Planet Earth

Groundhog handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early Spring during the 138th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Friday February 2, 2024 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

How accurate are Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day forecasts?

By Live Science Staff last updated

The rodent has been predicting the start of spring since 1887. But how good is Phil at his prognostications?

Weather
An image of Half Dome in Yosemite

Earth's crust is peeling away under California

By Stephanie Pappas published

A section of the upper mantle and crust under the Sierra Nevada mountains is peeling away, in a process that may mimic how the continents were formed.

Geology
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Space

telescope against a starry sky

Best telescopes 2025: Observe galaxies, nebulas and planets

By Jase Parnell-Brookes last updated

The best telescopes offer an unparalleled view of the cosmos, and we've gathered our favorites.

Space
A side-by-side comparison of images of NGC 346 from JWST and Hubble

Space photo of the week: James Webb and Hubble telescopes unite to solve 'impossible' planet mystery

By Jamie Carter published

New James Webb Space Telescope observations of a star cluster called NGC 346 are shedding light on how, when and where planets formed in the early universe.

Astronomy
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archaeology

Two X-ray scans of metal objects that came from a Roman-era helmet. Both are irregularly shaped, and one has incised lines and shapes on it as decoration.

'Exceptionally rare' 1,500-year-old Roman helmet found in chief's burial in Denmark

By Kristina Killgrove last updated

Archaeologists in Denmark have recovered dozens of lances, spears, swords, knives, chain mail and a Roman helmet from an Iron Age chieftain's house.

Archaeology
Drawing of teeth with wear next to a photograph of a jaw with worn teeth

Ice age Europeans as young as 10 years old rocked cheek piercings 30,000 years ago

By Kristina Killgrove published

A study of Paleolithic skeletons from Central Europe suggests people's teeth were worn down and crowded together because of cheek piercings.

Archaeology
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Health

A woman itching her arm

It's tough to resist scratching an itch — and evolution may be to blame

By Skyler Ware published

A new study conducted in mice suggests that, although it's not all good, our urge to scratch at itchy skin may have an evolutionary benefit.

Health
A man stands in the sun, squinting and blocking the sun with his hands

Can your eyes get sunburned?

By Margaret Osborne published

Photokeratitis, or eye sunburn, can happen at any time of the year.

Health
A pregnant woman at a doctor's appointment looks worried

Infant mortality is on the rise in the US — experts point to stricter abortion laws as reasons why

By Almut Winterstein, Sonja Rasmussen published

The new study reinforces warnings from doctors about abortion laws with limited or no exceptions.

Fertility, Pregnancy & Birth
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Animals

A photo of an egret eating a lizard

Are birds reptiles?

By Emma Bryce published

If you're wondering whether birds are reptiles, know this: The reptile family tree is more varied and diverse than you might realize.

Birds

Antarctic scale worm: The glitzy frilly horror show with giant protruding jaws that look like Alien's xenomorph

By Melissa Hobson published

This deep-sea polar worm looks like it can't decide if it's dressed for a glitzy party or a gruesome massacre.

Animals
A spider infected with zombie-spider fungus (Gibellula attenboroughii) on the ceiling of a cave.

'Zombie' spiders infected by never-before-seen fungus discovered on grounds of destroyed Irish castle

By Patrick Pester published

A new fungus that infects cave spiders and turns them into "zombies" was discovered in a Victorian gunpowder store at Castle Espie in Northern Ireland during filming for a TV show.

Spiders
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Human Behavior

an abstract illustration showing a menacing face forming out of data streaming from computers

Fake studies are slowing lifesaving medical research — all while fraudsters are getting rich, investigation reveals

By Frederik Joelving, Cyril Labbé, Guillaume Cabanac published

Fake papers are contaminating the world’s scientific literature, fueling a corrupt industry and slowing legitimate lifesaving medical research

Human Behavior
A woman is shown embracing her child and looking down at her.

Parents really do have favorites, study suggests

By Emily Cooke published

Parents are more likely to favor daughters and more-agreeable children, new research suggests, although the findings may only apply to people from certain demographics.

Human Behavior
An artist's interpretation of a black hole surrounded by stars

10 mind-blowing black hole discoveries from 2024

By Ben Turner published

From missing links, to primordial beginnings, to extremely powerful plasma jets that could be shaping our universe in mysterious ways, here are the top 10 black hole discoveries that blew our minds this year.

Human Behavior
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Physics & Mathematics

A boy hula hoops with multiple colorful hoops

How do Hula-Hoops work?

By Charles Choi published

How do Hula-Hoops keep from falling down as we twirl them around?

Physics & Mathematics
A NASA graphic depicting a galaxy with a red half-circle superimposed over it to represent the mass of dark matter believed to be found there.

'Heavy' dark matter would rip our understanding of the universe apart, new research suggests

By Paul Sutter published

Because we haven't found anything yet, we've started to wonder if dark matter might be lighter or heavier than we thought.

Dark Matter
Abstract concept art with two rainbow arrows

Scientists discover new, 3rd form of magnetism that may be the 'missing link' in the quest for superconductivity

By Victoria Atkinson published

Scientists have found an elusive third form of magnetism that could help solve a longstanding puzzle about superconductors.

Physics & Mathematics
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Chemistry

a woman wearing many layers clutches her scarf in her hands

New fabric can heat up more than 50 degrees to keep people warm in ultracold weather

By Victoria Atkinson published

A new smart fabric converts light into heat and can raise temperatures by more than 54 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) after just 10 minutes in the sun.

Chemistry
An image of the new nanomaterial.

New wonder material designed by AI is as light as foam but as strong as steel

By Ben Turner published

The new technique could produce materials for use in helicopters, airplanes and spacecraft.

Chemistry
An artist's illustration of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft poised to land on the asteroid Bennu.

Asteroid Bennu contains the 'seeds of life,' OSIRIS-REx samples reveal

By Ben Turner published

Scientists have found all five nucleobases alongisde minerals essential for life as we know it on the potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu.

Chemistry
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Technology

A photo of turtle on a computer keyboard

Biological computers could use far less energy than current technology — by working more slowly

By Heiner Linke published

Human biology is vastly more energy efficient than today's computing.

Computing
Photo of the four-legged robot shot mid-run.

Watch China's 4-legged 'Black Panther 2.0' robot run as fast as Usain Bolt

By Rory Bathgate published

Researchers in China have developed a unique running stance for their four-legged robot, which allows it to move at far greater speeds than similar machines.

Robotics
An illustration with two security cameras pointed at a brain

'Neuroergonomics' aims to monitor workers' brains to boost productivity. Is that... okay?

By Paul Brandt-Rauf published

Neurotechnology raises many high-stakes ethical questions. Setting ground rules could help protect workers and ensure that tasks are adapted to the person, rather than the other way around.

Technology
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