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Dutch researchers employ unique e-bike to make cycling safer

Dutch university researcher Holger Caesar heads out into the afternoon traffic on a bicycle like no other, equipped to collect data he believes may one day save lives.

Trump vows to plant flag on Mars, omits mention of Moon return

US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to "plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars" but made no mention of NASA's planned return to the Moon, heightening speculation about his space strategy.

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The women scientists forgotten by history

French doctor and researcher Marthe Gautier, who died over the weekend, was one of a long line of women scientists who greatly contributed to scientific discovery only to see the credit go to their male colleagues.

Pulses race at new erotic Pompeii exhibition

Raunchy scenes may redden faces at a new exhibition in Pompeii on art and sexuality in the ancient Roman city, where sculptures and paintings of breasts and buttocks abound.

France's pro-Nazi literary legend returns 78 years on

It is a rare thing when the story of a book's publication is even more mysterious than the plot of the novel itself.

Sudan's electric rickshaws cut costs, help environment

Sudanese entrepreneur Mohamed Samir watches proudly as workers assemble garishly coloured rickshaws, unique in the North African nation because they run on electricity in a bid to tackle soaring costs.

'Death shadow' dinosaur unearthed in Argentina

Argentine paleontologists have announced the discovery of an apex-predator dinosaur that measured three stories from nose to tail and eviscerated its prey with sharp, curved claws.

NASA, Boeing say Starliner on track for May 19 launch

Boeing's Starliner capsule is finally ready to reattempt a key test launch to the International Space Station on May 19, officials said Tuesday.

Power cuts, forest fires in South Asia heatwave

Power outages compounded the misery of millions of people wilting in a heatwave across India and Pakistan on Friday, with experts blaming climate change for an early onset of roasting summer temperatures.

UAE to send astronaut on six-month ISS mission

The United Arab Emirates announced Friday it will send an astronaut on a six-month mission to space, as it seeks to become a major player in the industry.

Thoughts of Ukraine at Auschwitz March of the Living

As Ukrainian refugee Olga marched Thursday alongside Holocaust survivors to honour the victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, her war-torn homeland was on her mind.

Giant tooth of ancient marine reptile discovered in Alps

The fossils of three ichthyosaurs -- giant marine reptiles that patrolled primordial oceans -- have been discovered high up in the Swiss Alps, and include the largest ever tooth found for the species, a study said Thursday.

Disgraced surgeon on trial in Sweden over windpipe transplants

An Italian doctor who made headlines for pioneering windpipe surgery went on trial in Sweden on Wednesday, charged with assault for performing the experimental procedure.

SpaceX launches its latest crew to ISS for NASA

Days after a SpaceX Dragon capsule crewed by wealthy adventurers splashed down off Florida's coast, another launched Wednesday, this time for a NASA mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceX set to launch its latest crew to ISS for NASA

Days after a SpaceX Dragon capsule crewed by wealthy adventurers splashed down off Florida's coast, another is set to launch Wednesday, this time for a NASA mission to the International Space Station.

Ukrainian town draws inspiration from anarchist hero

Despite massive bombardment and with Russian troops just a stone's throw away, morale remains high in a Ukrainian town that draws inspiration from the memory of a local anarchist hero.

Climate change quickly warming Scottish lochs: study

Climate change has caused a rapid and extensive rise in temperature in Scotland's lochs and reservoirs, according to research published on Tuesday that predicts the trend will continue if nothing is done.

Overuse and climate change kill off Iraq's Sawa Lake

A "No Fishing" sign on the edge of Iraq's western desert is one of the few clues that this was once Sawa Lake, a biodiverse wetland and recreational landmark.

UK hosts 'world's first' hub for drones, future flying taxis

A pop-up urban port for delivery drones -- and one day, potentially flying taxis -- launched Monday in Britain, lifting a box of prosecco for a brief celebratory test flight hailed as groundbreaking.

Crew of first private flight to ISS set for splashdown

Three businessmen and a former NASA astronaut are set to splash down Monday off the Florida coast after spending two weeks aboard the International Space Station.

Some male spiders catapult away after sex to avoid death

Sometimes there are pretty valid reasons for leaving right after sex.

