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Scientists discovered a new eyeless cavefish genus inside Bobcat Cave in northern Alabama after 30 years of surveys. Researchers found the fish, named Demogorgonichthys arcanus, hiding in plain sight. It looked just like a known species, so experts missed it for decades. This rare find happened within the Redstone Arsenal grounds.
A study by scientist Qing Li showed that a three-day forest walk boosted NK cells for 30 days. The research found that breathing in tree compounds helps the immune system. Sridhar Vembu said, "We need to live closer to nature and in harmony with nature." Many people now use forest bathing.
The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse is approaching, with prime viewing spots in Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Experts said you must use ISO 12312-2 certified glasses to protect your eyes. Many retailers in the US and Europe sell these safe options, as standard sunglasses will not keep you safe.
The Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, recently installed a skeleton replica of the Deinosuchus schwimmeri. This school-bus-sized predator lived between 83 million and 76 million years ago. Rebecca Melsheimer said, "The scale of the dinosaurs and other creatures that lived during the Late Cretaceous epoch is hard to capture."
Researchers found an 80-million-year-old snake fossil in Brazil named Tametara mirim. New research shows early snakes lived in many habitats, not just one. "Our findings show that early snakes had already achieved remarkable ecological and morphological diversity by the Late Cretaceous," said lead author Tiago Simões. Snakes adapted quickly.
Fewer than 200 Lithops werneri plants remain in the wild in Namibia’s Erongo Mountains. This tiny succulent, which looks like a pebble, got listed as critically endangered in February 2026. Sonja Loots said, "Lithops werneri has always had a naturally restricted range." Many collectors and climate changes caused this sharp fall.
A four-tonne piece of SpaceX rocket debris slammed into the Moon at 8,700 kmph after drifting for over a year. The impact, involving a Falcon 9 stage from January 2025, likely created a large crater. Nasa plans to study the site to see how such objects change the lunar surface.
A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage likely crashed into the moon’s Einstein Crater early Wednesday. The 4-tonne object travelled at 8,690 kph after a January 2025 mission. Julianna Scheiman said, "What has happened is essentially a mixture of solar activity and gravity forces have put it on a path."
The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica cover 4,800 square kilometers and remain the largest ice-free region on the continent. NASA says the landscape resembles Mars, making it a perfect testing ground for space exploration. Powerful winds keep the area dry, preserving ancient soils that have changed little for millions of years.
Researchers found marine microbial DNA inside a red brine pool hidden beneath Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys. A study in Nature Geoscience said this evidence shows ancient seawater got trapped under glaciers tens of thousands of years ago. The salty water stayed liquid, keeping these tiny organisms alive under the ice.
A viral video posted on July 20 shows a mother dolphin named Fraggle carrying her dead calf near Perth, Australia. Scientists say this behaviour suggests animals experience grief. "It's absolutely clear that this is a mother grieving for her child," said neuroscientist Lori Marino, noting the pod stayed close by.
Skywatchers will see a total solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower on Wednesday, August 12. The Moon will block the Sun during the day, while comet debris will light up the night sky. Since it is a New Moon, the dark skies will help people see many shooting stars.