{
  "id": 17434,
  "title": "Science news this week: Secret lives of whale sharks revealed, Earth's coldest temperature registered, and Amazonian geoglyphs show clues to lost civilization",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/science-news-this-week-secret-lives-of-whale-sharks-revealed-earths",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-01T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Science",
    "slug": "live-science",
    "url": "https://www.livescience.com/animals/science-news-this-week-secret-lives-of-whale-sharks-revealed-earths-coldest-temperature-registered-and-amazonian-geoglyphs-show-clues-to-lost-civilization"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This week saw several fascinating scientific discoveries and developments. Whale sharks were found to have secret lives, captured on camera from the fins of these gentle giants. Meanwhile, the lowest temperature recorded on Earth in over a decade was observed at the Concordia research station in Antarctica, where temperatures dropped to -119.4°F (-84.1°C). This starkly contrasts with the heat waves and wildfires plaguing the Northern Hemisphere. Lasers have revealed hundreds of geoglyphs, or earthworks, made by a mysterious civilization known as the Aquiry people, who lived in the Amazon rainforest 2,500 years ago. This discovery could shed new light on the lost civilization. In Japan, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake trapped shoppers in a mall, highlighting an unusual and unusual seismic event. Meanwhile, in Brazil, ancient geoglyphs have been uncovered, which could provide insight into the Aquiry people's culture and practices. In Spain, orcas have continued to cause trouble by sinking another ship along the Iberian coast. Additionally, scientists have warned of a potential biological \"superspreader\" event once cargo ships resume travel through the Strait of Hormuz. A unique antibody system may help explain bats' unusual tolerance of viruses, while scientists may have found a clue to prevent aging muscles. Lastly, a strange string of galaxies has surprised astronomers with its missing dark matter, and researchers have discovered two new \"ghost\" lineages that contributed to human evolution.",
  "summary": "August 1, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend",
  "key_points": [
    "Whale sharks' secret lives captured on camera fins",
    "Concordia station records Earth's coldest temperature at -119.4°F",
    "Amazon geoglyphs reveal clues to lost Aquiry civilization"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Physics World",
        "title": "Bringing physics down to Earth through rocket science",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/29/bringing-physics-down-to-earth-through-rocket-science",
        "published": "2026-07-29T10:00:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nature",
        "title": "The secret relationships that govern life on Earth",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/the-secret-relationships-that-govern-life-on-earth",
        "published": "2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}