FILE PHOTO: A man holds a pangolin at a wild animal rescue centre in Cuc Phuong, outside Hanoi, Vietnam September 12, 2016. Reuters

Pangolin possible
coronavirus host

Chinese scientists say the outbreak could have spread from bats to humans through the illegal traffic of pangolins

How do bats live with so many viruses?

FILE -- A big brown bat collected by researchers in a cave near Ely, Nev., Nov. 5, 2018. Bats are considered the probable source of the coronavirus outbreak spreading from China. It turns out that they may have an immune system that lets them coexist with many disease-causing viruses. (Kim Raff/The New York Times) If previous outbreaks are any indication, the new coronavirus strain may eventually be traced back to bats

The freshwater giants are dying

In a photo provided by Zeb Hogan, UNR Global Water Center, the giant devil catfish, or goonch, is found in the rivers of Southeast Asia, and can measure nearly seven feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds. Overharvesting and habitat loss endanger most of the world’s freshwater “megafauna, Some of the most astonishing creatures on Earth hide deep in rivers and lakes

Boeing Starliner fails key test after liftoff

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, atop a ULA Atlas V rocket, lifts off for an uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida December 20, 2019. REUTERS Boeing Co’s new astronaut capsule fails to climb high enough in orbit to reach the International Space Station

Tombs at ancient Greek site were gold-lined chambers

A photo provided by the University of Cincinnati shows the Tholos Tomb IV at Pylos, as reconstructed by the Greek Archaeological Service. Two large tombs have been discovered and excavated at the site of the ancient city of Pylos in southern Greece, suggesting that Pylos played a surprisingly prominent role in early Mycenaean civilisation. The New York Times The burial structures suggest earlier trade links between Pylos, Greece, and Egypt

China’s research on ethnic minorities draws backlash

A shuttered mosque in Kashgar with its crescent removed from the dome's peak, in China's western region of Xinjiang, where more than one million people from predominantly Muslim minority groups have been locked up in the name of quelling terrorism, Aug 6, 2019. Scientists are raising questions about the ethics of studies backed by Chinese surveillance agencies. The New York Times Scientists are raising questions about the ethics of studies backed by Chinese surveillance agencies

Space hotels race to offer tourists a room in the sky

Representational image. Reuters They are working on ways to bring the stars into reach for more people

Millions of ibises mummified in Egypt

In an image provided by the British Museum, a depiction of Thoth, centre, an ancient Egyptian god of writing, who was depicted with the head of an ibis. Experts have put forth a number of explanations for how the ancient Egyptians possessed millions — yes, millions — of African sacred ibises that they mummified as offerings to the god Thoth. New DNA analysis undercuts the theory that they created large-scale ibis breeding farms. The New York Times But where did the ancient country get them?

Mankind’s ancestral ‘homeland’ spotted

FILE PHOTO: Vanessa Hayes speaks with Headman ǀkun ǀkunta, from an extended Ju/'hoansi family, who provided genome data for a study identifying the ancestral homeland in southern Africa of all living members of our species, in Namibia, Feb 6, 2019. Chris Bennett/Evolving Picture/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo A large ancient wetlands region spanning northern Botswana may represent the ancestral homeland of all of the 7.7 billion people on Earth today, says researchers

Even eagles have data roaming limits

Russian scientists are currently tracking 13 steppe eagles. The birds breed in Russia and Kazakhstan, but fly to South Asia for the winter. The New York Times Frequent flyers often find themselves with hefty phone bills. But eagles?

Beetle species named
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Quantum computing is coming, bit by qubit
NASA conducts first ever all-female spacewalk
NASA to launch first manned flight into orbit
Fossils of 'shark-toothed' dinosaur found in Thailand
Nobel prize for work on
Earth’s place in universe
First all-female spacewalk back on: NASA
4 homeless men bludgeoned to death
Musk sets out SpaceX Starship’s launch timeline
At Area 51, they come in peace
Water found in atmosphere of exoplanet
India loses contact
with moon mission
India within reach of the moon
Loch Ness monster might be a giant eel: Scientists
How a bitter divorce battle on earth led to a 'space crime'
Where the Titanic rests, decay races on
The mystery of the Himalaya’s Skeleton Lake gets deeper
Fossils of primordial predator unearthed in Canada
A bicycle built for none
The workplace still isn’t equal, even if it’s the moon
Companies risk clutter, conflict in race for the skies
Astronauts hailed on 50th moon landing anniversary
India confident after delay of Chandrayaan-2 launch
NASA gears up for new moon race
Hawaii telescope project to begin construction
Armstrong: First man on the moon, and its first great geologist
Milestone for genealogy sites: First guilty verdict