launching from Norway’s Andøya spaceport in the Arctic, in live video broadcast on YouTube. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Brazil humiliated by Argentina as bitter rivals book place at 2026 World Cup

Alvarez, Fernández, Mac Allister and Simeone on target in 4-1 win Argentina the first South American team to secure qualificationBrazil were humiliated 4-1 by bitter rivals Argentina in South American World Cup qualifiers as the pressure mounted on manager Dorival Júnior after his side were comprehensively outplayed and fortunate not to lose by more.After edging Colombia 2-1 at home on Thursday, Brazil came crashing back to earth against the world champions, who started the rout with a close-range strike by Julián Alvarez four minutes after kick-off. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Iron age hoard found in North Yorkshire could change Britain’s history

More than 800 objects unearthed near Melsonby show the north was ‘definitely not a backwater’ 2,000 years agoOne of the biggest and most important iron age hoards ever found in the UK has been revealed, potentially altering our understanding of life in Britain 2,000 years ago.More than 800 objects were unearthed in a field near the village of Melsonby, North Yorkshire. They date back to the first century, around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain under Emperor Claudius, and are almost certainly associated with a tribe called the Brigantes who controlled most of northern England. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Scientists reveal diet secret behind the world's oldest woman's 117

Researchers are attempting to understand the key to long life in the one-of-a-kind DNA of a woman who lived to age 117

Events

2 w. ago Dark energy: Scientists' new finding turns understanding of the universe on its head

A new finding has challenged Einstein's theory of the Universe

Science

2 w. ago Dark energy: mysterious cosmic force appears to be weakening, say scientists

Findings could open up possibility the universe will end in a reverse big bang or ‘big crunch’, say cosmologistsExplainer: Is dark energy destined to dominate the universe?Dark energy, the mysterious force powering the expansion of the universe, appears to be weakening, according to a survey that could “overthrow” scientists’ current understanding of the fate of the cosmos.If confirmed, the results from the dark energy spectroscopic instrument (Desi) team at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona would have profound implications for theories about the evolution of the universe, opening up the possibility that its current expansion could eventually go into reverse in a “big crunch”. Continue reading...

Science

2 w. ago Is dark energy destined to dominate the universe and lead to the ‘big crunch’?

New universes may emerge in due course, says scientist at Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument in ArizonaDark energy: mysterious cosmic force appears to be weakening, say scientistsSince the big bang, a cosmic battle has been under way between matter (both dark matter and ordinary) and dark energy.The gravitational force that draws massive objects such as galaxies towards each other works against the expansion of the universe. But astronomical observations show that the universe’s expansion has, oddly, been speeding up. This led scientists to conclude that dark energy, a mysterious force acting as a sort of anti-gravity, permeates the entirety of space. And dark energy appeared to be at a significant advantage in the cosmic tug of war. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘I like to do normal things’: Virgil van Dijk maintains sense of perspective

Liverpool captain watched his daughter star in the school play before taking centre stage in the Carabao Cup finalVirgil van Dijk’s attention was not on football on Thursday night or checking on the state of contract negotiations. Instead he was watching a school production of Fantastic Mr Fox. His daughter Jadi, like her father on the pitch, had a starring role: she was Mrs Fox, while Wataru Endo’s son was a rat. It was the perfect antidote to going out of the Champions League on Tuesday to Paris Saint-Germain and waiting for Sunday’sCarabao Cup final against Newcastle.“I’m also a normal father, husband, man, and I like to do normal things,” Van Dijk says. “And when you’ve been seen as normal as well, and it’s difficult, but going to school is a nice thing. Some of the kids are looking up, thinking: ‘What are you doing here?’ The most important thing in life is my kids and my wife’s life. These things are definitely important, but they fully understand as well when it’s time to ful...

Politics

3 w. ago Primordial surf: ‘microlightning’ in mist may have sparked life on Earth, study finds

Tiny lightning streaks in fine spray can power chemical reactions that generate molecules for life, scientists sayCharles Darwin thought it started in a warm pond. Others point to comets that ploughed into Earth. And some suspect a bolt from the blue, a lightning strike into the ocean.How life started on Earth may forever be a mystery, but new research proposes a radical idea: that crashing waves and waterfalls may have kicked off the process by throwing up mists of water. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘It’s human conceit to think we’re alone’: life must extend beyond earth, leading space scientist says

Exclusive: It’s imperative we expand our understanding of space and the possibility of life elsewhere, argues Dame Maggie Aderin-PocockLife must exist beyond Earth, a leading space scientist has said, adding it is yet another example of our own pride to suppose otherwise.The British space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who will be delivering the Royal Institution Christmas lecture this year, said that while science has made giant leaps in our understanding of space, including the sheer size of the universe, there is still much to learn – not least whether we are alone.The Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution supported by CGI will be broadcast on the BBC and iPlayer in late December Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago How 'natural Ozempic' helped me finally fix the broken relationship with food that plagues so many women of my generation

I have a special new someone in my life. Someone who understands me in different ways to my husband. Who notices things about my body that no one else does.

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