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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Aspen trees provide a natural buffer against wildfires, even as fire season intensifies, study showsBuffers made of aspen trees could help protect communities from worsening wildfires.
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How to make a solar eclipse viewer to safely watch the solar eclipse on August 12Don't have a pair of eclipse glasses to view the August 12 solar eclipse? No sweat; you can make a safe and simple DIY eclipse viewer with a box, some tinfoil, and a few household craft supplies.
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Solar eclipse glasses: Where to buy a safe, certified pair before the August 12 eclipseYou MUST wear protective eyewear to view a partial solar eclipse like the one on August 12. Here's how to find a pair of certified solar eclipse glasses from an approved vendor.
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Could we prevent dementia? A new trial may point the way.Explainer While much funding for dementia research goes toward treatments, some scientists want to reduce people's risk of developing the condition in the first place.
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Why Aug. 12 could be the greatest single day and night for skywatchers for yearsA solar eclipse, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, Venus at dichotomy and the Milky Way at its annual best will create one of 2026's best days for skywatching.
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Sharks reveal their secret lives, coldest temperature recorded in Antarctica, geoglyphs hint at lost Amazonian civilization and why inflammation causes false memories.Science news this week August 1, 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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'We are not giving up yet': Private mission to rescue NASA's Swift telescope is spinning out of controlKatalyst Space's LINK spacecraft is recovering from an unexpected spin in orbit, and will need a little more time to rescue NASA's falling Swift observatory.
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Astronomers accidentally discover 2 supernovas that exploded from a single star systemAstronomers have identified a supernova remnant beside the well-known Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443), and evidence suggests both are the wreckage of two stars that once orbited each other before exploding separately.
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IBM scientists claim they've achieved 'quantum advantage' — and they've dared others to prove them wrongUsing IBM's quantum computer, scientists say they have shown in three different experiments that quantum computers can outpace classical machines in useful computations.
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Alzheimer's blood tests are transforming how patients get diagnosed — here's what to knowExplainer New tests for Alzheimer's are helping people who are at risk of dementia get clarity on their condition, Live Science reports from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London.
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Scientists discover 2 new 'ghost' lineages that contributed DNA to modern humansA new method of analyzing modern humans' DNA is revealing secrets about our extinct ancestors.
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Scientists put cameras on whale sharks for the first time and saw something they'd never seen beforeAnimal-borne cameras have revealed that the world's largest fish spends far more time feeding below the surface than scientists realized.
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500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the AmericasAncient DNA from Chilean mummies is the first ever molecular evidence that European colonizers brought smallpox to the Americas, decimating Indigenous populations.
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40,000-year-old bird figurines the size of a thumbnail discovered in German caveTwo newly discovered bird carvings reveal early humans' keen eye for artistry in the ice age world 40,000 years ago.
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A unique antibody system may help explain bats' unusual tolerance of virusesResearchers found that vesper bats use two separate sets of genes to build antibodies — a rare evolutionary quirk that may give them different ways to fight infection.
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Lasers reveal hundreds of geoglyphs made by a mysterious civilization in the Amazon rainforest thousands of years agoA new lidar survey of dense Amazonian rainforest has revealed hundreds of earthworks made by a mysterious civilization two millennia ago.
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Chinese rocket struck by lightning moments after launch in front of packed crowd (video)A Long March 3B rocket was struck by lightning in front of a packed crowd, around 30 seconds after lifting off from a Chinese spaceport. Despite this, the spacecraft survived its ascent and successfully deployed its payload in orbit.
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Antarctica just experienced minus 119 F, Earth's coldest temperature since 2012 — here's whyToo hot? Head to the Concordia research station in Antarctica, where "astronauts of ice" just experienced near-record-breaking cold.
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After 100-year hunt, scientists get their best look yet at Betelgeuse's secret sidekickA century-old mystery about the night sky's famous "shoulder star" may finally be solved, as astronomers capture the sharpest image yet of a small star tucked close beside the dying Betelgeuse.
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