The science news this week was full of bizarre and confusing animal behavior, with news of chewed killer whale fins wash up on a Russian beach points to cannibalism among the apex predators.
There are several killer whale subspecies, and scientists initially thought that these groups mostly kept to themselves. But genetic evidence alongside distinct tooth marks strongly suggests that one group may occasionally eat the other, which may explain why the orcas’ predators live in large, tightly knit groups.
Oracle bones reveal climate disaster in ancient China
“Oracle bones”, consisting of 3,250-year-old engraved bones and tortoise shells are the earliest significant evidence of writing in China, and were once used in attempts to predict the future. But this week we reported that these bones can also tell us about the past, as they revealed it China’s Shang Dynasty may have collapsed with the help of megatyphoons.
Researchers counted instances of weather-related writing on more than 55,000 pieces of oracle bone script written between 1250 and 1046 BC. (the last two centuries of the dynasty), and found an increase in predictions related to rainfall and water-related disasters. The findings suggest that there was a growing concern about extreme weather events among people in Bronze Age China.
Discover more archeology news
—Ancient Greek mystery cult priestesses may have chemically adapted mushrooms to induce psychedelic hallucinations
—Stone Age woman buried as a man, revealing flexible gender roles 7,000 years ago in Hungary
—9 ways people have altered their bodies since the dawn of time, from foot binding to castration
Life’s little mysteries
Metals are often associated with hardness, strength and durability – especially during heating. But one notable exception, mercury, melts at just minus 37.9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 38.8 degrees Celsius). But what makes it so unique? Find out here.
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Humming black holes can fix the universe
The Hubble tension, or the discovery that the universe appears to be expanding at different rates depending on how you measure it, has become a nagging headache for astronomers — one that threatens to upend our best understanding of the universe.
But cosmic migraine relief may be on the way in the form of colliding and merging black holes. A new study described how space-time ripples produced by colliding black holes create a hum with a strength that changes depending on how fast the universe is expanding.
However, current detectors will need some upgrades before they can capture this gravitational wave background with the required sensitivity. The good news is that cosmologists expect them to arrive within a few years.
Discover more space news
—‘City killer’ asteroid will narrowly miss the moon, James Webb Telescope reveals
—‘Truly extraordinary’: Megalaser shooting at us from halfway across the universe is the brightest ‘cosmic beacon’ we’ve ever seen
—NASA is fixing the Artemis II rocket for an April launch to take astronauts around the moon
Also in the science news this week
—Scientists taught robots to swim through mazes using Einstein’s theory of relativity
—Groundbreaking new drug shows promise for treating children with a devastating form of epilepsy
—Chinese electric car maker claims it has engineered the world’s first semi-solid-state electric car battery with an enormous range of 620 miles
—‘Humans cannot be considered separate from the environment’: Award-winning scientist Meha Jain on using satellites and real-world experiences to help farmers in India facing an uncertain future
—‘Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse dazzles millions around the world (photos)
—Can you tie a knot in four dimensions? A mathematician explains.
The spotlight of science
People around the world and throughout the ages have practiced head shaping (also called cranial vault modification) on their children. But exactly why and how this body-modifying trend took off has remained unclear. It is therefore a staff writer Christina Killgrove embarked on his own journey to answer the mind-boggling mystery this Science Spotlight.
Something for the weekend
If you’re looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best features, crosswords and opinion pieces published this week.
—Live Science Crossword Puzzle #32: Largest ocean on Earth — 8 across (crossword)
—Pain lasts longer in women, and immune cells may be the culprit (Opinion)
Science news in pictures
This stunning photo, taken by photographer Elle Leontiev, shows self-taught volcanologist Philip standing on the slopes of Mount Yasur, a 1,184-foot (361-meter) active volcano in Vanuatu.
Philip, who was born and lives at the volcano’s base, has spent years studying its moods and cycles with French volcanologist Thomas Boyer. He also has a pair of custom-made boots given to him by actor Will Smith, but he prefers to walk barefoot in the volcanic terrain.
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