Planet Earth

An astronaut photo of a golden river in the shape of a Chinese dragon

Rare 'sunglint' transforms Alabama River into a giant 'golden dragon'

By Harry Baker published

Earth from space A 2023 astronaut photo shows the moment the Alabama River briefly morphed into an undulating golden serpent, similar in shape to a Chinese dragon. This temporary transformation was the result of a rare mirror-like phenomenon known as a "sunglint."

Earth from space
A photo of three men crouched around a hole in the ground emitting helium gas

A huge helium shortage is looming — but ancient rocks in Earth's crust may be hiding massive reservoirs

By Sascha Pare published

For decades, helium has been produced with natural gas, generating huge carbon emissions. Now, geologists are looking for new helium sources — and finding enormous "carbon-free" reservoirs that could revolutionize the industry.

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Geology
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Space

Strangely bleached rocks on Mars hint that the Red Planet was once a tropical oasis

By Joanna Thompson published

Bleached clay rocks found on the Martian surface suggest that the Red Planet was once home to heavy rainfall and tropical conditions, new Perseverance observations hint.

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Mars

Ethereal structure in the sky rivals 'Pillars of Creation' — Space photo of the week

By Jamie Carter published

The twin telescopes of the Gemini Observatory mark 25 years of discovery as students name distant nebula Ua ʻŌhiʻa Lan.

Astronomy
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archaeology

Ash Pendant: The only known depiction of a pregnant Viking woman

By Kristina Killgrove published

The Ash Pendant was discovered in a Viking Age burial mound in Sweden and may have been used by a female shaman.

Vikings

The 'hobbits' may have died out when drought forced them to compete with modern humans, new research suggests

By Owen Jarus published

A reduction in rainfall may have played a sizable role in the extinction of Homo floresiensis, the archaic human species nicknamed the "hobbit," a new study finds.

Human Evolution
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World of science

Health

A young woman dressed in activewear is sitting next to a Christmas tree with headphones on and whilst holding a tablet

The 17 best fitness gifts to buy for gym lovers, hand-picked by a personal trainer

By Anna Gora published

Buying guides Need some last-minute gift ideas for a fitness enthusiast? We have your back.

Buying guides
Computer illustration of the capsid of a polyoma BK virus.

Widespread cold virus you've never heard of may play key role in bladder cancer

By Jennifer Zieba published

Scientists uncovered how childhood BK virus infections may set off cancer-causing mutations decades later: by activating a host immune system enzyme that attacks DNA.

Cancer
white, pink and orange illustrations of leukemia in white blood cell

Science history: Female chemist initially barred from research helps develop drug for remarkable-but-short-lived recovery in children with leukemia — Dec. 6, 1954

By Tia Ghose published

In December 1954, Gertrude Elion and colleagues described a new compound they had developed that sent children with leukemia into remission. It would guide a new approach to "rational drug design."

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Cancer
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Animals

18,000 dinosaur tracks discovered along ancient Bolivian coastline — and they set a new record

By Sascha Pare published

Researchers have counted 16,600 fossilized dinosaur footprints and 1,378 swim tracks at a site in Bolivia that showcase a variety of behaviors and different theropods from the Cretaceous period.

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Dinosaurs

Anacondas became massive 12 million years ago — and it worked so well, they haven't changed size since

By Skyler Ware published

The snakes stayed large and thrived even when cooling temperatures and shrinking habitats killed off other giant reptiles millions of years ago.

Snakes

What's the difference between a newt and a salamander?

By Alice Sun published

Salamanders and newts are both long-tailed amphibians, but what's the difference between them?

Animals
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Human Behavior

A hand holding a pencil over a crossword puzzle

Live Science crossword puzzle #23: Distance around the edge of a circle — 6 down

By Harry Baker last updated

Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!

Science crossword

Time may be a psychological projection, philosopher argues

By Adrian Bardon published

Is time real, or an illusion? The best answer may be neither: Both physics and philosophy suggest that time is a projection of the mind onto a timeless reality.

Human Behavior

There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you

By Kit Yates published

Opinion How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.

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Opinion
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Physics & Mathematics

Maxar overview satellite imagery shows the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano releasing huge smoke clouds before the eruption on January 14th , 2022 in Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Islands, Tonga.

What was the loudest sound ever recorded?

By Clarissa Brincat published

Determining the "loudest recorded sound" depends on how you define sound and on which measurements you choose to include.

6 Comments
Physics & Mathematics

Law of 'maximal randomness' explains how broken objects shatter in the most annoying way possible

By Skyler Ware published

A new mathematical equation describes the distribution of different fragment sizes when an object breaks. Remarkably, the distribution is the same for everything from bubbles to spaghetti.

Mathematics

World's largest neutrino detector starts up — with incredible results

By Rory Harris last updated

Deep underground in southern China, there is a 20,000-ton tank of liquid that can detect neutrinos. Named JUNO, the detector's first results are in — and they're very promising.

Particle Physics
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Chemistry

Scientists invent way to use E. coli to create and dye rainbow-colored fabric in the lab

By Mason Wakley published

Scientists have used a novel method to create sustainable, rainbow-colored fibers using bacteria in the lab.

Chemistry
an animation of a spinning buckyball molecule

Science history: Chemists discover buckyballs — the most perfect molecules in existence — Nov. 14, 1985

By Tia Ghose published

Over a feverish 10-day period, scientists synthesized and described a new class of carbon molecules, called buckminster fullerenes, after the iconic 20th-century inventor.

Chemistry

Why does boiling water have bubbles, except in a microwave?

By Victoria Atkinson published

Bubbles are usually the first sign that water’s coming to the boil, but heating it in a microwave seems to skip this important step. Here’s what’s going on.

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Chemistry
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Technology

A laptop with a bright image of a digital printed circuit board on the screen.

New 'physics shortcut' lets laptops tackle quantum problems once reserved for supercomputers and AI

By Owen Hughes published

Physicists have transformed a decades-old technique for simplifying quantum equations into a reusable, user-friendly "conversion table" that works on a laptop and returns results within hours.

Computing
Two prototypes of the ultrasonic system used to “shake” water out of an atmospheric water harvester.

MIT invention uses ultrasound to shake drinking water out of the air, even in dry regions

By Owen Hughes published

A new device cuts down the time it takes to harvest water from the atmosphere from days to minutes, MIT researchers say.

2 Comments
Engineering
Vector of a man working with a robot sitting at table. Symbol of future cooperation and technology advance

When an AI algorithm is labeled 'female,' people are more likely to exploit it

By Damien Pine published

People who played the “Prisoner’s Dilemma” were less likely to cooperate when the other player was a male human or AI, and exploited female players.

Artificial Intelligence
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