Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Nov 19, 2014 01:06 PM EST

The Evolution of Seed Dormancy: Adaptation May be as Old as the Seeds Themselves

It turns out that seed dormancy is about as old as the seeds themselves. Scientists have taken a closer look at the evolution of seeds and have found a bit more about the intriguing phenomenon.

Nov 19, 2014 12:26 PM EST

New Method Measures How Ocean Acidification Impacts Marine Ecosystems

As carbon dioxide continues to enter out Earth's atmosphere, the ocean is continuing to acidify. Now, scientists have developed a new way to measure how this acidification is affecting marine ecosystems over an entire oceanic basin.

Nov 19, 2014 11:52 AM EST

Small Volcanic Eruptions May be Slowing Global Warming Across Our Planet

Could volcanoes be slowing global warming? That may just be the case. Scientists have found that small volcanic eruptions could be slowing the warming process across our planet.

Nov 19, 2014 11:22 AM EST

Astronomers Spot Alignment of Quasars Over Billions of Light-Years

Astronomers have spotted an unusual alignment spread across our universe. They've discovered 93 quasars that have formed huge groupings spread over billions of light-years at a time when the universe was at a third of its current age.

Nov 19, 2014 10:35 AM EST

Ancient New Zealand Whales Were the First to be Completely Toothless

Paleontologists are rewriting the history of New Zealand's ancient whales. They've discovered a previously unknown genus of fossil baleen whales and two species within it.

Nov 19, 2014 08:52 AM EST

Scientists Discover New Form of Crystalline Order for Thermoelectric Devices

Scientists have discovered a completely new form of crystalline order that exhibits two different properties: crystal and polycrystalline. The new material could potentially improve the efficiency of thermoelectric devices.

Nov 19, 2014 07:25 AM EST

Neanderthals are Not a Subspecies of Humans: The Nose Knows

Neanderthals lived at the same time as modern humans. Yet these hominins weren't a subspecies of humans. Instead, scientists have discovered that they were their own, distinct species.

Nov 19, 2014 06:35 AM EST

Climate Change Didn't Cause Massive Population Collapse at the End of the Bronze Age

It turns out that climate change didn't cause the end of the Bronze Age. Scientists have discovered that a huge population collapse in Europe at the end of this age wasn't caused by a sudden shift in temperature.

Nov 19, 2014 06:34 AM EST

Lizards Have Bird Breath: Scientists Discover Iguanas Evolved Lungs Like Birds

What do lizards and birds have in common? They have more similarities than you might think. Scientists have found that like birds, iguanas have breathing that flows in a one-directional loop through their lungs.

Nov 18, 2014 12:39 PM EST

New Map Reveals How Many Fireballs Impact Earth's Atmosphere

You wouldn't think our planet experiences many close encounters from asteroids. Yet a new map shows exactly how often Earth's atmosphere is hit by small asteroids, called bolides.

Nov 18, 2014 12:05 PM EST

Gravity May Have Saved the Early Universe After the Big Bang

Why didn't the universe collapse immediately after the Big Bang? That's a question that physicists have been struggling with for years. Now, they may just have their answer.

Nov 18, 2014 11:44 AM EST

Hunting Elephants Could Destroy Tropical Forests

Overhunting may be causing elephants populations to decline, but it's also affecting the vegetation around them. Scientists have found that the dramatic loss of elephants is also leading to the local extinction of certain tree species.