Patrick Pester
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Trending news writer for @LiveScience. Used to work in wildlife conservation. Obsessed with the sale of human remains.
Articles by Patrick Pester
Secretive snakes have a surprising trick to evade predators — watch their rapid escape
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Dwarf reed snakes have the remarkable ability to tumble away from danger. | Credit: Yosuke Kojima, Ibuki Fukuyama Cryptic snakes in Southeast Asia have evolved a remarkable trick for evading predators: Instead of slithering, they arch their long bodies and tumble away at high speeds.
Ancient Indigenous people in New Mexico lived through extreme climate change, study suggests
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Ancient Indigenous people in New Mexico lived through extreme climate change, study suggests
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. New evidence suggests that some of the first people in the Americas witnessed major climate changes in New Mexico more than 20,000 years ago. | Credit: Davide Bonadonna Some of the first people in North America lived through extreme climate change at the peak of the last ice age, a new study suggests.
'Sexy Mantis,' obscene orangutan and prancing sparrowhawk feature in Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A "sexy mantis" is among this year's finalists. | Credit: ©Diego Perez/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Have you ever wondered what it's like to be flipped off by an orangutan or seduced by a mantis? Well, wonder no more, thanks to the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.
Watch the world's smallest crocodiles snatch bats in their hidden underground lair
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Gabon's dwarf crocodiles normally live aboveground in the forest, but one population is adapting to life underground. . | Credit: National Geographic The world's smallest crocodiles use a sneak attack to hunt bats in hellish underground caves filled with poop, a new video reveals.
7 of Earth's 9 life support systems already breached and getting worse, report warns
Earth's life-support systems are in peril — and they're getting worse — but although the window for action is closing, we still have a chance to give our planet a sustainable future, a new report finds. The report, called " Planetary Health Check 2026 ," was written by more than 60 scientists and assessed the state of interconnected natural systems, or planetary boundaries, upon which Earth's stability and resilience depend.
7 of Earth's 9 life support systems already breached and getting worse, report warns
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'We're rapidly running out of time': 7 of Earth's 9 life support systems already breached, and the situation is getting worse, report warns
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Researchers warn our planet is at increasing risk irreversible harm. This is a digitally enhanced image of Earth taken by NASA. | Credit: Roberto Machado Noa via Getty Images Earth's life-support systems are in peril — and they're getting worse — but although the window for action is closing, we still have a chance to give our planet a sustainable future, a new report finds.
SpaceX's Starship reaches orbit for the first time, then returns early and explodes
Starship has made it to orbit for the first time ever. But the loss of an engine during its nail-biting ascent meant SpaceX's mission ended earlier than planned — with an explosion to boot. The tallest and most powerful rocket ever built blasted off from SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas on Monday (Sept. 28) at 8.49 a.m. ET (7.49 a.m. local time). Soon after launch, one of Starship's 33 engines failed.
US heading for unprecedented El Niño winter: Here's what to expect
The ongoing El Niño is breaching the "super" threshold as Earth crosses into unprecedented climate territory. El Niño, officially underway as of June 11 , is a climate pattern that's injecting extra heat into our already-warming world, threatening disruptive weather across the globe and a humanitarian crisis in some regions.
US heading for unprecedented El Niño winter: Here's what to expect
The ongoing El Nino event is expected to be stronger than any since 1950, with sea surface temperatures reaching "super" levels, indicating unprecedented climate territory. El Nino is injecting extra heat into the world, intensifying due to human-driven climate change, and is forecasted to bring stormy winter weather, high-tide flooding, and varied impacts across different regions.
'At some point we're going to have to react': How El Niño, climate change, and crime are pushing the Amazon rainforest over the brink
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Amazon is one of several natural systems that could cross a tipping point as Earth continues to warm. . | Credit: Cavan Images / Vitor Marigo via Getty Images The Amazon, Earth's largest tropical rainforest, could be on the brink of an irreversible change as the ongoing El Niño strengthens its grip on our climate.
