
Charles Q. Choi
Latest articles by Charles Q. Choi

Blood Red Skies Over China Explained 300 Years Later
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
A massive geomagnetic storm that was recorded across East Asia for nine days in 1770 suggests such solar flareups are surprisingly common.

Ice Samples Reveal a Massive Sun Storm Hit Earth in Ancient Times...And It Could Happen Again
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
A gigantic solar storm hit Earth about 2,600 years ago, one about 10 times stronger than any solar storm recorded in the modern day, a new study finds.

Why do cats lick?
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
Here's the science behind why cats lick themselves, as well as other animals and even humans.

New class of exoplanet — half-rock, half-water — discovered orbiting red dwarf
By Charles Q. Choi published
A new type of exoplanet has been discovered circling around one of the most common stars in the universe, and it could help in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Did Nero really fiddle while Rome burned?
By Charles Q. Choi published
A well-known expression says that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. But has history misrepresented this infamous ruler?

Genome of Mysterious Extinct Human Reveals Brown-Eyed Girl
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
... and other surprises are revealed in the Denisovan DNA.

Neanderthals and Denisovans Mated, New Hybrid Bone Reveals
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
Finally, there's proof that Neanderthals and Denisovans interbred.

Now-Extinct Relative Had Sex with Humans Far and Wide
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
The Denisovans spanned from Siberia to Asia, leaving evidence of interbreeding in modern humans.

Finger Bone Points to New Branch of Humanity
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
The finger came from a young girl, who was neither like us nor Neanderthal.

Neanderthals Weren't Humans' Only Mating Partners. Meet the Denisovans.
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
The mysterious extinct human lineage known as the Denisovans may have interbred with modern humans in at least two separate waves, a new study finds.

DNA from Mysterious 'Denisovans' Helped Modern Humans Survive
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
Genetic mutations from extinct human relatives called the Denisovans might have influenced modern human immune systems, researchers say.

Ancient tooth of mysterious Denisovan girl possibly found
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
Researchers in Laos have uncovered an ancient molar that may have belonged to a Denisovan girl who lived up to 164,000 years ago.

Oldest-known fossils of mysterious human lineage uncovered in Siberian cave
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
Scientists have unearthed the oldest fossils to date of the mysterious human lineage known as the Denisovans.

How many meteorites hit Earth every year?
By Charles Q. Choi published
Earth is constantly showered by space rocks, but how many of these actually land on Earth's surface?

7 million years ago, our earliest relatives took their first steps on 2 feet
By Charles Q. Choi published
The arm and leg bones suggested an upright stance.

In which month are the most babies born?
By Charles Q. Choi published
Which of the 12 months has the most births? And why do babies tend to be born at certain times of the year?

What's the largest bone in the human body? (What about the smallest?)
By Charles Q. Choi published
What is the smallest bone in the human body? What is the largest bone in the human body? Live Science has the answers.

Is Earth getting closer to the sun, or farther away?
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
Here's a look at whether Earth is getting closer to or farther from the sun, why that's happening and what effects it might have on our planet.

Did Belief in Gods Lead to Mayan Demise?
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
A fear of evil spirits may explain why some Mayan areas were less resilient to collapse.

Collapse of Mayan Civilization Traced to Dry Spells
By Charles Q. Choi last updated
The finding may be a harbinger of future droughts.

What is the birthday paradox?
By Charles Q. Choi published
If you're in a random group of people, what are the chances that two of the people will have the same birthday?
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