Science News: Recent scientific discoveries and expert analysis
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Latest news

Northern lights ignite night sky after rare double solar eruption
By Patrick Pester published
Solar eruptions created a northern lights display in North America and Europe overnight, with more auroras expected through Thursday.

Elusive colossal squid finally caught on camera 100 years after discovery in world 1st footage — and it's tiny
By Jess Thomson published
A colossal squid has been filmed in its natural habitat for the first time ever, a century after it was first identified by scientists.

Newly 'awakened' black hole is releasing 100 times more energy than scientists have seen before
By Elana Spivack published
The quasi-periodic eruptions of X-rays from a black hole 300 million light-years away are unlike any researchers have ever seen before.

The exceptionally rare disease that causes holes to form in your brain
By Emily Cooke last updated
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is an extremely rare and fatal brain-wasting disease that's like a human version of "mad cow."

The James Webb telescope reveals the truth about a planet that crashed into its own star
By Elana Spivack published
Scientists thought they saw a distant star swallow a planet for the first time ever. But new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope suggest something very different, but equally rare, may have happened instead.

T. rex fossil trade hurting scientific research, study claims
By Patrick Pester published
A Tyrannosaurus rex researcher has found that there are now more scientifically valuable T. rex specimens in private or commercial ownership than in public museums, hampering research.

Trove of dinosaur footprints reveal Jurassic secrets on Isle of Skye where would-be Scottish king Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped
By Richard Pallardy published
Paleontologists have discovered tracks belonging to meat-eating theropods and long-necked sauropods on the Isle of Skye.

Zoo elephants form protective ring around young during California earthquake
By Patrick Pester published
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park's elephants raced to protect their calves with an "alert circle" when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Julian in Southern California.

Strange 'sea pigs,' sea spiders and a spawning 'butterfly' discovered on Antarctic ocean floor by scientists
By Jess Thomson published
Scientists on an icebreaker ship have captured a number of weird and wacky animals from Antarctica's ocean floor, including a bizarre pig-shaped creature.

Newly discovered comet SWAN just 'erupted' with a bright, icy burst. Is it a cold volcano?
By Harry Baker published
Photos show that comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN) experienced a "major eruption," causing it to become temporarily brighter. However, it's still unclear whether the icy object is a true "cryovolcano."

What is quantum superposition?
By Jess Thomson last updated
Quantum superposition is a phenomenon in which a tiny particle can be in two states at the same time — but only if it is not being directly observed.

Watch creepy, humanlike robot twitch and clench fists in new video
By Jess Thomson published
Clone Robotics' Protoclone android can be seen flexing its bionic muscles in a new video, creepily jerking its limbs back and forth as it hangs from the ceiling.

Lyrid meteor shower peaks next week: How to spot the most 'shooting stars'
By Jamie Carter published
Up to 18 "shooting stars" per hour may be visible during the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower on April 21-22.

Inequality isn't inevitable in civilizations, 10,000 years of archaeological evidence reveals
By Ben Turner published
A study of 50,000 houses from the late Pleistocene to the onset of European colonialism has revealed that social inequality isn't inevitable, but rather a consequence of political choices.

First baby conceived with remotely operated 'automated IVF' has been born
By Elana Spivack published
Performed remotely in Mexico by engineers and embryologists in New York, an automated fertility treatment resulted in conception and, more recently, a live birth.

'Flesh-eating' infections that liquefy tissues can affect the vulva, doctors warn
By Jess Thomson published
Doctors in the U.K. have warned gynecologists of the risks of necrotizing fasciitis in the external genitalia after seeing several cases.

Sickle cell 'crises' linked to menstrual cycle
By Jennifer Zieba published
In a new study, researchers found that the inflammation behind painful episodes in sickle cell disease are correlated with the menstrual cycle.

Study reveals 'flawed argument' in debate over when plate tectonics began
By Stephanie Pappas published
You don't need plate tectonics to get continental crust that looks modern, a new study finds.
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