George Dvorsky, Author at Gizmodo

Black Hole From the Beginning of Time Has Galaxies Caught in Its ‘Spider Web’

A remote structure consisting of a supermassive black hole, several primordial galaxies, and copious amounts of gas finally explains how some of the earliest black holes were able to grow so quickly. The deeper we look into space, the further we look back into time. In this case, astronomers have caught a glimpse of the…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

The First Dinosaur Feather Ever Found Is Still Controversial

A fossilized feather found 159 years ago in Germany has returned to the paleontological spotlight, with new research declaring the feather as having come from the bird-like Archaeopteryx, much to the chagrin of dissenting scientists. When found out of context, an isolated feather fossil presents a serious headache for paleontologists. Such is the case for…

Biology George Dvorsky

Vexing Space Station Air Leak Traced to Russian Module After False Alarm

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station sprung to action late Monday night following concerns that a persistent air leak had grown in size. It turned out to be a false alarm, but during the event, the crew managed to trace the source of the leak to a Russian service module. NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Scientists Reveal More About Volcanic Eruption That Rocked the Ancient Maya

Using a combination of archaeological and geological evidence, scientists have finally pinpointed the date of the infamous Tierra Blanca Joven eruption, which likely devastated Maya communities in what is now El Salvador. Ilopango volcano blew its stack 1,589 years ago—give or take a year or two—according to new research published this week in Proceedings of…

Human History George Dvorsky

Horrified Scientists Watch Snakes Feasting on the Organs of Living Toads

Biologists in Thailand have documented a behavior never seen before in snakes, in which the limbless reptiles eviscerated and consumed the organs of living toads. Snakes, as a general rule, swallow their prey whole, but as new research published in the science journal Herpetozoa points out, the small-banded kukri snake of Thailand is an exception.…

Biology George Dvorsky

A Distant Blue Star Hosts One of the Most Extreme Exoplanets Known to Science

The newly deployed CHEOPS space telescope has completed its first observations of an exoplanet, uncovering some fascinating new details about an ultra-hot Jupiter known as WASP-189b. Hot Jupiters are Jupiter-like exoplanets located in close proximity to their host stars, hence their name. Ultra-hot Jupiters are basically the same thing, but, as you’ve probably guessed, they’re…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Astronomers Claim to Spot Multiple Bodies of Liquid Water on Mars

Two years ago, a team of Italian scientists claimed to have discovered a subglacial lake near the Martian south pole. The same team has collected further evidence to bolster this claim, including the apparent discovery of even more buried bodies of liquid water. The new research speaks to the potential for life on Mars, but…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

A ‘Climate Anomaly’ Worsened World War I and the 1918 Flu Pandemic, New Research Suggests

A once-in-a-century “climate anomaly” exacerbated the awful conditions along the Western Front in Europe during the First World War, according to new research. This unusual weather may have also amplified—and possibly even initiated—the catastrophic 1918-19 flu pandemic, exposing an underappreciated threat posed by climate change. New research published in GeoHealth describes the impact of a…

Earth Science George Dvorsky

New Mini-Moon Might Actually Be Old Space Junk Coming Back to Haunt Us

Earth will soon welcome a temporary mini-moon, but this newly detected object, an apparent asteroid, might actually be of unnatural origin—a booster rocket dating back to the 1960s. The object, designated 2020 SO, was spotted recently by astronomers using the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii. It’s expected to become a temporary mini-moon, a phenomenon that happens…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Black Hole From Iconic Image Appears to Be Wobbling

Scientists are learning important new things about the first-ever directly imaged black hole, including behaviors consistent with Einsteinian theory, but it’s also showing an unexpected feature in the form of a very wobbly ring. Seems like forever ago, but we finally got to feast our eyes on the apparently unseeable back in April 2019, when…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Record-Breaking Whale Stays Underwater for Mind-Bending 3 Hours and 42 Minutes

Marine biologists are astonished after a Cuvier’s beaked whale held its breath for nearly four hours during a deep dive. The unexpected observation shows there’s much to learn about these medium-sized whales. Scientists from Duke University and the Cascadia Research Collective recorded the unbelievable dive during field observations off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North…

Biology George Dvorsky

ISS Maneuvers to Avoid Space Debris, in What’s Becoming the New Normal

Yesterday, NASA and Russian flight controllers performed an “avoidance maneuver” to protect the International Space Station from a wayward chunk of space debris. This episode—already the third of its kind this year—highlights a growing problem and the importance of mitigating potential collisions in space. Low Earth orbit (LEO) is vast and mostly empty, but when…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists

Chromium steel, commonly referred to as stainless steel, is thought to be a recent manufacturing innovation, but new evidence suggests ancient Persians stumbled upon an early version of this alloy some 1,000 years ago, in what is a surprise to archaeologists. Ancient Persians were forging alloys made from chromium steel as early as the 11th…