Ocean 'under unprecedented strain' as El Niño helps supercharge warming to record levels
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Researchers warn that a warming ocean has serious consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities. | Credit: Philip Thurston via Getty Images Global ocean temperatures have reached a record high as El Niño injects extra heat into our already-warming world. On Saturday (Aug.
Nocturnal dodo? Study suggests we were very wrong about Mauritius' iconic flightless bird
Despite historical portrayals, the dodo was a relatively intelligent bird that might have spent much of its life in the dark, new research suggests. Dodos were traditionally portrayed as dumb, bumbling birds. But now, scientists have scanned dodo skulls and found nothing to suggest these birds were stupid. What they did find, however, was that the part of the dodo's brain that's responsible for visual processing was small — comparable to that of some nocturnal birds.
Nocturnal dodo? Study suggests we were very wrong about Mauritius' iconic flightless bird
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. CT scans of the dodo's skull allow researchers to deduce the size and shape of its brain and speculate on its behavior. . | Credit: Adel Lee. Instagram: @sykonebabblin Despite historical portrayals, the dodo was a relatively intelligent bird that might have spent much of its life in the dark, new research suggests. Dodos were traditionally portrayed as dumb, bumbling birds.
'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication sound of any animal
A photo of a sperm whale underwater. . Sperm whales make the loudest communication sound of any animal on Earth, researchers find — but they aren't sure why. In a new study, researchers investigated the mysterious, low-frequency clangs made by male sperm whales and found that they were louder than any known sperm whale communication signal, with the potential to be heard by other whales around 43 miles (70 kilometers) away.
'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication sound of any animal
2 hours ago A new study theorizes that both prokaryotes—bacteria and archaea—transitioned into living cells independently of each other. Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: One of the most popular theories of life’s origins centers on the hydrothermal vents that line convergent plate boundaries in …
'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication s...
Follow 'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication s... Tue, August 11, 2026 at 11:09 AM EDT Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Super El Niño may push an already stressed climate ecosystem across a critical threshold, climate change re...
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Super El Niño events have the potential to leave a lasting impact on our climate systems. | Credit: Tramper2 via Getty Images Forecasters are warning that the ongoing El Niño is likely to become supercharged in the coming months and inject potentially unprecedented heat into our already warming world.
Antarctica just experienced minus 119 F, Earth's coldest temperature since 2012 — here's why
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Antarctica just experienced minus 119 F, Earth's coldest temperature since 2012 — here's why
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Concordia is considered the most isolated field station in the world. | Credit: GUY CLAVEL/AFP via Getty Images While millions around the world grappled with extreme heat this month, a research station in Antarctica recorded Earth's coldest temperature since 2012.
'Demon cavefish' discovered under WWII chemical weapons facility in Alabama
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Demon cavefish are so different from any known cavefish that they represent an entirely new group. | Credit: Matthew L. Niemiller, Niemiller Nature LLC. "Demon cavefish" have been discovered lurking in caverns beneath a contaminated U.S. Army base in Alabama, a new study has found.
Mice on 'godforsaken' frozen volcanoes eat toxic plants to survive conditions 'not remotely compatible with...
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Andean leaf-eared mice have a variety of strategies to survive at high altitudes. | Credit: Marcial Quiroga-Carmona Scientists have discovered how mice survive at extreme altitudes on the tips of icy dormant volcanoes in the Andes. The area where the mice call home extends more than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) above the world's highest human settlement.
'These are striking forecasts': Super El Niño keeps getting even more likely, and it could bring a humanita...
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: zpagistock via Getty Images This year's El Niño will almost certainly become the strongest ever recorded, an analysis by a prominent climate researcher has warned. Though other scientists have cautioned that it's still too early to say what it will unleash.
'It affects your daily life suddenly': Sea level researcher explains why once-in-a-century floods could bec...
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Sea level extremes pose a significant threat to communities living on the coast. | Credit: © Marco Bottigelli via Getty Images Extreme coastal flooding events are occurring far more frequently in our warming world than ever before, threatening countless communities that will only become more vulnerable as climate change intensifies.
Antarctica's first dinosaur fossil belonged to a group of the largest land animals ever
The first dinosaur found in Antarctica belonged to a group that included the largest animals ever to walk the planet, a new study finds. A backbone from the 82 million-year-old giant was discovered more than 40 years ago, but at the time, researchers assumed it came from an ancient marine reptile.
