The world’s oldest rock art discovered in Indonesia

On Muna, a tropical island off southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia, lies a cave decorated with prehistoric paintings. Locals call it Liang Metanduno. They visit the archaic art gallery to marvel at depictions of flying human figures, boats filled with passengers, and mounted warriors drawn with red, brown, and sometimes black pigment.Continue Reading

The monk who discovered the laws of genetics—but was overlooked in his time

Mendel’s monastery garden experiments went largely unnoticed during his life, but their implications would ripple through science decades later. Gregor Mendel, Austrian botanist and founder of genetics, poses for a photograph circa 1860. Between 1856-1863, Mendel bred almost 30,000 pea plants in his monastery garden which demonstrated that hereditary characteristicsContinue Reading

Can the cruise industry go carbon-neutral?

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). In November 2021, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) made an ambitious proposal. Its member lines, which together form 95% of the global cruise fleet, announced a collective pledge to pursue net-zero emissions by 2050. Perhaps recognising the scale of theContinue Reading

Deer markings actually glow

Scrapes on the ground and rubs on trees radiate a glow under ultraviolet light. Chamberlain Smith Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Animals see the world around them in ways that we humans can only imagine. Arctic reindeer’s eyes changeContinue Reading