Margherita Bassi, Author at Gizmodo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Famous Bering Land Bridge Was More Like a Swamp, Geologists Say

Why did some species, including ancient humans, cross the Bering Land Bridge between modern-day Siberia and Alaska during the last Ice Age? The picture has only gotten more complex.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi

Killed, Butchered and Cannibalized: Archaeologists Uncover Horrific Prehistoric Massacre in Britain

The shocking violence was likely an attempt to dehumanize and "other" the enemy, according to archaeologists.

Human History Margherita Bassi

Tiny Black Holes Could Have Left Tunnels Inside Earth’s Rocks

The research team says it’s time to “think outside the box” since nothing else is working.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi

Saltwater Could Contaminate 75% of Coastal Freshwater by 2100

Climate change is wrecking the delicate balance between groundwater and ocean water, according to new research.

Climate Change Margherita Bassi

‘People Are Terrible at This’: Why We Suck at Judging the Strength of Knots

A study asked participants to identify the stronger of two knots by sight alone. They failed spectacularly.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi

Jupiter’s ‘Tortured Moon’: Astronomers Uncover Surprising Source of Io’s Intense Volcanic Fury

Researchers from the Juno mission have finally solved a mystery that has puzzled scientists for over four decades.

Space & Spaceflight Margherita Bassi

Rookie Metal Detectorist Unearths 2,500-Year-Old Sacrificial Artifacts, Including Bent Sword

The rare artifacts date back to around 500 BCE—and the detectorist's second go was somehow just as fortuitous.

Human History Margherita Bassi

This Humpback Whale Just Smashed a Migration Record With an Astonishing 8,000-Mile Journey

Scientists are puzzled by what prompted the “sexy foreigner” to cross three oceans.

Biology Margherita Bassi

Killer Ghost Shrimp: Scientists Discover a New Predator Lurking in the Atacama Trench

The newly discovered predator sheds light on the surprising creatures that have evolved to thrive in some of the world's most extreme environments.

Biology Margherita Bassi

The Forever Battery? World’s First Diamond Battery Promises Power for Thousands of Years

The concept could apply to a wide range of applications, from everyday devices and pacemakers to interstellar voyages.

Physics & Chemistry Margherita Bassi

How the Roman Army Repaired Its Armor Far From Home

Researchers suggest that when Roman legions were at the empire's remote northern frontiers, they relied on local craftspeople for equipment repairs.

Human History Margherita Bassi

Road Construction Crew Unearths 1,000-Year-Old Pyramid in Mexico

The archaeological site could shed light on the region's history, with its oldest human settlement potentially dating back 14,000 years.

Human History Margherita Bassi

Mysterious Language Etched Onto Newly Discovered Ancient Tablet

The tablet could predate the earliest known evidence of writing in the Caucasus region by over a thousand years, hinting at a potentially lost script.

Human History Margherita Bassi

Margherita Bassi

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

The Famous Bering Land Bridge Was More Like a Swamp, Geologists Say

Killed, Butchered and Cannibalized: Archaeologists Uncover Horrific Prehistoric Massacre in Britain

Tiny Black Holes Could Have Left Tunnels Inside Earth’s Rocks

Saltwater Could Contaminate 75% of Coastal Freshwater by 2100

‘People Are Terrible at This’: Why We Suck at Judging the Strength of Knots

Jupiter’s ‘Tortured Moon’: Astronomers Uncover Surprising Source of Io’s Intense Volcanic Fury

Rookie Metal Detectorist Unearths 2,500-Year-Old Sacrificial Artifacts, Including Bent Sword

This Humpback Whale Just Smashed a Migration Record With an Astonishing 8,000-Mile Journey

Killer Ghost Shrimp: Scientists Discover a New Predator Lurking in the Atacama Trench

The Forever Battery? World’s First Diamond Battery Promises Power for Thousands of Years

How the Roman Army Repaired Its Armor Far From Home

Road Construction Crew Unearths 1,000-Year-Old Pyramid in Mexico

Mysterious Language Etched Onto Newly Discovered Ancient Tablet

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