Science News: Recent scientific discoveries and expert analysis
Read the latest science news and recent scientific discoveries on Live Science, where we've been reporting on groundbreaking advances for over 20 years. Our expert editors, writers and contributors are ready to guide you through today's most important breakthroughs in science with expert analysis, in-depth explainers and interesting articles, covering everything from space, technology, health, animals, planet Earth, and much more.
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'Dreadful danger for all mankind': Einstein's powerful anti-war letter goes up for auction
By Joanna Thompson published
A fiery letter written by Albert Einstein in 1954 is going to auction. The letter details Einstein's thoughts on his part in developing atomic weapons, and hails Mahatma Gandhi as a political genius.

Humanity could be just 3 years away from crossing a dire climate threshold, report warns
By Ben Turner published
Record carbon emissions mean that the planet's carbon budget could be exceeded in as little as three years, according to a new report.

DARPA smashes wireless power record, beaming energy more than 5 miles away — and uses it to make popcorn
By Ben Turner published
The feat has significant applications for military purposes and space-based solar power.

Plants have a secret, second set of roots deep underground that scientists didn't know about
By Olivia Ferrari published
A global analysis deep in soil found 20% of plants studied have an unexpected deeper set of roots more than 3 feet underground.

Hells Canyon caves reveal unexpected finding about America's deepest gorge
By Olivia Ferrari published
About 2,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon, Hells Canyon was rapidly carved when a lake spilled over about 2.1 million years ago, new research estimates.

Massive 'heat dome' is bringing 'extremely dangerous' temperatures to the eastern half of the US
By Patrick Pester published
Weather forecasters have warned of extreme and dangerous temperatures as a major heat wave sweeps across the central and eastern U.S. states.

Summer solstice arrives in North America
By Jamie Carter last updated
The summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, falls on June 20 this year in North America, and June 21 in Europe.

Microsoft breakthrough could reduce errors in quantum computers by 1,000 times
By Tristan Greene published
Microsoft scientists developed a 4D geometric coding method that reduces errors 1,000-fold in quantum computers.

Mathematicians discover a completely new way to find prime numbers
By Rachel Crowell published
Using a notion called integer partitions, mathematicians have discovered a new way to detect prime numbers while also connecting two areas of math in an unexpected way

Ketamine may treat depression by 'flattening the brain's hierarchies,' small study suggests
By Jane Palmer published
Ketamine leads to increased communication between areas of the brain that don't typically engage with each other, new research suggests.

'World's most difficult jigsaw puzzle': Archaeologists piece together thousands of shattered fresco blocks from ancient Roman villa
By Perri Thaler published
Archaeologists found thousands of pieces of an ancient Roman painting, which features intricate designs and ancient graffiti.

Mars cozies up to one of the brightest stars in the sky in 'mind-blowing' conjunction photo
By Harry Baker published
A superbright Mars is currently visible alongside Regulus, the "Heart of the Lion" star located around 79 light-years from Earth.

Viking Age burial of chieftain with 'enormous power' found in Denmark — and he may have served Harald Bluetooth
By Perri Thaler published
Archaeologists were surprised to find 30 Viking Age burials in Denmark, and even more surprised by the extravagant grave goods found within them.

'A bundle of microscopic tornadoes' may be building the cosmic web
By Andrey Feldman published
When invisible dark matter spins, it may form clumps of "vortexes" that stretch across space, forming the cosmic web that links all galaxies, new research proposes.

Scientists finally work out how Tylenol works — 130 years after we started using it
By Clarissa Brincat published
According to a new study in rats, a key byproduct of acetaminophen, called AM404, may block pain at the source before it has a chance to reach the brain.

'New star' becomes visible over North America
By Harry Baker published
The never-before-seen "nova," dubbed V462 Lupi, recently appeared in the constellation Lupus, after suddenly becoming 4 million times brighter. The shining explosion is visible to the naked eye and can be seen from parts of North America.

SpaceX's Starship explodes on Texas launch pad in 'catastrophic failure' during routine test
By Ben Turner published
SpaceX's Starship 36 underwent a "catastrophic failure" on the stand at its Texas launch site, but the latest setback is unlikely to dent the company's ambitions.

Ancient groundwater records reveal worrying forecast for US Southwest
By Sascha Pare published
Groundwater records from the last ice age indicate that aquifers in the U.S. Southwest are more sensitive to global warming than aquifers in the Pacific Northwest.
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