This week, a lost aurora on Neptune that was first hinted at 36 years ago has finally been captured by JWST, a newly discovered 90-million-year-old therizinosaur species has shocked scientists with one “unusual” trait, and, new evidence suggests the first giant land organism may have no living relatives, concluding they may be part of an extinct lineage. Finally, we investigate the use of psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, in modern medicine.
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Want To Hear What A Shark Sounds Like? Study Captures First-Ever Shark Noise Recordings
Ever wondered what noise a shark makes? If you have no idea, you’re not alone. For a long time, we thought these animals were pretty much silent and didn’t make active sounds, but now new research has captured the first-ever recordings of sharks making noises. And what do you know? They click. Read the full story here
Neptune’s Lost Aurorae First Hinted At 36 Years Ago Has Been Captured For First Time
Thirty-six years after the first hints of auroral activity on the ice giant, astronomers have captured Neptune’s aurorae for the first time. Thanks to JWST, the planet’s elusive glow has been measured, meaning for the first time ever, aurorae have been confirmed on every planet in the Solar System. Read the full story here
New Species Of 90-Million-Year-Old Therizinosaur Shocks Scientists With “Unusual” Trait Never Seen Before
A new species of therizinosaur has been discovered in Mongolia, dating back to around 90 million years ago. Named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, it’s thrown something of a curve ball for palaeontologists, as unlike all other therizinosaurs found to date, this prehistoric giant had just two fingers instead of three. Read the full story here
Vitamin A Should Not Be Used As A Home Remedy For Measles, Doctors Warn
Alarming reports from doctors in the US show how some children’s health is being harmed by alternative therapies touted by prominent figures as cures for measles. Recently, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr authored an opinion piece for Fox News in which he claimed that vitamin A “can dramatically reduce measles mortality,” and some parents appear to have taken this as advice to dose their kids with large quantities of vitamin A. Read the full story here
The First Giant Land Organism May Require A New Branch On The Tree Of Life
Since Prototaxites were discovered in the fossil record in 1843, scientists have debated whether they were early land plants, giant fungi, algae, or a whole new kingdom of life. Some of these options have already been ruled out, and they’re now widely considered to have been a type of fungus. However, one species of Prototaxites has been preserved much better than the rest, and the fossil cells don’t resemble living or fossil fungi, leading a team to the conclusion they should be considered part of an extinct lineage. Read the full story here
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Feature of the week:
Psilocybin: How Science Is Turning Magic Mushrooms Into Medicine
It’s been quite a comeback for psilocybin. Banished for decades to the criminal narcotic realm, it seemed as though hell would have to freeze over before the psychedelic compound stood any chance of being accepted by mainstream society or medicine. Yet a flurry of recent scientific studies has seen the mind-bending drug brought in from the cold, with ongoing clinical trials now promising to result in regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Read the full story here
More content:
Have you seen our e-magazine, CURIOUS? Issue 32 March 2025 is available now. This month we asked, “Can We Really Trust Our Memories?” – check it out for exclusive interviews, book excerpts, long reads, and more.
PLUS, the We Have Questions podcast – an audio version of our coveted CURIOUS e-magazine column – continues. In episode 6, we ask, “How Do You Rediscover A “Lost” Species?”
Season 4 of IFLScience’s The Big Questions podcast has concluded. To revisit all of season four’s episodes, click here.
