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Latest News

A rusty dagger

'A flash of copper caught our attention': 4,000-year-old dagger discovered deep in Italian cave

Tom Metcalfe published 6 November 24

Archaeologists say the finds will help them better understand the prehistoric people who lived or buried their dead in this Italian cave.

A close-up of a purple, white and yellow flower whose petals follow the Fibonacci sequence

What is the Fibonacci sequence?

Tia Ghose last updated 6 November 24

Almost everything you know about the famous Fibonacci sequence is wrong.

An abstract illustration showing streaks of light radiating from a central point

'Hawking radiation' may be erasing black holes. Watching it happen could reveal new physics.

Andrey Feldman published 6 November 24

Primordial black holes may be exploding throughout the universe. If we can catch them in the act, it could pave the way to new physics, a study suggests.

A man watches a missile launch on a TV screen

North Korea launches intercontinental ballistic missile to space, reaches record altitude

Elizabeth Howell published 6 November 24

A North Korean ICBM flew 4,350 miles high on Oct. 30, media reports stated. It comes amid growing concern by the U.S. and NATO about North Korean military activities.

Close-up of a woman holding her hands over her pelvis in pain. She is wearing a brown checked shirt and blue denim jeans and is sat on a white couch.

Migraine molecules may drive endometriosis pain. Existing drugs might help.

Emily Cooke published 6 November 24

Pain-sensing neurons exchange signals with immune cells that drive endometriosis, sparking the pain associated with the condition, new research suggests.

A cat tilting its head

Cats are better at word association than human babies are, study finds

Victoria Atkinson published 6 November 24

Cats are quicker than babies to associate a picture of a word with its corresponding picture, new research shows.

A skull cap on a black background — Puzzling patchwork skeleton in Belgium contains bones from 5 people spanning 2,500 years A skeleton buried in a fetal position is actually made of bones from at least five people who lived across a span of 2,500 years.

A collection of jewelry and other artifacts against a black background — Rare tomb from Egypt's Middle Kingdom holds a wealth of jewelry and several generations of the same family A rare discovery of a tomb from ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom near Luxor may hold several generations from a single family.

An illustration of organelles within a cell — Rogue 'organs' inside cells may hold secrets of the origin of life on Earth Membraneless organelles, also called biomolecular condensates, are changing how scientists think about protein chemistry, various diseases and even the origin of life.

Saltwater crocodile, Cassia — Scientists to read Cassius the giant crocodile's bones to find out exactly how old he was when he died When Cassius — the world's largest captive crocodile — died in Australia, his keepers thought he could be over 120 years old. Now, a necropsy could reveal his true age.

An illustration of a galaxy with a zoomed-in inset showing a black hole — James Webb telescope spots 'feasting' black hole eating 40 times faster than should be possible Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have spotted a feeding black hole in the early universe that seems to be eating 40 times faster than is theoretically possible.

Female doctor and a female patient during a mammogram. — BRCA only explains a fraction of breast cancers — genes tied to metabolism may also up risk Scientists pinpointed 80 gene variants, including eight tied to fatty acid metabolism, that may cause breast cancer in some people, new research suggests.

A photo of a cylindrical object with carvings and a long clay strip with an imprinted design — Origins of world's earliest writing point to symbols on 'seals' used in Mesopotamian trade Researchers investigating how the first writing arose identified the motifs on preliterate "cylinder seals" used in the trade of agricultural products and textiles.

Planet Earth

A photo of a volcano spewing ash and smoke in the jungle

Indonesia volcano eruption kills at least 10

By Stephanie Pappas published 4 November 24

An eruption of Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-laki stratovolcano rained debris and ash on villages on the island of Flores.

a satellite photo showing a sea of muddy water covering a large city by the coast

Watch Valencia disappearing under a sea of mud during deadly Spanish floods

By Harry Baker published 4 November 24

Earth from space Satellite images show the true extent of the flash flooding in Valencia during a freak weather event that killed at least 214 people across Spain.

Earth from space

LATEST ARTICLES

1
'Hawking radiation' may be erasing black holes. Watching it happen could reveal new physics.
2
North Korea launches intercontinental ballistic missile to space, reaches record altitude
3
Migraine molecules may drive endometriosis pain. Existing drugs might help.
4
Cats are better at word association than human babies are, study finds
5
Crocodile quiz: Test your knowledge on the prehistoric predators

Space

A perfectly smooth disk of dust surrounds a star in an orange-color infrared image

'Ridiculously smooth': James Webb telescope spies unusual pancake-like disk around nearby star Vega — and scientists can't explain it

By Harry Baker published 6 November 24

The nearby bright star Vega is surrounded by a surprisingly smooth, 100 billion-mile-wide disk of cosmic dust, confirming that it is not surrounded by any exoplanets, JWST images reveal. And scientists cannot explain its lack of alien worlds.

A black and white image of the moon's south pole

India targets 2028 for Chandrayaan-4 sample-return mission to moon's south pole

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 4 November 24

India is eyeing a 2028 launch for its Chandrayaan-4 moon sample-return mission, followed by an uncrewed lunar lander and rover in collaboration with Japan.

archaeology

Over a dozen skeletons in graves, all victims of ritual sacrifice

'An offering to energize the fields': 76 child sacrifice victims, all with their chests cut open, unearthed at burial site in Peru

By Sierra Bouchér published 4 November 24

An analysis of previous sacrifices at the same site suggests the victims were conquered people brought to work on the land.

A large Egyptian bust of a pharaoh in a museum

The 3,300-year-old ancient Egyptian statue of Ramesses II said to have inspired Percy Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

By Tom Metcalfe published 4 November 24

This statue of an Egyptian pharaoh is said to have inspired the English poet Shelley to write his famous poem "Ozymandias."

