Science

The Department of Energy announced that 50 grams of Plutonium-238 (or “Pu-238”) had been made by researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. It may not seem like much, but the substance hasn’t been made in the United States for nearly 30 years even though its the most …

Two species of water snakes listed as critically endangered in 2009 and presumed extinct have been found. Aipysurus foliosquama and Aipysurus apraefrontalis are two species of venomous sea snakes found only in the waters surrounding Australia. Surveys between 2001 and 2009 failed to find any individuals of A. foliosquama or A. apraefrontalis, but dead specimens found in 2010 and 2012 …

OK–so humans obviously use tools. But, of course, we are not the only animals that can use tools. Now, scientists and researchers have discovered evidence for the first “grinding” tool associated with a non-human. And its an unlikely animal that uses it: wild parrots. They use pebbles to grind supplements …

Those who choose to look up at the sky on December 25 will be greeted by a rare lunar treat: a Christmas Day full moon, the first since 1977 (which Star Wars fans will know to be the year that Episode IV was released). 1977 is also heralded as the …

NASA has released high resolution photos of Pluto. The images were taken by the New Horizons Spacecraft in July. New Horizons did a fly-by of the dwarf planet in July and is still sending back data. The images show a region of Pluto known as the Sputnik Planum, the western …

Japan has released its first stunning photos of Venus in lieu of the successful launch of the Akatsuki aircraft, which arrived in the planet’s orbit earlier this month. This is the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA’s) second attempt at a visit to Venus; the first attempt occurred on December 6, 2010 …

Following a launch accident six months ago, the privately-owned Space Exploration Technologies is preparing for its patched up Falcon 9 rocket to return to flight next week, the company said Thursday. Chief executive Elon Musk announced on Twitter Thursday that a rocket test-firing for next Wednesday in Florida, Associated Press …

Before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, a group of reptiles sometimes called pre-dinosaurs were present. It was originally thought that these creatures lived about 245 million years ago, but new research suggests that they may have lived about 10 million years later. This would put them much closer in time to …

Arnold Schwarzenegger wants everyone to know that he really doesn’t care if you don’t agree with him about climate change. The former Terminator-turned-California-governor is ready to stop talking about it and start doing something about it. In a post published on his Facebook page, the Republican and climate activist issues a …

Surgeons at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore are gearing up to perform the first ever penis transplant in the United States.  The focus of the operation is on helping wounded veterans, with a young soldier who was injured in a bombing in Afghanistan stepping up as the first patient. Only two other …