Life's Little Mysteries: Science questions, answered
The world can be a pretty mysterious place and we at Live Science love to ask and answer scientific questions about mysteries big and small: about ancient civilizations, our planet and our solar system, the plants and animals that live alongside us, our bodies and how they work, and the technologies that we use every day.
Join us on this exciting voyage of discovery and downright weirdness as we solve … Life's Little Mysteries.
Latest about Life's Little Mysteries

Why does nearly all life breathe oxygen?
By Harrison Tasoff published
Nitrogen comprises around 78% of Earth's atmosphere, so why do most lifeforms breathe oxygen?

Why do cats lick plastic bags?
By Kohava Mendelsohn published
Your pet's love of licking may come from their desire to nurse as a kitten.

Why don't we remember being babies?
By Benjamin Shouse, Emily Cooke last updated
The inability to remember your first few years of life is called infantile amnesia. But why does it happen?

Intelligent aliens would need a power supply to jump-start their civilization — would they require fossil fuels?
By Sara Hashemi published
Fossil fuels powered the industrial revolution. Would aliens need a similar power source to jump-start a technical revolution?

Can animals understand human language?
By Marilyn Perkins published
There are many famous examples of animals who seem to understand human language. But is there any real science behind them?

Why don't all birds fly?
By Clarissa Brincat published
Why don't some birds, like penguins, ostriches and kiwis, take to the skies?

What's the oldest lake on Earth?
By Elana Spivack published
The oldest lake in the world dates back about 25 million years and is also the world's deepest and most biologically diverse lake.

Do sperm really race to the egg?
By Ashley Hamer published
It's commonly thought that sperm "race" to the egg, with the winner fertilizing it. But is this really the case?
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