Ancient Egyptians

Health

an illustration of a pink, rod-shaped bacterial cell against a black background

E. coli in the gut may fuel a 'chain reaction' leading to Parkinson's, early study suggests

By Nicoletta Lanese published 6 November 24

Two recent chemistry studies pinpoint reactions that may link the gut microbiome to the development of Parkinson's disease.

A woman's feet are shown standing on weighing scales that are placed on a wooden floor. She is wearing black leggings and nothing on her feet.

How does the brain regulate body weight?

By Holly Barker last updated 4 November 24

An almond-shaped structure deep in the brain controls people's feelings of hunger and fullness in an attempt to keep them at a constant body weight. In obesity, its signaling can be disrupted.

Woman is shown eating a burger. She is looking into the distance. The background is blurry.

These 3 neurons may underlie the drive to eat food

By Emily Cooke published 4 November 24

A brain circuit made up of three types of neurons may regulate appetite, a mouse study finds.

Animals

a nile crocodile with its head out of the water with its mouth slightly open

Crocodile quiz: Test your knowledge on the prehistoric predators

By Hannah Osborne published 6 November 24

The Nile crocodile is one of the largest predators in Africa.

Alligators & Crocodiles

A terror bird with a large beak and small, flightless wings stands on a savannah

A giant crocodilian killed the largest 'terror bird' ever found, 12 million years ago

By Sierra Bouchér published 6 November 24

The fossilized leg bone of the terror bird went unidentified for almost 20 years.

Extinct Species

Canon EOS R5 on a green background

No need to wait for Black Friday — one of Canon's best cameras for wildlife photography is discounted by over $1,450 right now

By Paul Brett published 5 November 24

Deal Walmart has an incredible Amazon-beating discount on the brilliant Canon EOS R5.

Human Behavior

2024 Calendar and pen

How many weeks are there in a year?

By Richard Pallardy published 3 November 24

We take our timekeeping rules for granted, but the history of these rules is long and complex.

A large mushroom cloud in a blue and orange sky. Operation Ivy Hydrogen Bomb Test in Marshall Islands.

How many nuclear bombs have been used?

By Sierra Bouchér published 26 October 24

The first nuclear bomb test, conducted in 1945, set off an international arms race that included nuclear testing. But how many nuclear bombs have been detonated during tests and in active war?

A woman wearing a yellow dress stands in an old-fashioned parlor and sees a group of transparent ghostly figures dancing and playing instruments

What's the scientific explanation for 'ghost encounters'?

By Patrick Pester published 19 October 24

People all over the world believe they've seen or heard a ghost, but there's no scientific evidence for spirits, hauntings or the paranormal. So what's behind these "encounters"?

Conspiracies & Paranormal

Physics & Mathematics

Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson posing side by side.

High school students who came up with 'impossible' proof of Pythagorean theorem discover 9 more solutions to the problem

By Sascha Pare published 28 October 24

In a new peer-reviewed study, Ne'Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson outlined 10 ways to solve the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, including a proof they discovered in high school.

A close-up of a gilded astronomical clock on a clock tower that reads "Anno Domini" in the center

Keeping time: The history, origin and meanings of B.C. and A.D.

By Robert Coolman, Owen Jarus last updated 24 October 24

The use of "anno domini" and "before Christ" to mark time began in the early days of Christianity, when clerics needed to know when Easter would fall.

Physics & Mathematics

List of prime numbers below 100 on paper in vintage type writer machine from 1920s closeup with paper.

What is the largest known prime number?

By Charles Q. Choi last updated 23 October 24

There are infinitely many prime numbers, but the biggest one we know of goes by the name M82589933 and contains more than 24 million digits.

Chemistry

An artist's rendering of a molecule made from red material

Chemists broke a 100-year-old rule to make extremely unstable molecules

By Skyler Ware published 1 November 24

Scientists have just broken a 100-year-old chemistry rule and synthesized a type of 3D, unstable molecule called an anti-Bredt olefin.

Close up view of a pile of hexagons with chemical elements symbols (3d render)

Periodic table of elements quiz: How many elements can you name in 10 minutes?

By Alexander McNamara published 14 October 24

Can you name everything from Ac to Zr? Test your knowledge of the periodic table and see if you can top the leaderboard

A microscopic image of a bubble of water formed around a chunk of palladium

Watch atoms fuse into world's 'smallest bubble' of water in 1st-of-its-kind 'nanoscale' video

By Harry Baker published 10 October 24

A new study captured never-before-seen footage of hydrogen and oxygen atoms combining to form a miniature water droplet out of "thin air." The newly improved reaction could one day help astronauts make water in space.

Tech

Science kit deals: Image of kids playing with science kit

Black Friday 2024: Best deals on health & fitness gear, optics and science kit

By Anna Gora, Kimberley Lane, Jase Parnell-Brookes last updated 6 November 24

Deal Black Friday 2024: Grab early discounts on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, rowing machines, telescopes, binoculars, microscopes, cameras and more.

White passenger plane on blue cardboard with a cut out color wedge.

New 'wastewater' jet fuel could cut airplane emissions by 70%

By Andrea Saravia Pérez published 6 November 24

Scientists have discovered how to convert wastewater into biofuel to cut plane emissions by 70% — creating a new sustainable version of aviation fuel using biomass and agricultural waste.

A laptop with outlines made from neon light

Will we ever have quantum laptops?

By Tim Danton published 4 November 24

Quantum computers are here. But could we ever build a quantum laptop?

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