Margherita Bassi, Author at Gizmodo

‘Something’s Really Happening Here’: Mining Is Contaminating Snow in the Northern Rockies

Snow storms in the northern Rockies are depositing metal contaminants from mines in the Pacific Northwest, according to new research.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Apr 4 '25

Mass Grave of 150 Roman Soldiers Found Under Vienna Sports Field

The remains belonged to around 150 men between the ages of 20 and 30—all victims of a fierce battle.

Human History Margherita Bassi Apr 4 '25

Ancient Bacteria Were Breathing Long Before Oxygen Became Abundant

Scientists assumed most forms of life before the Great Oxidation Event didn't metabolize oxygen—but recent research suggests otherwise.

Biology Margherita Bassi Apr 3 '25

This Lichen Species Might Survive on Mars, Study Suggests

Researchers exposed two lichen species to Mars-like atmospheric conditions for five hours—and one performed impressively.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi Apr 3 '25

Lightning bolts during a storm in Germany.

This Debunked Lightning Safety Tip Just Won’t Die—and It’s Still Dangerous

Outdated lightning safety advice is making the rounds again, prompting experts to speak up about what actually keeps you safe in a storm.

Health Margherita Bassi Apr 3 '25

When the Dino-Killing Asteroid Hit, Mammals Were Already on the Move

Researchers suggest that ground-based mammals fared better than their arboreal relatives during the end-Cretaceous extinction thanks to their lifestyle.

Biology Margherita Bassi Apr 2 '25

Buried for Millennia, Scientists Coax 7,000-Year-Old Algae Back to Life

The revived organisms resumed their biological activities as if they hadn't been without oxygen and light for thousands of years.

Biology Margherita Bassi Apr 1 '25

Creepy New Sunflower Discovered in Texas National Park

With furry white leaves and maroon-streaked florets, the newly identified plant has been dubbed "wooly devil."

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 31 '25

Tales of Merlin and King Arthur Resurface After 750 Years, Hidden in a Bookbinding

500 years ago, someone decided to use parts of a now-rare manuscript to bind together property records.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 30 '25

Self Administered New Contraceptive Shot

New Birth Control Shot Transforms Into a Long-Lasting Implant—No Clinic Required

The technology uses tiny crystals to achieve both long-term effectiveness and the convenience of injections.

Health Margherita Bassi Mar 29 '25

Struck by Lightning? This Tree Kinda Likes it

New research suggests that Dipteryx oleifera trees, after being struck by lightning, are 14 times more likely to produce offspring.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 29 '25

Giant, Ancient Life Form Doesn’t Fit Into Any Known Branch of Life

Scientists have debated where Prototaxites belong in the tree of life for over a century, but now a new study suggests it might represent a whole new branch.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 28 '25

Neanderthal Faces Were Bigger Than Ours. Turns Out We’re the Weirdos

By comparing modern human, Neanderthal, and chimpanzee skulls, researchers have uncovered a unique trait having to do with our faces.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 27 '25

Microplastics In Chewing Gum Feature Image

Chewing Gum Releases Thousands of Microplastics Into Our Saliva, Researchers Find

Researchers tested ten different chewing gum brands, and found no difference between synthetic and natural gum.

Health Margherita Bassi Mar 26 '25

Shackles Found in Egyptian Gold Mine Reveal the Human Toll of Ancient Wealth

The artifacts reveal the harsh working conditions in ancient Egyptian gold mines under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 26 '25

WWI’s Famous Dazzle Camouflage Seemed Effective Due to Unexpected Optical Trick, Study Finds

A reanalysis of a 1919 study suggests that a separate illusion, the "horizon effect," played a bigger role in warping visual perception than dazzle paint.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 20 '25

Ancient Greek and Roman Statues Were More Than Eye Candy—They Were Also Perfumed

Thousands of years ago, Greco-Roman statues offered viewers a multi-dimensional experience that also called to our olfactory senses.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 19 '25

