More from Laura Baisas (Page 15)

Illustration showing Repenomamus robustus as it attacks Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis moments before a volcanic debris flow buries them both about 125 million years ago.

This badger-like mammal may have died while trying to eat a dinosaur This badger-like mammal may have died while trying to eat a dinosaur

By Laura Baisas

A preterm baby in an incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit. RSV sends about 58,000 children under five to the hospital every year in the United States.

FDA approves long-acting medication to protect babies from RSV FDA approves long-acting medication to protect babies from RSV

By Laura Baisas

A green sea turtle swims in the ocean.

Hungry green sea turtles have eaten in the same seagrass meadows for about 3,000 years Hungry green sea turtles have eaten in the same seagrass meadows for about 3,000 years

By Laura Baisas

In this artist’s rendering from 2020, the small white orb represents the white dwarf (a remnant of a long-dead sun-like star), while the purple foreground object is the newly discovered brown dwarf companion, confirmed by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. This faint brown dwarf was previously overlooked until being spotted by citizen scientists working with Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a NASA-funded citizen science project.

A Jupiter-sized dwarf star burns half as hot as a campfire A Jupiter-sized dwarf star burns half as hot as a campfire

By Laura Baisas

A protester stands next to a digital display of an unofficial heat reading at Furnace Creek Visitor Center during a heat wave in Death Valley National Park in Death Valley, California, on July 16, 2023. The signs read “this is the climate emergency,” and “happy death day.”

Extreme heat warning extends to more than 100 million people in the US Extreme heat warning extends to more than 100 million people in the US

By Laura Baisas

An artist’s illustration of Alligator munensis, which is skimming the water with its eye out and surrounded by lush green trees. The large tooth sockets towards the back of its mouth suggest this extinct gator could crush shells and may have snacked on hard-shelled prey like snails.

Extinct snub-nosed gator had big teeth for crushing snails Extinct snub-nosed gator had big teeth for crushing snails

By Laura Baisas

Multiple boxes of Diet Coke on a store shelf.

WHO categorizes aspartame as a possible carcinogen—but don’t panic WHO categorizes aspartame as a possible carcinogen—but don’t panic

By Laura Baisas

A dire wolf reconstruction on exhibit at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

Mighty saber-toothed cats and dire wolves probably had achy joints Mighty saber-toothed cats and dire wolves probably had achy joints

By Laura Baisas

This image of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover at the rim of Belva Crater was taken by the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during the rotorcraft’s 51st flight on April 22, 2023, the 772nd Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s mission. At the time the image was taken, the helicopter was at an altitude of about 40 feet.

Mars

NASA rover finds evidence of carbon-based chemistry in Martian crater NASA rover finds evidence of carbon-based chemistry in Martian crater

By Laura Baisas

Rows of birth control pills with the days of the week on the label.

FDA approves first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US FDA approves first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US

By Laura Baisas

An image of the northern Gulf of Mexico created from remote-sensing reflectance and chlorophyll measurements taken from newly reprocessed VIIRS data. Green water is seen closer to the coast, while it gets darker and more blue further out.

Scientists say the ocean is changing color—and it’s probably our fault Scientists say the ocean is changing color—and it’s probably our fault

By Laura Baisas

A banded sea snake swimming freely

Some sea snakes may not be colorblind after all Some sea snakes may not be colorblind after all

By Laura Baisas

This is an artist impression of exoplanet LTT9779b orbiting its host star. The host star is located on the left as a large white circle with rays coming out of it in orange. The exoplanet is smaller and shown on the right of the image. The side of the exoplanet that is facing its host star is illuminated. The planet is around the size of Neptune and reflects 80% of the light shone on it, making it the largest known “mirror” in the Universe. The background of the image is black and speckled across the image is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes

The Milky Way’s shiniest known exoplanet has glittering metallic clouds The Milky Way’s shiniest known exoplanet has glittering metallic clouds

By Laura Baisas

Heavy rain sends mud and debris down the Ottauquechee River in Quechee, Vermont on July 10, 2023.

Dangerous inland flooding will last for days in some Northeast states Dangerous inland flooding will last for days in some Northeast states

By Laura Baisas

A large group of shells on a beach. Organisms with hard, durable parts, like shells, are more likely to be preserved as fossils than organisms composed entirely of soft tissue.