Antarctica's first dinosaur fossil belonged to a group of the largest land animals ever
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Antarctic dinosaur lived when the frozen continent was filled with forests. | Credit: © Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History The first dinosaur found in Antarctica belonged to a group that included the largest animals ever to walk the planet, a new study finds.
Ancient fossils reveal the first vertebrate land dwellers weren't what we thought, researchers say
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'A completely different story': 300 million-year-old fossils reveal the first vertebrate land dwellers were...
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A study suggests that embolomeres and other early four-legged land walkers were direct developers, growing from smaller to bigger versions of their adult selves. . | Credit: Gabriel Ugueto Never-before-seen fossils of newly hatched crocodile-like creatures are shining new light on how our aquatic ancestors conquered land.
A Texas-size chunk of winter sea ice is missing from Antarctica — and it's probably not coming back
A photo of floating pieces of ice on the Bellingshausen Sea in front of the Antarctic coastline. . A colossal chunk of sea ice roughly the size of Texas is missing from the west coast of Antarctica, and scientists fear it might never form again. Antarctica is currently in winter, which runs from March to October on the southernmost continent. During the winter months, floating sea ice surrounding the continent typically grows, driving currents that regulate Earth's climate.
Elusive dwarf fox, feared extinct, photographed for the first time on island off Yucatán
A photo of a Cozumel fox partially obscured by foliage. An elusive dwarf fox that was feared extinct has been photographed for the first time, after being spotted near a highway in Cozumel, Mexico. The tiny animal was part of the mysterious Cozumel fox population, a potentially undescribed species that had not been officially sighted in more than 20 years. Cozumel foxes live only on Cozumel, an island near Cancún.
A Texas-size chunk of winter sea ice is missing from Antarctica — and it's probably not coming back
Patrick Pester Tue, June 16, 2026 at 4:39 PM UTC 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A massive chunk of sea ice the size of Texas is missing from the west coast of Antarctica, raising concerns among scientists about its potential impact on Earth's climate.
Elusive dwarf fox, feared extinct, photographed for the first time on island off Yucatán
An elusive dwarf Cozumel fox, part of a potentially undescribed species, was captured near a highway in Mexico and released into a state reserve. The Cozumel fox population, which is 20-40% smaller than mainland gray foxes, was rediscovered after not being officially sighted for over 20 years. Researchers are calling for focused conservation efforts for the Cozumel fox, as uncertainty about their population size, distribution, and ecology poses a significant challenge to effective conservation.
A Texas-size chunk of winter sea ice is missing from Antarctica — and it's probably not coming back
Patrick Pester Tue, June 16, 2026 at 4:39 PM UTC 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A massive chunk of sea ice the size of Texas is missing from the west coast of Antarctica, raising concerns among scientists about its potential impact on Earth's climate.
A Texas-size chunk of winter sea ice is missing from Antarctica — and it's probably not coming back
0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Subscribe to our newsletter A colossal chunk of sea ice roughly the size of Texas is missing from the west coast of Antarctica, and scientists fear it might never form again. Antarctica is currently in winter, which runs from March to October on the southernmost continent. During the winter months, floating sea ice surrounding the continent typically grows, driving currents that regulate Earth's climate.
Mysterious 'cold blob' in the Atlantic is a sign of the Gulf Stream weakening — and that's bad news for the US East Coast
A photo of water churning off the coast of Streymoy in the Faroe Islands. A mysterious "cold blob" in the Atlantic Ocean is a sign that key ocean currents are weakening, a new study has found, with potentially devastating long-term impacts on our climate and weather. The cold blob, or North Atlantic Warming Hole, is an area south of Greenland and Iceland where average sea surface temperatures have actually been going down.
Mysterious 'cold blob' in the Atlantic is a sign of the Gulf Stream weakening — and that's bad news for the...
