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How to Build a World Cup Bracket Without Knowing a Single Player

How to Build a World Cup Bracket Without Knowing a Single Player

Feeling left out of the World Cup fun? Here are several fun, foolproof strategies for filling out your bracket without any soccer knowledge.

World Cup Storylines Ranked by U.S. Audience Appeal

World Cup Storylines Ranked by U.S. Audience Appeal

From Messi's final quest to the USMNT's young guns, we rank the World Cup storylines that resonated most with American sports fans.

La Brea Tar Pits to Close for Renovations, Impacting Ice Age Research

La Brea Tar Pits to Close for Renovations, Impacting Ice Age Research

The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles will close on July 6, 2026, for a two-year renovation. This closure is part of a significant overhaul to transform the site into the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research. The museum, known for its extensive collection of Ice Age fossils, will see its 3.5 million artifacts carefully packed and stored during the renovation. The revamped museum will feature updated exhibits and new skeletons, including a battle-scarred mammoth named Zed. The renovation aims to enhance the educational and research capabilities of the museum, focusing on extinction, resilience, and climate change lessons from the Ice Age.

La Brea Tar Pits to Undergo Two-Year Renovation, Impacting Educational Programs

La Brea Tar Pits to Undergo Two-Year Renovation, Impacting Educational Programs

The La Brea Tar Pits, a renowned natural history museum in Los Angeles, is set to close for two years starting July 6, 2026, for extensive renovations. The museum, formally known as the George C. Page Museum, will be transformed into the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research. This renovation aims to enhance the museum's ability to showcase its vast collection of Ice Age fossils and educate the public on climate and ecological changes. The museum's current exhibits, which include fossils of dire wolves, mammoths, and other ancient species, will be packed and stored during the renovation. The museum is also planning mobile programming to continue educational outreach, particularly for the 34,000 schoolchildren who visit annually. The renovation will address outdated exhibits and improve the facility's capacity for research and public engagement.

The Format Change That Lets Smaller Nations Make Real Runs

The Format Change That Lets Smaller Nations Make Real Runs

Expanded tournament formats in soccer, like the 24-team Euros, have created a new pathway for smaller nations to make deep, memorable runs.

Fossil Discovery Reveals Kraken-like Octopus as Top Predator 72 Million Years Ago

Fossil Discovery Reveals Kraken-like Octopus as Top Predator 72 Million Years Ago

Scientists have uncovered fossilized jawbones of Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, a massive, kraken-like octopus that lived about 72 million years ago. According to a study published in the journal Science, these cephalopods were among the largest marine creatures of the Cretaceous Period and might have been the largest invertebrates ever. The discovery was made in Japan's Yezo Group and Canada's Nanaimo Group geological formations. Researchers identified 12 additional fossil jaws and examined 15 previously found ones, dividing the creatures into two species based on size and form. The study suggests that these giant invertebrates occupied the top of the food web, challenging the view of the Cretaceous ocean as dominated only by large vertebrate predators.

New Microraptor Fossil Discovery Expands Understanding of Dinosaur Evolution

New Microraptor Fossil Discovery Expands Understanding of Dinosaur Evolution

A newly discovered fossil of a microraptor, a type of predatory dinosaur, has been found in northwestern China, dating back 120 million years. This discovery is significant as it expands the known geographical range and timeline of microraptors, which were small, gliding dinosaurs closely related to the velociraptor. The fossil, named Jian changmaensis, was found in the Changma Basin and is the first definitive microraptor specimen discovered outside northeastern China. The fossil's well-preserved shoulder bones provide new insights into the evolution of flight in these feathered dinosaurs, which had birdlike characteristics and could glide between trees.

Discovery of 120-Million-Year-Old Microraptor Fossil Expands Understanding of Dinosaur Evolution

Discovery of 120-Million-Year-Old Microraptor Fossil Expands Understanding of Dinosaur Evolution

A 120-million-year-old fossil of a microraptor, named Jian changmaensis, has been discovered in the Changma Basin of northwestern China. This finding is significant as it expands the known geographical range of microraptors, a group of predatory dinosaurs closely related to the velociraptor. The fossil, which includes intact shoulder and forelimb bones, represents the most recent definitive microraptor specimen in the fossil record. The research, published in the Annals of Carnegie Museum, highlights the birdlike characteristics of this dinosaur, which had feathers covering its body and long feathers on its hind legs, suggesting it could glide between trees. This discovery provides new insights into the origins of avian flight and the evolution of birds.

Discovery of Jian changmaensis Extends Range of Microraptorine Dinosaurs in China

Discovery of Jian changmaensis Extends Range of Microraptorine Dinosaurs in China

A new species of carnivorous dinosaur, Jian changmaensis, has been discovered in the Changma Basin of northwestern China. This dinosaur, part of the Microraptorinae group, is notable for being much larger than other non-bird species found at the site. The discovery is significant as it extends the known range of Microraptorinae, previously only found in northeastern China, into northwestern China. Jian changmaensis is the first non-avian dinosaur found at a site known for over 100 specimens of Early Cretaceous birds. The dinosaur is believed to have had long feathers on both its arms and legs, suggesting it could glide like a flying squirrel.

Fossil Discovery in China Reveals New Microraptor Species, Expands Understanding of Avian Flight Origins

Fossil Discovery in China Reveals New Microraptor Species, Expands Understanding of Avian Flight Origins

A 120 million-year-old fossil discovered in northwestern China has unveiled a new species of microraptor, named Jian changmaensis. This discovery expands the known geographical range of microraptors, which are smaller, gliding relatives of the velociraptor. The fossil, found in the Changma Basin, is the first microraptor specimen discovered outside northeastern China. The research, published in the Annals of Carnegie Museum, highlights the birdlike characteristics of Jian changmaensis, which had long feathers on both its arms and hind legs, suggesting it could glide between trees. The study provides new insights into the origins of avian flight, as microraptors are closely related to the ancestors of modern birds.

Scientists Discover 40-Million-Year-Old Ant in Goethe's Amber Collection, Offering New Insights

Scientists Discover 40-Million-Year-Old Ant in Goethe's Amber Collection, Offering New Insights

Researchers have uncovered a 40-million-year-old ant fossil within Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's amber collection, using advanced 3D imaging techniques. The fossil, belonging to the extinct species Ctenobethylus goepperti, was found in exceptional preservation, allowing scientists to examine its anatomy in unprecedented detail. The study, conducted by the University of Jena, revealed fine body hairs and internal skeletal structures, providing new information about the species' biology and evolutionary history. The findings highlight the potential of historical collections to yield significant scientific discoveries.

Gene Swapping Drives Evolution of Earth's Decomposers, Reveals New Study

Gene Swapping Drives Evolution of Earth's Decomposers, Reveals New Study

A comprehensive study led by researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Oxford has uncovered the significant role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the evolution of osmotrophic decomposers. These organisms, including fungi and other eukaryotes, play a crucial role in nutrient recycling by breaking down organic matter. The study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, reveals that HGT has been a driving force in the development of osmotrophic specialization across four distinct groups: Fungi, Pseudofungi, Labyrinthulea, and Teretosporea. This research challenges the traditional view that gene transfer is primarily a bacterial phenomenon, highlighting its impact on eukaryotic evolution.