What if an asteroid hadn’t wiped out the dinosaurs and they still walked the Earth? According to a new study, the asteroid that took out some of the world’s most magnificent creatures was just shy of leaving a few of them alive. The space rock that hit Earth about 66 million years ago was approximately …
Author: Prentice, the Science Platypus
Prentice is the mascot of Insanitek.
Why a platypus? Well, why not? It's unusual, somewhat crazy, and evolution pretty much smashed a bunch of concepts together and said, "Try that."
New Hidden Space Uncovered Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza
When we thought we knew it all, a new discovery comes along and blows our minds. This is what archaeologists are finding now that they have uncovered a new space within the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The royal tomb, which was built back around 2,500 B.C., is considered to be one of the …
Olfactory Offenders: The Stinkiest, Smelliest Animals on the Planet
Speed and strength are gifts some creatures possess that help to keep them safe from predators. Not every animal can be the fastest or the fiercest. Several of Earth’s animals have a unique way of defending themselves…they smell really, really bad! These top seven olfactory offenders have adapted to have the ability to release strong, …
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder and How is It Treated?
When the seasons change and we turn the clocks back, there is more to consider than just the shifting weather. As it turns out, the waning daylight can have an impact on our health. If you get the winter blues, you’re not alone – the condition is called Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it’s a very …
Can You Really Wash Away Pesticides from Fruits and Veggies?
When you bring your fruits and vegetables home from the grocery store, do you wash them before you eat? As it turns out, your efforts might not be enough. Recently, food scientist Lili He from the University of Massachusetts Amherst wanted to take a look at what happens when water is used to rinse pesticides …
Study: Yes, There is Such Thing as Too Much Exercise
Is it possible to get too much exercise? New research says yes, there is such thing as overdoing it, but cutting out exercise altogether isn’t necessarily the answer. Reducing the amount of exercise you participate in per week may be the better alternative, according to one recent study (Laddu et al., 2017). The research from …
Do We Know When We Die? These Scientists Say Yes
When we die, is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Do we know when we’re clinically pronounced dead? How long does it take to actually happen? These are some of the questions that we’ve been asking since the dawn of time. Now, a new study suggests that, yes, we do know when …
Railroads and Prairies: A Lesson in Irony
The vast sea of prairie grasslands that once comprised the Great Plains of the United States is nearly all gone. In fact, the National Park Service claims that there has been a 99% decline in tall grass prairie ecosystems and a 68% decline in mixed-grass prairies in the last 150 years, making prairie grasslands the …
How Does TV in the Bedroom Impact Kids’ Performance?
Were you one of the kids who was allowed to have a television in your bedroom growing up? Do you allow your own children to watch television in their rooms before bed? A new study suggests that we might want to avoid doing so, and not only for the sake of sleep. Recently, Iowa State …
The Weddell Polynya is Back in Antarctica, But Why?
What happens when a gaping hole opens up in a massive body of ice? Scientists use it as a learning opportunity, of course. This is what recently occurred in Antarctica. The appearance of a hole, known as a polynya, has caught the attention of researchers, but not only because of its size (approximately equivalent to …