Your support helps us tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is where the stories unfold. Whether we’re investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing The A Word, a new documentary highlighting American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to … Read more
You might know the short-tailed shearwater and sable shearwater by the common name “muttonbirds”. These two species of seabird breed on islands off southeastern Australia. Both undertake a breathtaking two-week, non-stop flight across the Pacific to the Bering Sea, more than 10,000 km away near Alaska and Russia. Here, they spend the northern summer. Shearwaters … Read more
“The Giraffe and the Moon” by Kyle Goetsch (South Africa). South African giraffe, Nami brand, Namibia. Photographed with a 600mm lens. Remembering Wildlife has announced the 20 winners of a contest for images to be included in an upcoming book. Reminds me of giraffes. Giraffe numbers have declined by about 40% over the past 30 … Read more
Although rattlesnakes are not widespread throughout the state, they have found suitable habitat throughout Washington. Western rattlesnake (oregano rattlesnake), also known as the North Pacific rattlesnake, spends most of its life without encountering humans. Despite its elusiveness, its range overlaps with popular recreational spots such as Sun Lakes Dry Falls State Park and the trails … Read more
Astrophysicists often talk about gravitational lensing, one of the most interesting aspects of light’s infamous particle-wave duality. This phenomenon shows in a predictable and measurable way how the small mass within each photon of light shooting out from a distant star actually bends the light in the gravitational pull of dense objects along its path. … Read more
Giant octopuses, up to 62 feet (19 meters) long, were among the top marine predators about 100 million years ago, according to a new study that discovered rare fossils hidden in solid rock. An extremely well-preserved specimen of the octopus’s powerful jaw shows signs of severe wear and tear from crushing hard prey such as … Read more
In the exotic world of particle physics, neutrinos may be the most mysterious members. It rarely interacts with other matter, has little mass, and has no charge. These characteristics make it extremely difficult to study. Detecting them requires special facilities in deep caves, thick Antarctic ice, or the ocean floor. One of the most advanced … Read more
Sometimes we get something great. Marsupials are miraculously revived through genetic manipulation. Bandicoots, a group of small nocturnal creatures once declared extinct in Australia, are back from the brink and moving towards a life in the wild. On Tuesday, conservationists released 100 giant bandicoots on Phillip Island near Melbourne. These bandicoots were bred to be … Read more
Germans have followed the plight of the sea monster, dubbed Timmy by newspapers, on live news tickers, TV screens and influencers’ YouTube and TikTok channels, but some are worried about what its epic struggle says about the nation’s collective psyche. Sociologist Christian Stegbauer said whales are highly intelligent and social animals that are subject to … Read more
One of the most dramatic and memorable scenes in Interstellar takes place on the Mirror Planet. If you don’t want spoilers for an 11-year-old movie, skip to the next paragraph. When the crew arrives at what could become humanity’s new home, they are faced with a literal 1.2km-high wall of water rapidly surging towards them. … Read more