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HOW SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED SEAFLOOR SPREADING
Built to hunt enemy submarines during World War II, this device later transformed our understanding of the seafloorWorld War II fluxgate magnetometer: A World War II device found new scientific purpose after the war. Oceanographers refitted the fluxgate ...
Scientists once rejected continental drift, then a woman in 1977 drew the ocean floor and changed Earth science foreverMarie Tharp played a pivotal role in transforming scientific thought on continental drift through her meticulously crafted seafloor maps. C...
In 2016, Barack Obama's name ended up on a newly discovered parasite, but it was an honor, and scientists had this to sayBaracktrema obamai - the unusual name may attract attention, but its evolutionary significance is what makes the discovery truly fascinatin...
In 2005, scientists revealed how ships helped Moon Jellyfish conquer the world's seas and threaten ecosystems around the planetScientists have reported a concerning invasion of alien moon jellyfish across various marine ecosystems. These jellyfish hitch rides on shi...
In 2009, scientists revealed the world's most annoying insect, mosquito, turned out to have a romantic sideMosquitoes engage in a captivating courtship ritual, producing harmonious melodies through the rhythm of their wing beats. This phenomenon ...
200 years ago one of Earth's oldest plant chemicals was isolated but researchers now find ways to make new potential medicines with two poisonous flowersScientists have uncovered how two famously poisonous plants produce complex chemicals that could one day contribute to new medicines. Resea...
In 1970, US dumped 2 million tires into the ocean; a plan to save marine life turned into one of the biggest environmental blundersIn 1972, more than 2 million old tires were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean off Florida. The goal was simple. Create an artificial reef and ...
In 2023, San Diego researchers released bright pink dye into an estuary plume to study how runoff moves through breaking surfResearchers dyed ocean water pink to track storm runoff at Torrey Pines. This experiment, called PiNC, used non-toxic dye released into Los...
The Story of 'Toughie': How the last known gliding tree frog vanishedThe last known Rabbs' fringe-limbed tree frog, named Toughie, died in 2016, marking the species' likely extinction. Researchers collected a...
In 1997, a mysterious ocean sound called the 'Bloop' sparked sea monster and lost underwater city theories. The truth came from AntarcticaScientists detected a powerful underwater sound called the Bloop in 1997. This mysterious noise traveled thousands of miles, sparking specu...
NASA's Curiosity rover discovers vast field of honeycomb-like textures on Mars. Here's why it mattersNASA's Curiosity rover found a large field of honeycomb-like rock textures. These polygonal fractures are the largest such formation the ro...
In 2010, a 36-minute routine telescope session captured hidden giant rings in Venus' atmosphere: Archived images reveal mysterious planet-wide atmospheric waves after 16 yearsIn 2010, astronomers captured 36 minutes of Venus imagery while waiting for sunset in the Canary Islands. The data sat forgotten in archive...
In 2010, scientists found a slime mold that designed transport networks like Tokyo's rail systemSlime mold Tokyo rail system: Scientists discovered slime mold creates efficient transport networks. This organism's natural behavior resem...
In 1969, four scientists entered an underwater lab to test long-term life beneath the sea; 60 days and a 19-hour decompression later, all emerged safelyFour scientists lived underwater for sixty days in 1969. This mission studied marine life and human endurance in isolation. The habitat was...
In the 1960s, giant Red King crabs were introduced to the Barents Sea by the Soviets, then everything changedGiant red king crabs: Soviet scientists introduced red king crabs to the Barents Sea for a new seafood resource. These crabs successfully e...
At least 8,500 potentially polluting shipwrecks are rusting on the ocean floor with fuel still inside; leaks in Micronesia show the risk that one storm or earthquake could unleashSunken World War II warships are becoming a significant pollution threat globally. These vessels hold vast amounts of oil and are slowly co...
In 2007, scientists found giant underwater domes off California; the truth was stranger than anyone expectedMysterious underwater domes off California were identified as ancient asphalt volcanoes. These formations originated from hardened crude oi...
In 1996, a hidden dinosaur in Patagonia became the Southern Hemisphere's first known raptor that roamed 90 million years ago: Fossil discovery explains how raptors spread across ancient EarthIn 1996, a hidden dinosaur in Patagonia became the Southern Hemisphere's first known raptor that roamed 90 million years ago after research...
Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines' MH370 vanished, an overlooked clue is back in focusMH370 overlooked clue: Old acoustic clues are raising questions about the MH370 search location. Hydrophones may have detected the aircraft...
Scientists discover largest 'invisible gold' reserve beneath Japan's seabed, but this one major problem may never let the underwater treasure be minedScientists have identified a vast reserve of hidden gold deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. This "invisible gold" is locked inside pyrite and ...