Margherita Bassi, Author at Gizmodo

New technique manipulates water waves to precisely control floating objects

Wild ‘Waterbending’ Technique Uses Waves to Steer Floating Objects With Precision

Researchers manipulated water waves to move ping pong balls with a level of precision that seems straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi Mar 16 '25

AI Sucks at Reading Clocks

Large language models still struggle with simple tasks like telling time.

Artificial Intelligence Margherita Bassi Mar 16 '25

Scientists Discover Troves of New Species at the Ocean’s Deepest Depths

Researchers descended more than 35,700 feet (10,900 meters) below sea level to collect biological samples that revealed surprising diversity. And also trash.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 16 '25

An Early Mass Extinction Event Cooked Our Planet and Erased Most Life

A new study reveals that Earth's biomes changed dramatically in the wake of mass volcanic eruptions 252 million years ago.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Mar 15 '25

When It Comes to Unwanted Weight Gain, Humans and Labradors Have This in Common

New research suggests humans and labradors might be predisposed to gaining weight for similar reasons.

Health Margherita Bassi Mar 15 '25

Alaskan Volcano Likely to Erupt in the Next Weeks or Months, Experts Warn

Volcanologists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory have been monitoring volcanic unrest since April of last year.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Mar 13 '25

This High School Rock Is Teeming With Dinosaur Footprints—but No One Noticed for Decades

A slab of rock at an Australian high school, a boulder in a parking lot, and a bookend in a private collection feature 200-million-year-old dinosaur footprints.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 13 '25

Astronomers Confirm 4 Rocky Exoplanets in Earth’s Backyard, Just 6 Light-Years Away

A new study finally sheds light on our mysterious cosmic neighbors and sets a planet-hunting record.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi Mar 12 '25

‘Whale Conveyor Belt’ Moves Tons of Nutrients Across the Ocean—Through Urine

When whales migrate from their cold feeding grounds to warmer breeding waters, they carry tons of nutrients in their urine.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 11 '25

An artistic illustration of an Otodus megalodon next to a diver.

Some Megalodons Reached 80 Feet—But They Weren’t Built Like Great Whites, Research Suggests

Researchers refined their size estimates of the prehistoric shark by studying the bodily proportions of 165 other shark species.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 9 '25

Scientists Kept People’s Eyes Open While They Slept, Revealing Surprising Brain Activity

A recent study observed sleeping participants' pupils during sleep, using a new method that could have implications for studying sleep disorders.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 9 '25

New Battery Harvests Energy From Radioactive Nuclear Waste

The battery uses solar power generated by crystals that emit light when they absorb radiation.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi Mar 8 '25

A ‘Real Super Female’: 310-Mile Stretch of Seaweed May Be World’s Biggest Clone

A female bladderwrack seaweed plant in the Baltic Sea propagated clones across hundreds of miles.

Biology Margherita Bassi Mar 8 '25

Archaeologists Find Creepy 2,400-Year-Old Puppets Atop El Salvador Pyramid

Two archaeologists discovered the ceramic figurines—possibly used as puppets—at the top of a pyramid, and three of them have adjustable heads.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 7 '25

A Monumental Storm Dropped 16 Billion Tons of Snow on Greenland, Slowing Melt of Ice Sheet

Climate scientists thought stronger atmospheric rivers would accelerate Greenland's ice loss—but it might actually be slowing it down.

Climate Change Margherita Bassi Mar 7 '25

Plastic Triggered a New Geological Epoch—and the Evidence May Be in Bird Nests

Researchers reconstructed the history of an unusual 30-year-old bird nest based on the expiration dates printed on plastic waste in the structure.

Conservation Margherita Bassi Mar 6 '25

The Sun Might Be Influencing Earthquakes, Scientists Say

Computer models that factor in the Sun's impact on Earth's surface temperatures are providing more accurate simulations of past earthquakes.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Mar 5 '25

Sleep Patterns in Comatose Patients May Predict Their Chances of Waking Up

New research suggests certain sleep patterns can help predict whether comatose patients will regain consciousness.

Health Margherita Bassi Mar 4 '25

Rare Handwritten Copy of Famous Shakespeare Sonnet Found in Oxford Library

The recently discovered copy of Sonnet 116 "reads as a political love song" during England's Civil Wars, according to the professor who found it.

Human History Margherita Bassi Mar 3 '25

Billions of Years Ago, Mars Featured Beaches Fit for a Vacation, Astronomers Say

Researchers identified underground sedimentary layers on Mars similar to coastal formations on Earth.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi Mar 2 '25

Margherita Bassi

Wild ‘Waterbending’ Technique Uses Waves to Steer Floating Objects With Precision

AI Sucks at Reading Clocks

Scientists Discover Troves of New Species at the Ocean’s Deepest Depths

An Early Mass Extinction Event Cooked Our Planet and Erased Most Life

When It Comes to Unwanted Weight Gain, Humans and Labradors Have This in Common

Alaskan Volcano Likely to Erupt in the Next Weeks or Months, Experts Warn

This High School Rock Is Teeming With Dinosaur Footprints—but No One Noticed for Decades

Astronomers Confirm 4 Rocky Exoplanets in Earth’s Backyard, Just 6 Light-Years Away

‘Whale Conveyor Belt’ Moves Tons of Nutrients Across the Ocean—Through Urine

Some Megalodons Reached 80 Feet—But They Weren’t Built Like Great Whites, Research Suggests

Scientists Kept People’s Eyes Open While They Slept, Revealing Surprising Brain Activity

New Battery Harvests Energy From Radioactive Nuclear Waste

A ‘Real Super Female’: 310-Mile Stretch of Seaweed May Be World’s Biggest Clone

Archaeologists Find Creepy 2,400-Year-Old Puppets Atop El Salvador Pyramid

A Monumental Storm Dropped 16 Billion Tons of Snow on Greenland, Slowing Melt of Ice Sheet

Plastic Triggered a New Geological Epoch—and the Evidence May Be in Bird Nests

The Sun Might Be Influencing Earthquakes, Scientists Say

Sleep Patterns in Comatose Patients May Predict Their Chances of Waking Up

Rare Handwritten Copy of Famous Shakespeare Sonnet Found in Oxford Library

Billions of Years Ago, Mars Featured Beaches Fit for a Vacation, Astronomers Say

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