With two pairs of antennae, large compound eyes, and four sets of jaws, giant isopods look like creatures from a science fiction movie. Now, researchers have discovered a new "supergiant" isopod species with a head strikingly similar to Darth Vader’s helmet. In a nod to the iconic Star Wars villain, they have named it Bathynomus vaderi (B. vaderi)....

St. Patrick's Day, celebrated annually on March 17, is a lively holiday that honors the most famous of Ireland's three patron saints. Though widely known for its parades, shamrocks, and everything green, the day's roots are steeped in history....

California’s famous bald eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, are proud parents of triplets. The first eaglet hatched late on March 3, 2025. The second followed shortly after in the early hours of March 4. The third and final eaglet popped out of its eggshell four days later, on March 8. These are the couple’s first successfully hatched chicks since one named Spirit emerged three years ago....

Skywatchers can look forward to a spectacular total lunar eclipse this month. The event will take place overnight from March 13 to 14, 2025, and will be visible from anywhere on Earth's night side. The best views will be in North and South America. Parts of Europe may catch a glimpse of the eclipse at moonset, while East Asia will see it at moonrise. The last total lunar eclipse was in November 2022, and the next one will not be until March 2026....

Plants undergoing stress, such as drought or insect damage, use various tactics to defend themselves and warn others of danger. Some release strong scents, while others change color and shape. A recent study found that stressed plants even produce popping or clicking sounds. However, humans cannot hear them because they are at frequencies beyond our hearing range....

Zara Lachlan made history on February 1, 2025, as the first woman and youngest person to row solo, unsupported, and non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. The 21-year-old British student completed the 4,100-mile (6,598 km) voyage from Europe to South America in 97 days, 9 hours, and 20 minutes. Remarkably, Lachlan had minimal ocean rowing experience before taking on the difficult challenge....

India is home to numerous vibrant festivals. But few are as eagerly awaited as Holi, the Festival of Colors. This joyous Hindu holiday marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Its date changes annually, as it follows the lunar calendar. In 2025, Holi will fall on March 14....

Cockatoos are highly intelligent birds. Past studies show that they can solve complex problems, use tools, and even mimic human speech. Now, researchers have discovered that these clever birds have learned to dip bland food into sauces, possibly to improve its taste....

On March 9, 2025, most Americans will begin Daylight Saving Time (DST) by moving their clocks ahead an hour. The time change will result in a loss of an hour of sleep or free time on Sunday. However, it will allow for longer days during the upcoming spring and summer months....

Focaccia bread is often credited to the ancient Romans, who baked it about 2,000 years ago. However, new research suggests Neolithic communities were making their own version of the delicious bread as far back as 9,000 years ago....

NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence near the Moon's south pole. It began with Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight in 2022. The Artemis II is expected to launch in September 2025. This crewed mission will orbit the Moon to test the spacecraft's capabilities. If all goes well, Artemis III, set for 2026, will land the first humans on the Moon since the 1970s....

Wildlife biologists have discovered the heaviest Florida panther ever recorded. The adult male weighs an impressive 166 pounds (75 kg). This surpasses the typical range of 102 to 154 pounds (46 to 69 kg) for males. Female panthers, which are much smaller, generally weigh between 50 and 108 pounds (22 and 49 kg)....

Max Manow, a member of Red Bull's skydiving team, has redefined the extreme sport with the world’s first mid-air plane hook maneuver. The daring feat involved jumping from a helicopter, catching onto a nosediving plane mid-air, and then free-falling again before landing safely....

Ramadan is the ninth and most sacred month in the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, archangel Jibril revealed the first five verses of the Quran — Islam's holy text — to Prophet Muhammad. The start of the holy month is determined by the appearance of the new crescent moon. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin at sundown on or around February 28, 2025....

An observant worker at Dewars Farm Quarry in England has helped uncover hundreds of dinosaur footprints. The fossils date back to the Middle Jurassic period (around 166 million years ago). They belong to some of the United Kingdom's largest dinosaurs and offer new insights into their movement patterns....

The Goodyear Blimp is turning 100! On June 3, 2025, the iconic airship will celebrate a century since the first flight of its branded blimp, Pilgrim. This special birthday will be marked with exciting events all year long. They include flyovers in 100 cities across North America and Europe and appearances at cultural events. Three lucky fans, selected by lottery, will also get the rare chance to fly aboard one of the four blimps currently in use....

A kayaker in Chile had the fright of his lifetime when he briefly found himself inside the mouth of a humpback whale. Luckily, the mammal had no interest in eating a human and quickly spat him out....

Plastic pollution is one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. A large portion of the 400 million tons of plastic produced annually ends up in landfills or the ocean. Unlike organic waste, plastic never decomposes. Instead, it breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These particles contaminate water, soil, and air, harming marine life, livestock, and even humans....

A treasure trove of original Winnie-the-Pooh manuscripts, drawings, and letters sold for $108,000 on January 16, 2025. This price was much higher than the $18,600 estimated by UK-based Fieldings Auctioneers. Two-thirds of the 1920s-era collection was purchased by British fans. The rest went to buyers in the United States....

On January 28, 2025, XB-1, an experimental aircraft built by US company Boom Supersonic, became the first privately built jet to fly faster than the speed of sound. To prove this was not a fluke, test pilot Tristan Brandenburg flew around for two more supersonic runs over California’s Mojave Desert before returning to land....

Ocean shipping moves about 90 percent of global trade, from oranges to televisions. But the industry also produces over 3 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions. If nothing changes, its carbon footprint could reach 10 percent by 2050. UK-based startup Seabound aims to tackle this with a device that can capture up to 95 percent of a ship’s emissions....

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is observed worldwide, but not always in the same way. While many in the US exchange candy, flowers, and gifts, other countries have their own unique traditions. Some even celebrate on a completely different date. Here are some interesting Valentine's Day customs from around the world....

California's Yosemite National Park is known for its ancient giant sequoia trees and massive rock formations. These include El Capitan and Half Dome. However, from mid-to-late February, the park's main draw is the Horsetail Fall. Under the right conditions, this winter waterfall, takes on a fiery orange glow. This makes it look like lava flowing down El Capitan, giving it the name "firefall."...

After spending months spinning in the Antarctic waters, A23a, the world’s largest iceberg, is on the move again. This massive chunk of ice covers 1,418 square miles (3,673 sq. km). This is more than twice the size of the city of London. It weighs over a trillion tons and is about 1,312 feet (400 m) thick....