Margherita Bassi, Author at Gizmodo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Daily Tea Routine Is Protecting You From Heavy Metals, Study Finds

The longer tea steeps, the more contaminants it filters out of the water—but the tea bag matters.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi

Severed Heads in Iron Age Iberia Weren’t Just War Trophies, New Research Suggests

Did the decapitated heads belong to venerated community members or defeated enemies?

Human History Margherita Bassi

Scientists Develop a Device That Lets You Taste Video Games

e-Taste sits on your lower teeth and delivers flavors directly into your mouth in response to remote stimuli.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi

These Prehistoric Drag Marks Might Be the Earliest Evidence of Human Transport

Apparent 23,000-year-old tracks may have been left by Paleoindians pulling wooden vehicles carrying resources—and possibly even children.

Human History Margherita Bassi

This Plant-Based Compound Could Be a Powerful New Weapon Against Deadly Brain Cancer

Lab mice with glioblastoma lived longer with a new combination treatment than with radiation alone—and some even achieved long-term tumor control.

Health Margherita Bassi

Something Bad Happened to Neanderthals 110,000 Years Ago—and It May Have Sealed Their Fate

A recent study compared features of Neanderthals' inner ears across space and time to extrapolate what happened to them tens of thousands of years ago.

Biology Margherita Bassi

Early Humans Returned to the Rainforests Far Earlier Than Previously Thought

A new study challenges the notion that anatomically modern humans began inhabiting rainforest habitats just 70,000 years ago.

Human History Margherita Bassi

Early Seafarers Ruled the Oceans With Sophisticated Boats 40,000 Years Ago, Study Suggests

With no direct archaeological evidence of prehistoric boats, researchers instead analyzed tools and the remains of fish, leading to a surprising conclusion.

Human History Margherita Bassi

New Study Backs Theory That Wolves Traded the Wild for Table Scraps—and Became Dogs

A popular theory suggests wolves domesticated themselves for human food scraps—and new simulations suggests it's paw-sible.

Biology Margherita Bassi

New Technique Turns Ordinary Rocks Into Carbon-Capturing Machines

The method speeds up CO2 absorption—potentially helping the fight against climate change.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi

First 3D Map of an Exoplanet’s Atmosphere Reveals Bizarre Weather

Meet Tylos: a gas giant 900 light years away and with a climate never seen before on any planet known to scientists.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi

Night,sleep.,relaxed,woman.,bedtime,rest.,tired,lady,with,closed

Do You Always Remember Your Dreams? Researchers May Know Why

Factors such as age, sleeping patterns, and a tendency to daydream might impact your ability to remember dreams in the morning, according to research.

Health Margherita Bassi

India’s ‘Human Calculator Kid’ Shatters 6 World Records in a Single Day

One of Aaryan Shukla's world records is for mentally adding 100 four-digit numbers in 30.9 seconds.

Science Margherita Bassi

Margherita Bassi

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

Your Daily Tea Routine Is Protecting You From Heavy Metals, Study Finds

Severed Heads in Iron Age Iberia Weren’t Just War Trophies, New Research Suggests

Scientists Develop a Device That Lets You Taste Video Games

These Prehistoric Drag Marks Might Be the Earliest Evidence of Human Transport

This Plant-Based Compound Could Be a Powerful New Weapon Against Deadly Brain Cancer

Something Bad Happened to Neanderthals 110,000 Years Ago—and It May Have Sealed Their Fate

Early Humans Returned to the Rainforests Far Earlier Than Previously Thought

Early Seafarers Ruled the Oceans With Sophisticated Boats 40,000 Years Ago, Study Suggests

New Study Backs Theory That Wolves Traded the Wild for Table Scraps—and Became Dogs

New Technique Turns Ordinary Rocks Into Carbon-Capturing Machines

First 3D Map of an Exoplanet’s Atmosphere Reveals Bizarre Weather

Do You Always Remember Your Dreams? Researchers May Know Why

India’s ‘Human Calculator Kid’ Shatters 6 World Records in a Single Day

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

Sun’s Latest Outburst Complicates Planned Launch of Artemis 2

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