Science News: Recent scientific discoveries and expert analysis

The very first stars in the universe may have been much smaller than scientists thought — potentially explaining why we can't find evidence of them today.

A massive comet trail may have caused climate upheaval on Earth more than 12,000 years ago, sparking the Younger Dryas.

New quantum computing system allows multiple users to run programs simultaneously using virtual machines.

A beam of particles speeding away from a monstrous black hole is severely kinked, suggesting that the black hole is actually part of the most extreme binary system known.

One of the most prolific meteor showers of the year will peak overnight on Aug. 12-13, but a bright moon will reduce its visual impact.

A geomagnetic storm could hit Earth Aug. 8 or 9, possibly bringing the dazzling northern lights with it.

Scientists have synthesized methanetetrol, an elusive alcohol that could be the foundation of alien life.

NASA's Curiosity rover has snapped black and white images of a rock on the Martian surface that looks remarkably like a piece of coral.

The extraordinary burial of a teenager buried with gold jewelry and a snake- and scorpion-decorated cosmetics box has been unearthed in Iran — and it may date to more than 3,000 years ago.

The design for a 36 mile long spacecraft, called Chrysalis, includes libraries, tropical forests and structural manufacturing facilities, all supported by artificial gravity.

Researchers have found cannibalized human remains from at least 11 people in El Mirador cave in northern Spain, suggesting it was the site of a violent Neolithic clash 5,600 years ago.

After using lasers to map the Maya Lowlands, researchers have updated their estimates of the total Maya population during the Late Classic Period (A.D. 600 to 900).

A Stone Age skull discovered in a cave in Italy is the oldest evidence of artificial cranial modification ever found in Europe.

High-speed winds on exoplanet WASP-17b may align quartz crystals in its atmosphere and create dazzling light effects like "sun dogs."

A large study of ME/CFS included more than 15,000 people and identified eight locations in the genome linked to the disease.

A new study has found that the devastating sea star wasting disease is caused by a strain of bacteria from Vibrio pectenicida, which turns the marine creatures into goo.

Paleontologists in Germany have described a never-before-seen species of Jurassic marine reptile from 183 million years ago.

SpaceX just launched the Crew-11 astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA — along with an interesting bacterial experiment.

As many as 100 "shooting stars" per hour can be seen during the peak of the Perseids on Aug. 12 and 13, but a bright full moon means evasive action is required.

In a rare skywatching treat, you can see August's full Sturgeon Moon rise soon after sunset on both Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10.