Margherita Bassi, Author at Gizmodo

Yikes! World’s Deadliest Spider Is Actually 3 Different Species

Obviously from Australia, the largest of the three funnel-web spiders is nicknamed "Big Boy."

Biology Margherita Bassi Jan 16 '25

Chernobyl’s Stray Dogs Are Genetically Distinct—But Radiation Isn’t the Reason

Dogs living near the Chernobyl nuclear plant aren’t radioactive mutants—but their genetic differences reveal a surprising story.

Biology Margherita Bassi Jan 15 '25

Jpl Space Flight Operations Center Side Angle

NASA’s Deep Space Mission Control Is Empty for the First Time in 6 Decades as L.A. Wildfires Rage

"It was a very emotional thing, the first time in the 60 years that nobody was actually in the mission control office there at JPL."

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi Jan 14 '25

Massive Aquifer Beneath Oregon’s Cascades Could Be the Largest in the World

The hidden water reservoir is shockingly larger than previously thought—holding more than half the volume of Lake Tahoe.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Jan 14 '25

Scientists Suspect Newly Discovered Mosasaur Fossil Is a Forgery

Researchers are calling for CT scans to confirm the authenticity of a Cretaceous period fossil that led to the identification of a new mosasaur species.

Biology Margherita Bassi Jan 14 '25

Skull Linked to Cleopatra’s Half-Sister Is Not What It Seems

Discovered in 1929, the skeleton was later presumed to belong to the ill-fated sibling of the famous pharaoh.

Human History Margherita Bassi Jan 13 '25

Archaeologists Discover 3000-Year-Old ‘Mega-Fortress’ 40 Times Larger Than Expected

The flora had previously concealed vast fortification walls and stone structures beyond an inner fortress.

Human History Margherita Bassi Jan 12 '25

Your Body’s Carbon Likely Took an Intergalactic Detour Before Reaching Earth

The circumgalactic medium, a vast gaseous halo surrounding galaxies, could be crucial to the evolution of star-forming galaxies like our own.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi Jan 10 '25

Antarctic Ice Core Unlocks 1.2 Million Years of Unbroken Climate History, Setting New Record

The achievement represents the longest continuous record of Earth’s climate from an ice core.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Jan 9 '25

Mysterious Red-Painted Dog Penis Bone Found in Ancient Roman Shaft

The surprising artifact could be evidence of fertility rituals—or just one of history’s strangest good luck charms.

Human History Margherita Bassi Jan 9 '25

230 Million-Year-Old Fossil From Wyoming Challenges Dinosaur Origin Theories

A chicken-sized dino, the oldest known in North America, has thrown a wrench in the widely accepted timeline of early dinosaur history.

Biology Margherita Bassi Jan 8 '25

Got Sniffly Allergies? Your Funky Nose Fungi Might Be to Blame

People with allergies or asthma have more diverse fungal communities thriving in their noses, according to new research.

Health Margherita Bassi Dec 22 '24

Archaeologists Uncover a Medieval Floor Made of Bones

This rare feature, found only in North Holland, has left archaeologists baffled as to why someone would choose such a morbid material.

Human History Margherita Bassi Dec 22 '24

Your Teeth Could Hold a Neanderthal Legacy, Study Reveals

Researchers have identified genes linked to tooth size and shape, including one likely inherited from our long-lost cousins.

Biology Margherita Bassi Dec 21 '24

Archaeologists Unearth Rare ‘Fish Scale’ Armor From 2,000-Year-Old Chinese Tomb

The unique armor is thought to have belonged to a man who ruled as emperor for just 27 days.

Human History Margherita Bassi Dec 20 '24

Top view central part of dinosaur skeleton fossil with details

The Theory That Volcanoes Killed the Dinosaurs Is Officially Extinct

The end of the Cretaceous period saw disastrous geological and astronomical events, but researchers say that one in particular is to blame for the mass extinction.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Dec 20 '24

Biologists Discover What Makes Bed Bugs Uniquely Hard to Kill With Insecticides

Sixty years ago, we nearly wiped out bed bugs—but they’ve been making a steady comeback, and they’re stronger than ever.

Health Margherita Bassi Dec 19 '24

Squirrels Caught Hunting and Eating Meat for the First Time

Scientists thought this species stuck to eating grains, but this summer's open season on voles suggests otherwise.

Biology Margherita Bassi Dec 18 '24

Embarrassing Math Error ‘Scared the Pants Off People’ Over Toxic Black Kitchenware

Despite the egregious math error, the study's authors stand by their warning about toxic chemicals in black kitchenware.

Health Margherita Bassi Dec 18 '24

The Planet’s Largest Iceberg Is on the Loose

After escaping the grips of a marine vortex, an iceberg bigger than Rhode Island is heading north.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Dec 16 '24

Margherita Bassi

Yikes! World’s Deadliest Spider Is Actually 3 Different Species

Chernobyl’s Stray Dogs Are Genetically Distinct—But Radiation Isn’t the Reason

NASA’s Deep Space Mission Control Is Empty for the First Time in 6 Decades as L.A. Wildfires Rage

Massive Aquifer Beneath Oregon’s Cascades Could Be the Largest in the World

Scientists Suspect Newly Discovered Mosasaur Fossil Is a Forgery

Skull Linked to Cleopatra’s Half-Sister Is Not What It Seems

Archaeologists Discover 3000-Year-Old ‘Mega-Fortress’ 40 Times Larger Than Expected

Your Body’s Carbon Likely Took an Intergalactic Detour Before Reaching Earth

Antarctic Ice Core Unlocks 1.2 Million Years of Unbroken Climate History, Setting New Record

Mysterious Red-Painted Dog Penis Bone Found in Ancient Roman Shaft

230 Million-Year-Old Fossil From Wyoming Challenges Dinosaur Origin Theories

Got Sniffly Allergies? Your Funky Nose Fungi Might Be to Blame

Archaeologists Uncover a Medieval Floor Made of Bones

Your Teeth Could Hold a Neanderthal Legacy, Study Reveals

Archaeologists Unearth Rare ‘Fish Scale’ Armor From 2,000-Year-Old Chinese Tomb

The Theory That Volcanoes Killed the Dinosaurs Is Officially Extinct

Biologists Discover What Makes Bed Bugs Uniquely Hard to Kill With Insecticides

Squirrels Caught Hunting and Eating Meat for the First Time

Embarrassing Math Error ‘Scared the Pants Off People’ Over Toxic Black Kitchenware

The Planet’s Largest Iceberg Is on the Loose

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