Crew of first private flight to ISS head back to Earth

The crew of the first fully private mission to the International Space Station departed the orbiting laboratory on Monday to head back to Earth.

Biden protects US forests but struggles on biggest climate goals

President Joe Biden marked Earth Day on Friday by ordering protections for ancient forests and pondering a future without his beloved gas-guzzling Corvette sports car, but after 14 months in office his more ambitious climate goals look elusive.

Biden to order protection of ancient US forests

President Joe Biden was marking Earth Day on Friday by ordering protections for the United States' ancient forests, seen as a crucial weapon in the fight against climate change, during a trip to Seattle.

Large Hadron Collider restarts after three-year break

The Large Hadron Collider restarted Friday after a three-year break for upgrades that will allow it to smash protons together at even greater speeds, in the hope of making new ground-breaking discoveries.

Climate, big agriculture slashing insect populations 'by half'

A warming world and intensive agriculture are causing insect populations to plummet by nearly half compared to areas less affected by temperature rises and industrial farming, researchers said Wednesday.

Small bees better at coping with warming, bumblebees struggle: study

Climate change could lead to more small-bodied bees but fewer bumblebees, according to research published Wednesday, warning of potential "cascading" effects on plant pollination and across whole ecosystems.

Third dust storm in two weeks sweeps through Iraq

Iraq was hit Wednesday by its third heavy dust storm in two weeks, temporarily grounding flights at Baghdad and Najaf airports, as the weather phenomenon grows increasingly frequent.

WHO launches traditional medicine hub in India

The World Health Organization launched its Global Centre for Traditional Medicine at a site in India on Tuesday, aimed at unlocking its potential by blending ancient practices with modern science.

Water on Jupiter's moon closer to surface than thought: study

Ridges that criss-cross the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa indicate there are shallow pockets of water beneath, boosting hopes in the search for extra-terrestrial life, scientists said Tuesday.

After failed tests, NASA's Moon rocket heads back to workshop

NASA's Space Launch System rocket is heading back to its assembly building for repairs next week, pushing the earliest possible launch date for its uncrewed test flight to the Moon to later this summer, officials said Monday.

Libya's underground homes wait for tourism revival

Gharyan's unique underground houses were hewn into the mountainside centuries ago, and many lie abandoned, but residents of the Libyan town are hoping tourism can help restore their heritage.

Three Chinese astronauts return to Earth after six months in space

Three Chinese astronauts landed in northern China on Saturday after 183 days in space, state broadcaster CCTV said, ending the country's longest crewed space mission to date.

In US, every dog has its... DNA test

The routine is now a familiar one: Open the kit, swirl a swab around, put it in solution and wait impatiently for the results. Except this time it's not a test for Covid -- it's a DNA test for dogs.

Washington resumes oil and gas drilling leases on federal land

The US government, under pressure to lower gas prices, announced Friday it will resume the sale of leases for oil and gas drilling on federal lands while imposing new conditions, including the first hike in royalties in more than 100 years.

Global warming: even cacti can't take the heat

Sixty percent of cactus species will wind up in less hospitable climates over the coming decades as global warming sets in, according to new research challenging the long-held assumption the iconic desert plants will thrive with more heat.

'Time to close' Parthenon marbles row: Acropolis museum director

The new director of the Acropolis Museum has called for an end to the long-running dispute for the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece, noting that London's parliament could rule on the issue.

Toll in South Africa's deadliest floods on record tops 300

The death toll from devastating floods in and around the South African port city of Durban has risen to 306, the government said Wednesday, after roads and hillsides were washed away as homes collapsed.

Paris climate targets feasible if nations keep vows

If all nations honour promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is a chance of capping the rise in global temperatures to under two degrees Celsius, the cornerstone target of the Paris Agreement, researchers said Wednesday.

California start-up sends tiny robots on voyage into brains

Sending miniature robots deep inside the human skull to treat brain disorders has long been the stuff of science fiction -- but it could soon become reality, according to a California start-up.

Lost golden toad heralds climate's massive extinction threat

Those lucky enough to have seen them will never forget.

The Japan Times - Technology (English)