Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their development of new molecular structures that can trap vast quantities of gas inside. The discovery lays the groundwork to potentially suck greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere or harvest moisture from desert environments. The chairperson of the committee that made the award compared the structures called metal-organic frameworks to a seemingly bottomless magical handbag featured in the “Harry Potter” series or to Mary Poppins’ enchanted carpet bag. The containers look small from the outside but are able to hold surprisingly large quantities within.

Researchers have discovered life-size rock carvings of camels, gazelles and other animals in Saudi Arabia. The carvings date back around 12,000 years and many are over 6 feet tall. Scientists say they were created using a wedge-shaped rock to make sharp lines. Scientists weren’t sure if humans lived in the desert during this time period since conditions were dry and water was scarce. The art and tools show that people lived in the area about 2,000 years earlier than previously thought, though it's not yet clear how they survived. The findings were published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.