Articles for author: Jan Otte

A Universe on Purpose? The Physics That Made Life Possible

Jan Otte

The universe shouldn’t exist at least, not in a form that allows life. Yet here we are, thinking, questioning, and marveling at the cosmos. The fundamental laws of physics appear fine-tuned with eerie precision. Alter any one of nature’s constant gravity, the speed of light, the mass of an electron even slightly, and stars wouldn’t ...

Iceberg A23a Collapsing Near Penguin Refuge Time Is Melting Away

Jan Otte

The biggest iceberg in the world, a frozen behemoth the size of Cornwall, is breaking into thousands of icy fragments close to South Georgia’s wildlife-rich coastlines. After almost four decades of drifting from Antarctica in 1986, this “megaberg” is finally giving way to warmer temperatures; its soaring cliffs are collapsing in a show both amazing ...

Microplastics in Paradise? Discover the Hidden Threat in Brazil’s Marine Havens

Jan Otte

Celebrated as havens of biodiversity, Brazil’s marine protected areas (MPAs) are under strict control meant to guard delicate ecosystems from human impact. Still, a novel study reveals a sneaky invader slipping past these defenses: microplastics. Little plastic particles have crept into even the most pristine, no-take reserves where fishing, tourism, and industrial activity are prohibited ...

Is This the Weirdest Sea Monster Ever Discovered? Meet the Real-Life Cretaceous Oddity

Jan Otte

For nearly four decades, a set of enigmatic fossils from British Columbia puzzled scientists so much so that they became the province’s official fossil emblem before anyone could definitively identify them. Now, after years of debate, paleontologists have finally unveiled the creature behind the mystery: Traskasaura sandrae, a bizarre 12-meter-long elasmosaurus with a Frankensteinian mix ...

World’s First Psychoactive Burn? Scientists Confirm Harmal Use in Ancient Arabia

Jan Otte

Archaeologists have found a startling secret in the dry landscapes of northwest Arabia, where the remnants of the ancient oasis settlement of Qurayyah whisper tales of forgotten civilizations: the first evidence of intentional psychoactive plant burning in the planet. Published in Communications Biology, a ground-breaking study shows that Iron Age people were breathing smoke from ...

Why Scientists Are Buzzing About a Rare Earth Discovery Outside China

Jan Otte

China has essentially monopolized rare earth elements (REEs), the unsung heroes of modern technology, for decades. Although these 17 metals run everything from fighter planes to cell phones, their supply chain has long been a geopolitical flashpoint. Now, a ground-breaking discovery from Australian company Lynas Rare Earths has industry leaders and scientists humming: the first ...