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The cold blob is an unusual patch of cooling in a world that is heating up through global warming. This picture of the ocean is for illustrative purposes only. | Credit: Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo via Getty Images A mysterious "cold blob" in the Atlantic Ocean is a sign that key ocean currents are weakening, a new study has found, with potentially devastating long-term impacts on our climate and weather.
Artemis III crew revealed: NASA announces astronauts for 'one of history's most complex missions'
If the orbital test goes according to plan, it paves the way for the next mission, Artemis IV, which in 2028 will send Americans to land on the moon for the first time in 54 years — assuming NASA sticks to its latest Artemis timetable. The mission is set to last almost two weeks, four days longer than Artemis II's 10-day flight. This will give NASA more time to test key life support systems, as well as in-flight docking.
Artemis III crew revealed: NASA announces astronauts for 'one of history's most complex missions'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Artemis III crew from left to right: Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik, and Frank Rubio. | Credit: NASA NASA has named the crew for its upcoming Artemis III mission, which the space agency says will be one of the most complex missions in history.
Google wants to release 64 million bacteria-riddled mosquitoes across California and Florida. Here's why scientists are enthusiastic.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Southern house mosquitoes spread West Nile virus and other diseases. | Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Google wants to release 64 million bacteria-riddled mosquitoes in California and Florida — but scientists aren't concerned.
Google wants to release 64 million bacteria-riddled mosquitoes across California and Florida. Here's why scientists are enthusiastic.
1 hour ago Everyone should avoid bug bites, which are annoying at best and debilitating (or even lethal) in worst-case scenarios. For a bug repellent that’s safe and effective—and that won’t stink or leave a puddle of oil on your skin—skip the DEET and get a picaridin formula, like Sawyer Products 20% …
Google wants to release 64 million bacteria-riddled mosquitoes across California and Florida. Here's why scientists are enthusiastic.
Google wants to release 64 million bacteria-riddled mosquitoes in California and Florida — but scientists aren't concerned. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing an application made by the tech giant for an experimental mosquito release permit, which, counterintuitively, could reduce mosquito populations that carry diseases.
China launches new Long March 12B rocket, reportedly without any safety warning
A photo of the Long March 12B in flight after launch on June 1, 2026. . China just launched its rival to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket for the first time, reportedly without providing any advance safety warnings. The 236-foot-tall (72 meters) March 12B rocket blasted off at 4.40 p.m. local time (4.40 a.m. EDT) on Monday (June 1), from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of northern China.
China launches new Long March 12B rocket, reportedly without any safety warning
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China launches new Long March 12B rocket, reportedly without any safety warning
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Long March 12B is a reusable, commercial rocket that will help China to build its own satellite megaconstellations. | Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images China just launched its rival to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket for the first time, reportedly without providing any advance safety warnings.
The 'Doomsday Glacier' is poised to lose its ice shelf this year. An Antarctic researcher explains what that means for global sea levels
Researchers don't expect the Florida-size glacier to collapse anytime soon, but Thwaites' eastern ice shelf is breaking away, which will likely accelerate the glacier's demise. The ice shelf has acted as a floating support structure, or buttress, slowing the flow of ice from the glacier, which is grounded on the Antarctic continent.
The 'Doomsday Glacier' is poised to lose its ice shelf this year. An Antarctic researcher explains what that means for global sea levels
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Thwaites Glacier is the largest glacier in West Antarctica, pictured here by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission in 2019.
'Poised to disintegrate': Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier' is set to lose its ice shelf this year
A view from above of a large glacier in the ocean. A vital ice shelf is about to break away from Antarctica's "Doomsday Glacier," further destabilizing one of the world's largest and most vulnerable glaciers. The Thwaites Glacier is nicknamed the "Doomsday Glacier" because its collapse would send so much ice into the Southern Ocean that global sea levels would rise by 2.1 feet (65 centimeters or 26 inches), flooding coastal communities worldwide.
'Poised to disintegrate': Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier' is set to lose its ice shelf this year
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Thwaites Glacier has been melting rapidly since the 1980s. | Credit: NASA A vital ice shelf is about to break away from Antarctica's "Doomsday Glacier," further destabilizing one of the world's largest and most vulnerable glaciers.
Deadly Ebola outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern, WHO declares
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