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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'Thinking ahead' helps robots complete tasks twice as fastA new AI system lets robots plan their next move while they're in motion — removing reaction delays and doubling task speeds without any extra computing overhead.
By Niba @NotesByNiba Published
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James Webb telescope just spotted the oldest, closest pair of black holes in the early universeThe dual black hole system, dubbed LID-1166, is the first close-separation pair of its kind confirmed this early in the universe. The discovery could help to explain how the earliest black holes grew so large, so fast.
By Shreejaya Karantha Published
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Foodborne illnesses: Is the US really being hit harder this year?While parasitic Cyclospora infections have reached record-breaking numbers this year, experts have criticized coverage that has created the appearance of "one massive outbreak." The reality is more nuanced.
By Ian Randall Published
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Oldest-known Martian meteorite holds clues to a watery pastThe oldest known rock from Mars was discovered on Earth in 2022. Scientists are beginning to reveal its mysteries.
By Ivan Farkas Published
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Mammal ancestors may have given live birth 90 million years earlier than we thought, rewriting evolutionary timelinesA distinctive growth ring in fossilized bones is revealing how an ancestral species in the mammalian family reproduced.
By Chris Simms Published
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Pigs wearing heated diving suits and diapers reveal a better way to beat 'the bends'A new study submerged pigs in a high-pressure tank and uncovered a potential new way to beat "the bends."
By RJ Mackenzie Published
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New 2D memory device stores data on just a single electronResearchers build a new memory device following a single-electron storage breakthrough. It could make transferring data faster and more energy-efficient.
By Rich McEachran Published
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Totality! See incredible photos of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse from across EuropeFrom Baily's Beads, a bright-pink prominence to awe-struck eclipse-watchers from across the European continent, check out these stunning images from yesterday's total solar eclipse.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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Young wild octopuses may form a 'fight club' and slap territorial fish if they get too closeA new study shows that octopuses act differently around territorial fish species, displaying a unique body pattern.
By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry Published
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Watch now! The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse has begun (live stream)Today (Aug. 12), a total solar eclipse will swoop across a narrow path of totality, while millions of people in North America and Europe will be treated to a partial eclipse. Watch it live right here.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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Nocturnal dodo? Study suggests we were very wrong about Mauritius' iconic flightless birdResearchers continue to rage against the dumb-dodo myth with more evidence that the iconic flightless bird was smarter than early accounts suggest — and might have even been nocturnal.
By Patrick Pester Published
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New 'magnetoelastic' tent generates electricity from wind, body movement and sound to power small devicesA magnetoelastic tent concept could one day turn wind, movement and fabric flexing into usable electricity.
By Alan Bradley Published
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Genetics triggers male black widows to blackflip into death, study findsA wild cannibalistic sexual behavior in spiders has a simple genetic explanation, new study finds.
By Stephanie Pappas Published
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Astronomers drop one of the largest-ever maps of the universe, charting 4 billion objectsA new celestial map not only catalogs a variety of cosmic objects but also serves as a pointer for other telescopes on Earth and in space.
By Elizabeth Howell Published
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Neanderthals passed on a gene that helps modern humans pack on more muscle — but only a few people have itNeanderthals passed along a gene variant to modern humans that can make some people buff, a new study finds.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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New AI chip mimics the human brain's capacity for split-second motor control — it solved problems using 10,000 times fewer calculationsA new brain-inspired device is designed to kick AI systems into gear only when they detect something unusual. Could it reduce dependence on power-guzzling data centers?
By Owen Hughes Published
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Perseid meteor shower 2026: What it is, where to see it, and how to watchThe 2026 Persied meteor shower could be the best one in years, thanks to a new moon that will also cause a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12.
By Jamie Carter Last updated
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'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication sound of any animalResearchers have studied a mysterious rhythmic clanging noise produced by male sperm whales.
By Patrick Pester Published
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FDA's approval of new mRNA vaccine does not necessarily signal the government's embrace of the technology, experts sayAnalysis The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an mRNA-based vaccine for influenza. Live Science asked experts what that means for the future of mRNA vaccines in the U.S.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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