The fossil record holds clues about modern-day marine ecology The fossil record holds clues about modern-day marine ecology

By Laura Baisas

A honey bee pollinates a yellow flower against a bright blue sky.

Bee brains could teach robots to make split-second decisions Bee brains could teach robots to make split-second decisions

By Laura Baisas

Two male male rhesus macaques sit on the ground, one with his head down towards the other

Same-sex mounting in male macaques can help them reproduce more successfully Same-sex mounting in male macaques can help them reproduce more successfully

By Laura Baisas

A green and blue aurora borealis glows above a body of water and mountains.

Updated forecast shows northern lights won’t be visible in most US states this week Updated forecast shows northern lights won’t be visible in most US states this week

By Laura Baisas

A doctor points to multiple MRI's of the brain. A newly approved drug targets beta-amyloid, a brain protein that has long been believed by scientists to be one of the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s-slowing drug Leqembi gains full FDA approval Alzheimer’s-slowing drug Leqembi gains full FDA approval

By Laura Baisas

A four-legged spider mite sits on a plant.

Before spider mites mate, one of them gets their skin removed Before spider mites mate, one of them gets their skin removed

By Laura Baisas

$A family plays a board game.$

Kids pick up math skills while playing certain board games Kids pick up math skills while playing certain board games

By Laura Baisas

Abortion rights demonstrators march behind a sign that reads "Abortion on demand and without apology," near the State Capitol in Austin, Texas on June 25, 2022. Abortion rights defenders fanned out across America on June 25 for a second day of protest against the Supreme Court's thunderbolt ruling, as state after conservative state moved swiftly to ban the procedure.

Texas saw a jump in its birth rate after banning most abortions, according to new study Texas saw a jump in its birth rate after banning most abortions, according to new study

By Laura Baisas

A recreation drawing of “The Ivory Lady.” Her remains date back to the Copper Age and her individual burial and the treasures in her tomb indicate that she possibly held the highest status in her society. She is seated above other members who are attentively listening to her. She is also adorned in a red top with a headdress.

Treasures from the ‘Ivory Lady’ tomb reveal a Copper Age woman’s extraordinary power Treasures from the ‘Ivory Lady’ tomb reveal a Copper Age woman’s extraordinary power

By Laura Baisas

Crotalus helleri snake

Stressed rattlesnakes just need a little help from their friends Stressed rattlesnakes just need a little help from their friends

By Laura Baisas

A Southwest Research Institute scientist named Norm Pelletier is wearing all white protective gear as he prepares the Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) for delivery and integration onto the European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft. As part of a 10-instrument payload to study Jupiter and its large moons, UVS will measure ultraviolet spectra that scientists will use to study the composition and structure of the atmospheres of these bodies and how they interact with Jupiter’s massive magnetosphere.

Moons

A toaster-sized NASA instrument captured a UV scene of the Milky Way A toaster-sized NASA instrument captured a UV scene of the Milky Way

By Laura Baisas

Octopuses brooding near hydrothermal vents deep under water. The 19-day Octopus Odyssey expedition located a site of low temperature (7oC) hydrothermal venting with brooding octopus on an unnamed outcrop that was explored for the very first time on this trip.

New species of inkless octopus may have been found in Costa Rica’s deep seas New species of inkless octopus may have been found in Costa Rica’s deep seas

By Laura Baisas

Beach-goers seeking relief from the heat at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach California, on July 1, 2023.

July 3 may have marked the hottest day ever recorded July 3 may have marked the hottest day ever recorded

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of Anomalocaris, which lived 541 million to 530 million years ago during the Cambrian Period. The animal has two bulging eyes on the top of its head and spiny front appendages,

Ancient ‘weird shrimp from Canada’ used bizarre appendages to scarf up soft prey Ancient ‘weird shrimp from Canada’ used bizarre appendages to scarf up soft prey

By Laura Baisas

falcon perches on handler's glove, jersey shore attractions in background

The birds of summer patrolling Ocean City’s boardwalk The birds of summer patrolling Ocean City’s boardwalk

By Laura Baisas, Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet

The ringed planet Saturn imaged for the first time using near-infrared observations. The planet itself appears quite dark and the rings are bright.

Saturn’s rings get a glow up in new near-infrared telescope images Saturn’s rings get a glow up in new near-infrared telescope images

By Laura Baisas

Common bottlenose dolphins swimming in Coffee Bay in South Africa.