‘Microlightning’ May Have Sparked Life on Earth, New Research Suggests

The study supports a new take on a controversial hypothesis from the 1950s.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi Mar 18 '25

‘Old Stump’ in Texas Turns Out to Be Incredibly Rare Mammoth Tusk

The tusk may have belonged to a Columbian mammoth, an Ice Age species that disappeared over 11,000 years ago.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 18 '25

Black Holes Could Be Tunnels to White Holes, New Theory Suggests

Black hole singularities might be the beginning rather than an end, new research suggests.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi Mar 17 '25

Margherita Bassi

‘Something’s Really Happening Here’: Mining Is Contaminating Snow in the Northern Rockies

Mass Grave of 150 Roman Soldiers Found Under Vienna Sports Field

Ancient Bacteria Were Breathing Long Before Oxygen Became Abundant

This Lichen Species Might Survive on Mars, Study Suggests

This Debunked Lightning Safety Tip Just Won’t Die—and It’s Still Dangerous

When the Dino-Killing Asteroid Hit, Mammals Were Already on the Move

Buried for Millennia, Scientists Coax 7,000-Year-Old Algae Back to Life

Creepy New Sunflower Discovered in Texas National Park

Tales of Merlin and King Arthur Resurface After 750 Years, Hidden in a Bookbinding

New Birth Control Shot Transforms Into a Long-Lasting Implant—No Clinic Required

Struck by Lightning? This Tree Kinda Likes it

Giant, Ancient Life Form Doesn’t Fit Into Any Known Branch of Life

Neanderthal Faces Were Bigger Than Ours. Turns Out We’re the Weirdos

Chewing Gum Releases Thousands of Microplastics Into Our Saliva, Researchers Find

Shackles Found in Egyptian Gold Mine Reveal the Human Toll of Ancient Wealth

WWI’s Famous Dazzle Camouflage Seemed Effective Due to Unexpected Optical Trick, Study Finds

Ancient Greek and Roman Statues Were More Than Eye Candy—They Were Also Perfumed

‘Microlightning’ May Have Sparked Life on Earth, New Research Suggests

‘Old Stump’ in Texas Turns Out to Be Incredibly Rare Mammoth Tusk

Black Holes Could Be Tunnels to White Holes, New Theory Suggests

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Claims Strikes on Russian Data Centers Silenced Social Media Bots

Mark Zuckerberg: Meta Is on the Frontier Now

Hackers Overheat Fridges at Supermarkets Across France, Wasting Food and Starting Fires

Solar Orbiter Traces the Origin of a Mysterious S-Shaped Kink on the Sun

Astronomers Spot Possible Signs of Antimatter Disappearing Beyond Our Galaxy

How to Remove Your Personal Information From the Internet?

Anthropic’s AI Submitted a Fake Tip in an Unsolved Murder Case

Based AI People Are Supposedly Smoking Because AI Will Cure Cancer

The Voice of Daredevil Becomes Him in Self-Made Fan Film

Samsung B-Series Soundbar Goes From Prime Day Deal to Clearance Steal, Now Under $100 on Amazon

Eufy Omni E35 Review: Finally, a Luxury Robovac That Doesn’t Piss Me Off

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (2nd Gen) Review: The King of Clip-Ons Is Re-Crowned

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) Review: Technically an Upgrade

Lenovo Legion 5i (2026) Review: A Gaming Laptop That Epitomizes the PC Pricing Paradox

TP-Link Tapo Doorbell Pro D260 Review: Everything You Need at No Extra Cost

Sonos Beam Ultra Review: The Soundbar You Really Want

Nothing Headphone 1 Pro Review: Honest-to-God S-Tier Headphones

The Best Gadgets of September 2026

GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS Review: A Bad GoPro and a Worse Camera

Apple Watch Ultra 4 Review: Still the Best Health Buddy for Your Wrist