Science

Scientists believe that giant gerbils were to blame for the Black Death that caused terror in Europe in the 14th century. Black rats may not have been to blame after all, the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests.

Rescuers working late into Monday night freed 19 manatees who were stuck in a storm drain in Central Florida. Video footage showed a rescuer comforting one manatee floating at the opening of the pipe, which was cut open during the hours-long rescue.

Asia is littered with statues of the Buddha. But only one (that researchers know about) hides a mummy inside. The ancient statue was discovered in China, but has been on display in the Netherlands in recent years.

A man has been arrested after attempting to take the ultimate shell-fie by standing on top of a 120-year-old giant tortoise at an Indian zoo. Fazal Shaik, 24, is alleged to have climbed into the ancient reptile’s enclosure at the zoo in Hyderbad, India, before standing on top of its shell.

Two Filipinas may soon be among the first humans to set foot on Mars, after being chosen from a field of more than 200,000 candidates. Jaymee del Rosario, 27, and Minerva Rañeses, were among the Mars 100 Round Three candidates who will now face further challenges to see if they can live on Mars.

Valentine’s Day could be the best day to celebrate your love for the ‘pale blue dot’ spinning away in the vast darkness of space.

Greek archaeologists find 5,800-year-old skeleton couple in loving embrace . The bodies of a man and woman, thought to be in their 20s, have been discovered in southern Greece still locked in a tight embrace – despite having died 5,800 years ago.

A team of British Columbia-led researchers believe banning fishing in international waters would help protect fish stocks and boost coastal economies. The analysis of fisheries data indicates that if increased spillover of fish stocks from protected international waters were to boost coastal catches by 18 per cent, current global catches would be maintained. When the researchers modelled less conservative estimates …

An obese, 100-year-old crocodile dies after constantly being fed chickens and goats for good luck in Bangladesh. While visitors to the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali Shrine in south-western Bangladesh believed feeding the crocodile would bring them good fortune, it brought the crocodile bad fortune, because it died from an obesity-related condition.

About eight million tonnes of plastic waste find their way into the world’s oceans each year, say scientists. The new study is said to be the best effort yet to quantify just how much of this debris is being dumped, blown or simply washed out to sea.

The lone wolf seen roaming around the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in November 2014 has been confirmed dead….