Drones are following dolphins to spy on their complex social lives Drones are following dolphins to spy on their complex social lives

By Laura Baisas

A painting of a group of prehistoric residents of Tabon Cave in the Philippines, featuring four individuals of varying ages, using fiber technology at Tabon Cave, 39 to 33,000 years ago. It was painted by Carole Chwval for the exhibition "Trajectories and Movements of the Philippine Identity," curated by Hermine Xhauflair and Eunice Averion.

Damage on 39,000-year-old tools may reveal a prehistoric ‘Age of Bamboo’ Damage on 39,000-year-old tools may reveal a prehistoric ‘Age of Bamboo’

By Laura Baisas

A full moon known as the Buck Moon is seen as a deer grazes outside the village of Taarbaek, Denmark on July 14, 2022.

Mars

July’s skies heat up with the Buck Moon, a shimmery Venus, and more July’s skies heat up with the Buck Moon, a shimmery Venus, and more

By Laura Baisas

A fresco painted on a wall in the ancient city of Pompeii that depicts a focaccia with fruit and possibly pesto sauce on it. It is served on a silver tray and has a wine chalice next to it.

A fresco discovered in Pompeii looks like ancient pizza—but it’s likely focaccia A fresco discovered in Pompeii looks like ancient pizza—but it’s likely focaccia

By Laura Baisas

A Cryo-EM map of a Fanzor protein indicated by gray, yellow, light blue, and pink in complex with ωRNA indicated in purple and its target DNA in red. Non-target DNA strand in blue.

These organisms have a natural gene-editing system that could be more useful than CRISPR These organisms have a natural gene-editing system that could be more useful than CRISPR

By Laura Baisas

A greater honeyguide feeding on beeswax with an open mouth in Niassa Special Reserve in Mozambique.

Badgers and birds may be teaming up to steal honey Badgers and birds may be teaming up to steal honey

By Laura Baisas

The silhouette of a female hunter with a bow and arrow at sunrise.

Women have been skillful, purposeful hunters in most foraging societies Women have been skillful, purposeful hunters in most foraging societies

By Laura Baisas

A mosquito sitting on a bright green leaf.

Rare homegrown malaria cases in the US force health advisory, but don’t panic yet Rare homegrown malaria cases in the US force health advisory, but don’t panic yet

By Laura Baisas

Pouring a cup of hot coffee into a mug.

The ‘experience’ of a cup of coffee may be just as stimulating as its caffeine The ‘experience’ of a cup of coffee may be just as stimulating as its caffeine

By Laura Baisas

A spider monkey stands on a tree branch with a baby monkey on her back.

The ancestor of all placental mammals survived the dino-killing asteroid The ancestor of all placental mammals survived the dino-killing asteroid

By Laura Baisas

A saltwater crocodile peering up over green-ish water.

Why scientists gave vaccines to farmed crocodiles Why scientists gave vaccines to farmed crocodiles

By Laura Baisas

An orangutan sits in the forest and looks forward with its hands under its chin.

Orangutans can make two sounds at the same time Orangutans can make two sounds at the same time

By Laura Baisas

An artist's illustration of a megalogon, which went extinct 3.6 million years ago and are believed to have grown to lengths of 50 feet.

Megalodons were likely warm-blooded, despite being stone-cold killers Megalodons were likely warm-blooded, despite being stone-cold killers

By Laura Baisas

A close-up of a katydid, an insect with six long and lean legs.

A 50-million-year-old insect testicle is one lucky find A 50-million-year-old insect testicle is one lucky find

By Laura Baisas

Close-up photos of three fossil animal specimens from the same area and time horizon as the fossil hominin tibia studied by the research team. These fossils show similar cut marks to those found on the hominin tibia studied. The photos show (a) an antelope mandible, (b) an antelope radius (lower front leg bone) and (c) a large mammal scapula (shoulder blade).

Cut-up prehistoric bone raises questions about early human cannibalism Cut-up prehistoric bone raises questions about early human cannibalism

By Laura Baisas

Astronomers studying a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) with the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, may have observed a never-before-seen way to destroy a star. Unlike most GRBs, which are caused by exploding massive stars or the chance mergers of neutron stars, astronomers have concluded that this GRB came instead from the collision of stars or stellar remnants in the jam-packed environment surrounding a supermassive black hole at the core of an ancient galaxy.

