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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48 jaw-dropping James Webb telescope photosFrom black holes and baby stars to familiar solar system planets, the universe has never looked more glorious thanks to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope
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The night sky could get three times brighter as new satellites launchExtremely bright satellites and megaconstellations could make the night sky up to three times brighter than it is now, a new study warns. This would seriously hinder astronomical imaging devices, like the enormous camera at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
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The brain's memory center doesn't start as a blank slate, study suggestsEarly in life, neural networks in the brain's memory center are highly connected, and they are only later refined into precise systems, a mouse study finds.
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Quantum battery charges in a quadrillionth of a second with a laser — larger prototypes could last for years after charging for just a minuteQuantum batteries can be charged remotely and could allow for far better energy density than conventional batteries used in devices today.
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Clean hydrogen created from plastic waste using battery acid from old cars and solar powerResearchers turned hard-to-recycle plastic into hydrogen using battery acid. This circular upcycling system tackles multiple problematic waste streams at once, the scientists claim.
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Both very low and very high heart rates may be linked to higher stroke risk, study saysBoth unusually low and high resting heart rates may be linked to an increased stroke risk, though more research is needed to confirm a causal relationship.
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Scientists spot object beyond Pluto with an atmosphere that shouldn't existObservations suggest there's a small, icy object with an atmosphere beyond Pluto, challenging assumptions about which bodies can sustain atmospheres.
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Hantavirus infects at least 2 on cruise ship, while 5 others fall ill: Here's what we knowThree people have died and four more have fallen ill on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, and hantaviruses are confirmed to be the culprit in two cases so far.
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'I was not looking for this': Scientist accidentally finds shortcut to Mars that could slash travel time in halfA new study suggests early asteroid trajectory data could help design faster Mars missions, potentially cutting round-trip travel time to under a year.
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Mysterious green rocks in Pyrenees cave hint that prehistoric people were working copper there for 4,000 yearsDozens of pieces of bright-green rock discovered in a cave in the Pyrenees may be evidence of copper smelting 7,000 years ago.
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Estrogen in both the male and female brain shapes responses to trauma, study suggestsTraumatic experiences can cause memory problems, and estrogen may be a key factor that shapes the brain's resilience against such stressors, a mouse study finds.
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NASA shares 12,000 new Artemis II photosNASA just uploaded more than 12,000 photos snapped by the Artemis II crew during their record-breaking flyby around the moon. Here are some of the most inspiring ones.
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Centuries-old Christian Nubian murals inspire gorgeous fashion reconstructionsStunning clothes from medieval Christian Nubia have been re-created and put on models, whose performance brought onlookers to tears.
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Eta Aquariids to peak this week: How to see 'shooting stars' dropped by Halley's CometThe Eta Aquariids will peak May 5-6, with debris from Halley's Comet creating swift meteors, though bright moonlight will make them harder to see.
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Scientists identify 10,000 'impossible' exoplanet candidates, potentially tripling the number of known alien worldsA new study has identified a potentially record-breaking haul of transiting exoplanets, thanks to a machine learning algorithm that analyzed the light curves of more than 80 million previously overlooked stars.
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Yellowstone's volcano may be fueled in a very different way than we thoughtYellowstone eruptions may be driven by shifts in Earth's crust, rather than a deep well of magma, study finds.
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Surgery performed on a baby in the womb, a rogue chatbot deletes a company's database, why the universe could end much sooner than expected, and forecasters race to understand this year's rapid El Niño.Science news this week May 2, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
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City birds appear to like men more than women, but experts have no idea whyAn analysis of 37 urban bird species found that men could get slightly closer to the avians than women could, suggesting that these animals recognize sex differences in humans.
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May's Flower 'micromoon' will look extra small tonight, with a rare Blue Moon followingMay's full moon rises on May Day — May 1 — shortly after sunset, creating a dramatic spectacle for skywatchers.
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