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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Salmon-hat wearing orcas also give each other massages with kelp, scientists discover
By Chris Simms published
Orcas have been spotted giving each other rubdowns with kelp tools, rubbing pieces of the seaweed between their bodies.

How to see the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory on Monday
By Perri Thaler last updated
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory shared a "sneak peak" of its first highly-detailed space images this morning, with the full debut of all its new images coming at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday.

Rubin Observatory releases 'sneak peek' of first images taken with world's largest camera
By Patrick Pester published
The world has gotten an early preview of the Rubin Observatory's first images, which include stunning snaps of spiraling galaxies and the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae.

New study claims AI 'understands' emotion better than us
By Drew Turney published
Common AI models outperformed humans on emotional intelligence in a recent study, but experts caution us to look beyond the headline.

There's a 'ghost' plume lurking beneath the Middle East — and it might explain how India wound up where it is today
By Sascha Pare published
Researchers have discovered an unusual plume of magma beneath Oman that may have changed the course of the Indian tectonic plate between 25 million and 40 million years ago.

AI hallucinates more frequently the more advanced it gets. Is there any way of stopping it?
By Roland Moore-Colyer published
OpenAI's most advanced reasoning model is smarter than ever — but it hallucinates more than previous models, too.

Women likely ruled in Stone Age China, DNA analysis of 4,500-year-old skeletons reveals
By Kristina Killgrove published
Genetic analysis of 60 people buried in a Stone Age cemetery has revealed two clans headed by women that spanned 10 generations.

'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.

Medieval gold ring found in castle in Slovakia has rare purple sapphire imported from Sri Lanka
By Kristina Killgrove published
An analysis of a 700-year-old ring reveals a unique reddish-purple sapphire set in 18-karat gold with a lion decoration.

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.
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