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New research claims to have unearthed a tragic -- and rather ironic -- fate for one of humanity's most famous ancestors. "Lucy," the named skeleton of a hominid who lived in Africa more than 3 million years ago, apparently died after falling out of a tree. Lucy's remains, which were discovered by archaeologists in Ethiopia in 1974, have long served as an important piece of the evolutionary puzzle for understanding how and when humans evolved from apes and other primates. She belongs to the species group Australopithecus afarensis, who resembled chimps with their flat noses, curved fingers, and small brains, but who also possessed canine teeth, arched feet, and the ability to walk upright, just like modern humans. The new revelations about Lucy's death were spearheaded by John Kappelm...

Multiple areas of the Middle-East have experienced record-breaking temperatures this summer, and climate experts are warning that the oppressive heat and severe weather could be a harbinger of worse to come. The UN has predicted that the combined 400 million people residing in 22 Arab countries will grow to nearly 600 million by 2050, and that the area's mushrooming population will face extreme water scarcity, more extreme temperatures, and other issues related to global warming. "This incredible weather shows that climate change is already taking a toll now and that it is -- by far -- one of the biggest challenges ever faced by this region," said Adel Abdul Latif, a senior adviser at the UN Development Programme's Regional Bureau for Arab States who has worked on studies about the i...

Police recovered an alligator from a backyard in West Springfield, Massachusetts on Thursday. The alligator, spanning six feet and weighing around 200 pounds, was being kept as a pet in a fenced-off area in the backyard. West Springfield Police Captain Michael Banas stated that around 12:30 in the afternoon the police department received an anonymous call reporting that an alligator had been spotted at a home on Main Street. A crew from Springfield’s Forest Park Zoo was called in to capture the animal, which was then taken away in the back of a pickup truck. The reptile is currently being held at the zoo while Massachusetts Environmental Police investigate the animal’s presence in the backyard since it is illegal to own an alligator as a pet. Police Sergeant Nolan Ryan stated t...

In 1975, more than half of American kids had a stay-at-home parent, and of course it was usually their mom. But today, fewer than one in three kids have a stay-at-home parent. Perhaps that's why childcare experts say only one in two infants and toddlers is regularly read to by mom or dad. So why are the country's growing number of stay-at-home dads struggling with depression, ridicule from their peers, and bleak job prospects when the time comes to re-enter the workforce? This July, Vice News spoke with a number of stay-at-home dads, who described problems like social isolation and even mental illness. According to a number of studies, stay-at-home dads are more likely to suffer from anxiety, insomnia and erectile dysfunction. There is even a greater chance that they'll commit adulte...

While the global effects of the "Brexit" -- Great Britain's voter decision to leave the European Union -- are yet to be determined, local effects on the housing market may already be underway as buyers and sellers both begin to brace themselves for an uncertain future. "A recession certainly cannot be ruled out at this point," read a statement from the Center for Economics and Business Research. In the week-plus since the historic and surprise Brexit vote, consumer confidence has already plunged to low levels not seen since recession-ridden 2013. The United Overseas Bank also issued a statement that reads more like a harbinger: "As the aftermath of the U.K. referendum is still unfolding and given the uncertainties, we need to ensure our customers are cautious with their London proper...

A pet salon in Taiwan is setting itself apart by providing a unique array of grooming services, including trimming pets’ fur to resemble Hello Kitty and creating an extra-special look the salon calls “Stegosaurus spine. Pet stylist Lee Mei-chen of Igogo pet salon expressed that the designs on different pets vary according to the natural assets the animals bring to the grooming table. She said, “Because we don’t provide the service of dying fur into different colors, we try to find a style that matches the appearance of (the pet) and then come up with a design. Of course everyone thinks that Hello Kitty is white and that a lion is dark brown. We try to come up with designs based on that concept.” According to salon owner Ou Shih-jou, the “stegosaurus design” was inspired by their cust...

In Australia, more than 11 million people -- half the entire population -- were prescribed drugs in 2014 to fight off various infections. According to AU News, a large portion of those prescriptions was inappropriately given to patients. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality Health Care (ACSQHC) found that many of these prescriptions did not comply with hospital and healthcare guidelines. These antimicrobial drugs can potentially save someone's life if prescribed correctly. If these drugs are incorrectly prescribed, however, severe problems can occur. The Mercury reports that Australia now has the highest rate in the world of vancomycin resistant enterococcus faecium, or VRE, a superbug resulting from medication overuse. "Antibiotic resistance has developed because of...

Spring is here, and with that, the season of sealing asphalt driveways and parking lots is upon us. While asphalt is typically used to improve the appearance of pavement and prolong its lifespan, it can, unfortunately, be as toxic as it tends to smell. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, asphalt seal coats contain coal tar, a well-known hazard to the environment and to personal health. In a recently published U.S. Geological Survey, researchers found that coal tar-based asphalt sealants that are applied to driveways, parking lots, and other areas can find their way into places they should not be, such as schools and homes. Asphalt can also be used as a roofing material, and comes in two kinds of shingles, organic and fiberglass. However, unlike sealants, these materials aren't respon...

Most Americans now use the Internet to find health information, and thanks to the Web, important medical information can now spread at the speed of light. Of course, that means misinformation can spread just as fast, which is causing preventable deaths all over the world. With warmer weather heating up the Southern United States, officials have been able to quickly spread helpful information on avoiding the Zika virus in areas likely to be affected by the mosquito-borne disease. On the other hand, countless Americans now believe that vaccines can cause autism and other health problems, a dangerous conspiracy theory that's led to several disease outbreaks in the past several years. And in China, the world's largest country is investigating the death of 21-year-old college student Wei ...

May the 4th be with you. Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, chances are you've heard this dated pun before, but this year's annual celebration brought at least one new thing to fanatics everywhere: the skulls of their favorite Star Wars characters. Not literal skulls, of course. Most humans don't have the nerve or steady fingers necessary to take down something like a full-grown Wookiee. According to 3DPrint.com, through the magic of 3D printing, there will be a much easier and diplomatic way to get a model skull of your favorite galactic creature this year. The 3D-Printable Toys and 3D Printer test kits company 3DKitBash has announced they will embark on a Kickstarter-funded journey to make these miniature skull replications possible. “Two years ago, we had a steel mold creat...