Human History George Dvorsky

NASA Finally Puts a Price Tag on 2024 Moon Landing

NASA revealed new details about the Artemis moon landing program yesterday, including a detailed budget, project timelines, and an ambitious plan to build a permanent base at the lunar south pole. For the United States to return to the Moon by 2024, it’s going to cost American taxpayers $28 billion, of which $16 billion would…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky

Image: Institute for Molecular Bioscience/University of Queensland

Australia Has Venomous Snakes, Spiders, and… Trees

Notorious stinging trees from Australia cause agonizing pain that can linger for weeks and even months. New research suggests this nettle relative is actually venomous, producing a toxin not unlike the venom of spiders. From snakes and spiders to jellyfish and cone snails, Australia has no shortage of venomous animals. As new research published in…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Image: Environment and Forestry Ministry

Two Critically Endangered Javan Rhino Babies Spotted in Indonesia

Conservationists in Indonesia are celebrating the birth of two Javan rhinos—a species listed as critically endangered and one of the rarest large mammals on Earth. Introducing Helen and Luther, two Javan rhino calves spotted by camera traps at Ujung Kulon National Park in western Java, Indonesia. This 12,600-acre park is the only spot on Earth…

Earther George Dvorsky

120,000-Year-Old Human Footprints Mark Possible Migration Route Through Arabian Peninsula

Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia have discovered seven well-preserved footprints belonging to humans. Dated to around 120,000 years ago, these appear to be the oldest evidence of our species in the region. Prior to the last ice age, somewhere between 112,000 and 122,000 years ago, two humans, possibly three, walked south along the shore of an…

Human History George Dvorsky

Poop Knives, Gassed-Up Gators, and More Absurd Science From the 2020 Ig Nobel Prizes

The winners of the 2020 Ig Nobel Prizes have been announced, and the honored experiments include frozen knives made from poop, an alligator forced to inhale helium, and vibrating earthworms. This annual contest highlights achievements that make “people laugh, then think.” The 30th Ig Nobel Prize ceremony was held online this year due to covid-19.…

Tech News George Dvorsky

Giraffes Are Basically Fuzzy Lightning Rods, New Research Suggests

Earlier this year, conservationists in South Africa discovered two adult giraffes struck down by lightning, signaling a potentially underrated risk for this majestic species. Lightning kills around 27 people in the United States each year, but the quantity and frequency of animal deaths as a result of these electrical outbursts is a complete mystery. Documented…

Biology George Dvorsky

Why Scientists Should Use Magic to Study Animal Intelligence

Scientists should use magic tricks to better understand animal intelligence and perception, argue a team of researchers in a new paper. The idea makes sense, particularly when humans and animals can be fooled by the same illusion. I’ve never really been a fan of magic tricks. Sure, they’re entertaining as hell, but they make me…

Biology George Dvorsky

George Dvorsky

Black Hole From the Beginning of Time Has Galaxies Caught in Its ‘Spider Web’

The First Dinosaur Feather Ever Found Is Still Controversial

Vexing Space Station Air Leak Traced to Russian Module After False Alarm

Scientists Reveal More About Volcanic Eruption That Rocked the Ancient Maya

Horrified Scientists Watch Snakes Feasting on the Organs of Living Toads

A Distant Blue Star Hosts One of the Most Extreme Exoplanets Known to Science

Astronomers Claim to Spot Multiple Bodies of Liquid Water on Mars

A ‘Climate Anomaly’ Worsened World War I and the 1918 Flu Pandemic, New Research Suggests

New Mini-Moon Might Actually Be Old Space Junk Coming Back to Haunt Us

Black Hole From Iconic Image Appears to Be Wobbling

Record-Breaking Whale Stays Underwater for Mind-Bending 3 Hours and 42 Minutes

ISS Maneuvers to Avoid Space Debris, in What’s Becoming the New Normal

1,000-Year-Old Precursor to Stainless Steel Found in Iran, Surprising Archaeologists

NASA Finally Puts a Price Tag on 2024 Moon Landing

Australia Has Venomous Snakes, Spiders, and… Trees

Two Critically Endangered Javan Rhino Babies Spotted in Indonesia

120,000-Year-Old Human Footprints Mark Possible Migration Route Through Arabian Peninsula

Poop Knives, Gassed-Up Gators, and More Absurd Science From the 2020 Ig Nobel Prizes

Giraffes Are Basically Fuzzy Lightning Rods, New Research Suggests

Why Scientists Should Use Magic to Study Animal Intelligence

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Adds ‘Succulent Chinese Meal’ Guy

Feds Sniffing Around Polymarket After Suspicious Bets

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Don’t Get Too Attached to Any AI App

‘Paradise’ Writer Teases What’s Coming in Season 3 After That Huge Twist

Trump’s New White House App Is Mildly Concerning and Weird for a Lot of Reasons

Bloodsucking Ticks Can Survive Inside Your Home Longer Than You Might Think

The Best New Toys of March 2026

Judge Denies Liking LinkedIn Post Critical of Elon Musk But Reassigns His Cases Anyway

Amazon Slashes 50% Off Keurig K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, Now a Budget Alternative to Breville and Nespresso Espresso Machines

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets