George Dvorsky

What Would Happen If All Our Satellites Were Suddenly Destroyed?

There are three plausible scenarios in which mass satellite destruction could occur.

This Gorgeous Natural Pearl Dates Back 2,000 Years

While conducting excavations on the north Kimberly coast of Western Australia, archaeologists from the University of Wollongong inadvertently stumbled upon an incredibly ancient natural marine pearl — the value of which has been described as “irreplaceable.” The spherical pearl was discovered at the Brremangurey Rockshelter in the Admiralty Gulf, which is home to over 12,000…

New Details Emerge About Pluto’s Bizarre Family Of Moons

Analysis of Hubble data shows that two — and possibly all four — of the Pluto-Charon system’s smallest moons are wobbling in a wildly unpredictable fashion. What’s more, one moon, Kerberos, appears to exhibit a dark charcoal-like surface that’s radically distinct from other Plutonian moons. Above: Computer animation showing the chaotic tumbling of Nix. The…

Surgeons In Brazil Successfully Implant A 3D-Printed Titanium Skull

After suffering a horrific motorcycle accident, 23-year-old Jessica Cussioli was left without a large portion of her skull. Neurosurgeons in Brazil have now come to the rescue by performing the country’s first-ever transplant of a 3D-printed titanium skull. Top image: Cussioli after the surgery As reported in 3ders, the bones across the right side of…

Majestic Video Re-imagines Earth’s Sky If Celestial Bodies Were Closer

Our view of space is quite bland compared to what it could be like, as illustrated by this stunning “alternative celestial history” video produced by Russian space agency Roscosmos. It’s a whimsical interpretation of what an alternative celestial field of view might look like. The video features everything from the Andromeda galaxy (which is relatively…

Space May Be A Vacuum, But It’s Still A Surprisingly Noisy Place

There’s no air in space, which explains that whole “no one can hear you scream” thing. But as this SciShow Space video explains, there are plenty of other things that scientists can “listen” for that are streaming across the celestial void.

New Wal-Mart Guidelines Call For The Humane Treatment Of Farm Animals

Wal-Mart is asking its suppliers of meat, deli, dairy, and egg products to honor a new set of guidelines calling for the humane treatment of livestock and a reduction in the use of antibiotics. Supporters say this could revolutionize animal agriculture — but will Wal-Mart’s suppliers follow through? The retail giant has done stuff like…

This Animated Explanation Of Gluten Is Exactly What The Doctor Ordered

TED-Ed, with the help of gastroenterologist Dr. William D. Chey, has put together a wonderfully concise 5-minute explainer about gluten — and why it has only recently been perceived as a health problem.

Large Plasma Tubes Confirmed to Exist Above The Earth’s Atmosphere

For over six decades, scientists have speculated about the existence of plasma structures that reside in the magnetosphere’s inner layers. Researchers in Australia have now created 3D images of these tubes for the very first time, proving they’re quite real. This is an important discovery for a number of reasons. First, these structures are the…

These Maps Show Just How Screwed China Will Be After Sea Levels Rise

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s sea levels are poised to rise dramatically in the future — as much as 200 feet (60 meters) in some parts. China’s coastlines are considered to be among the most vulnerable areas, as conveyed by these rather disturbing maps. Top image: The metropolitan area of…

When used together, a pair of cancer medications can shrink tumors in 60% of patients with advanced-stage melanoma. During an international trial involving 945 patients, UK doctors discovered that ipilimumab and nivolumab can cue the immune system to attack cancerous cells. Unfortunately, the drugs’ side-effects are amplified. Image: A patient’s CT scan before treatment (left)…

Over 120,000 Saiga Antelopes Have Inexplicably Died Since Mid-May

Scientists are desperately trying to understand the cause of a mass die-off that has cut the global population of the critically endangered saiga antelope nearly in half. Saiga antelopes, known for their distinctive flexible proboscises, live in large herds on the steppe grasslands and semi-arid deserts of central Asia. More than 120,000 have died in…

The Mysterious Syndrome In Which Healthy People Can’t Recall Their Past

The authors of a recent study published in Neuropsycholgia say they’ve identified a new syndrome characterized by the inability to re-live previous experiences. It sounds a lot like amnesia, but people with this rare condition are otherwise healthy and have no history of brain damage or psychological trauma. Most of us have no difficulty transporting…

Watching The Simultaneous Release Of 11,000 Marbles Is Pure Bliss

Ever seen a “marble tsunami?” You have now. Here are the specs of the Big Marble Run Machine, as provided by its developer, Jelle Bakker. Number of marbles total: around 13,000 Number of paths: 4 Number of tipping containers: 4 (10, 120, 1070 and 10,600 marbles) Construction started: 20 april 2015 Construction completed: Expected begin…

Our Closest View Yet Of Ceres’ Pockmarked Surface

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft is getting progressively closer to Ceres. And we’re getting some amazing views — this remarkably detailed shot shows the dwarf planet’s cratered surface from a distance of only 3,200 miles (5,100 km). This shot, taken by Dawn’s OpNav9 camera on May 23, shows some previously unseen features, including secondary craters formed by…

How Chess Has Changed Over The Last 150 Years

The rules of chess have remained consistent since the early 19th Century, but that doesn’t mean our approach to the game has stayed the same. Here are some intriguing and surprising ways the Game of Kings has changed its shape over the past 150 years. The history of chess dates back 1,500 years, but it…

An Archaeological Site Was Accidentally Torched At Israel’s Burning Man

So much for leaving no trace: The Israeli Antiquities Authority is accusing the organizers of Midburn — the Israeli affiliate of Burning Man — of accidentally torching ancient remnants dating back to Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic periods. The recently concluded Midburn Festival drew some 6,000 people to the Negev Desert in southern Israel from May 20…

Before-And-After Pics Show The Arkansas River Bloated By Flood Waters

The U.S. Deep South has been deluged by rain over the past several weeks. These satellite images show the extent of the flooding along the Arkansas River. These images were captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite. The image on the right was taken on May 14, 2013 under normal…

A Direct Image Of Another Solar System’s Kuiper Belt

By using the Gemini Planet Imager, an international team of astronomers have captured an image of a protoplanetary disc that shares remarkable similarities with our own Kuiper Belt — though as it was at a much earlier time in our Solar System’s history. The young system, called HD 115600, is located about 360 light-years away.…

Hallucinations And Delusions Are Surprisingly Common

Ever heard a voice inside your head or saw something that wasn’t there? You’re not alone — and it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with you. A study of more than 30,000 people from 18 countries found that about one in 20 of us have experienced a psychotic episode at least once. The long-term…