Explosive star ‘demolition derby’ observed for the very first time Explosive star ‘demolition derby’ observed for the very first time

By Laura Baisas

An artist’s reconstruction of Olympicetus thalassodon pursuing a school of fishes alongside plotopterid birds (background) somewhere in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.

This dolphin ancestor looked like a cross between Flipper and Moby Dick This dolphin ancestor looked like a cross between Flipper and Moby Dick

By Laura Baisas

An aerial view of the excavation site in Tiel, Netherlands. The excavation of the 4,000 year old sanctuary began in 2017.

Newly discovered ‘Stonehenge of the Netherlands’ is 4,000 years old Newly discovered ‘Stonehenge of the Netherlands’ is 4,000 years old

By Laura Baisas

A school of grunts and horse-eye jack fish swim above a reef in Hol Chan Marine Reserve near Ambergris Cay, Belize.

Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities

By Laura Baisas

Two small huts near clear, turquoise tropical waters in Tobacco Caye, Belize. he Central American country is the third nation this year to be certified malaria-free.

After a 70-year battle, the WHO declares Belize malaria-free After a 70-year battle, the WHO declares Belize malaria-free

By Laura Baisas

Examples of engravings discovered in the Roche-Cotard cave (Indre et Loire - France). On the left, the "circular panel" (ogive-shaped tracings) and on the right the "wavy panel" (two contiguous tracings forming sinuous lines).

Neanderthals were likely creating art 57,000 years ago Neanderthals were likely creating art 57,000 years ago

By Laura Baisas

Bumblebee pollinator over red and orange flowers

Microscopic worms use electricity to ride bumblebees like EVs Microscopic worms use electricity to ride bumblebees like EVs

By Laura Baisas

A white Andalusian horse galloping in a field.

Horses once had multiple hoofed toes Horses once had multiple hoofed toes

By Laura Baisas

An old scale used for calculating body weight.

New medical policy finally address the limitations and flaws of BMI New medical policy finally address the limitations and flaws of BMI

By Laura Baisas

A summer sunrise over a grassy meadow.

‘Unprecedented’ ocean temperatures and extreme heat waves pop up around the globe ‘Unprecedented’ ocean temperatures and extreme heat waves pop up around the globe

By Laura Baisas

An archaeologist uncovers a skull and bones. The Trumpington Cross was found during the excavation of the burial in 2012.

This 7th-century teen was buried with serious bling—and we now know what she may have looked like This 7th-century teen was buried with serious bling—and we now know what she may have looked like

By Laura Baisas

A glow-worm on a leaf.

Bright white lights are a buzzkill for glow-worm romance Bright white lights are a buzzkill for glow-worm romance

By Laura Baisas

Two ants facing one another. Ants release a pheromone that helps other ants sense danger.

Ants brains are surprisingly good at communicating danger to others Ants brains are surprisingly good at communicating danger to others

By Laura Baisas

A Tyrannosaurus Rex menaces the theme park's first customers in a scene from the 1993 film Jurassic Park.

Celebrate 30 years of Jurassic Park with these recent dinosaur discoveries Celebrate 30 years of Jurassic Park with these recent dinosaur discoveries

By Laura Baisas

Paramecium bursaria under a microscope. All creatures whose cells house a nucleus, including Paramecium bursaria, can be traced back to a common ancestor called the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA).

Newfound single-celled hunters may have been Earth’s first-ever predators Newfound single-celled hunters may have been Earth’s first-ever predators

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of the rhynchosaur Bentonyx from the Middle Triassic of Devon, about 245 million years ago.

This ancient reptile had a deadly vegetarian diet This ancient reptile had a deadly vegetarian diet

By Laura Baisas

The California two-spot octopus (Bimaculoides) is the first octopus species to have its genome sequenced and is very helpful for studying cephalopods.

Octopuses rewrite their own RNA to survive freezing temperatures Octopuses rewrite their own RNA to survive freezing temperatures

By Laura Baisas

A summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano, within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, began at approximately 4:44 AM on June 7, 2023. Lava is flowing on the crater floor and there are several active vent sources. The eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern.

Hawaii’s Mount Kīlauea volcano erupts again—and you can watch it live Hawaii’s Mount Kīlauea volcano erupts again—and you can watch it live

By Laura Baisas

Four kittens standing in grass. Less invasive measures could protect stray cats and the environment.

A new shot can be a safe and effective alternative to surgical spaying A new shot can be a safe and effective alternative to surgical spaying

By Laura Baisas

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