Skip to main content

Open menu Close menu

Live Science

Search

Search Live Science

Subscribe

How It Works Magazine

Why subscribe?

The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe
Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5'
Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews
Issues delivered straight to your door or device

Space
Health
Planet Earth
Animals
Archaeology
Physics & Math
Human Behavior
Technology
Chemistry
More

Trending

Ending the AIDS epidemic
African kingdoms
Hidden asteroids
Best binoculars 2023

Latest News

closeup photo of the underside of a hallunigenic mushroom bathed in multicolored light

Shroom compound psilocybin shows promise for bipolar disorder in early trial

Nicoletta Lanese published 6 December 23

An early trial hints that psilocybin could be a safe and effective treatment for depressive episodes in bipolar II disorder and should be studied further.

We see a beautiful cloud of yellowish gas illumated by starlight at the galaxy's center, on a dark blue background

James Webb telescope discovers dark secret of 'The Brick,' a gas cloud flipping assumptions about how stars are born

Robert Lea published 6 December 23

Peering deep into 'The Brick,' a dark, chaotic gas cloud at the heart of the Milky Way, the James Webb Space Telescope uncovered secrets that could shake up theories of star formation.

Three skulls of sacred mummified baboons from Egypt.

Ancient Egypt's sacred baboons had tough lives, study suggests

Tom Metcalfe published 6 December 23

Ancient baboon mummies show signs of poor diet and lack of sunlight during captivity.

Two elephant calves play together with their trunks

Scientists may have finally figured out how elephants got their incredible trunks

Jacklin Kwan published 6 December 23

Elephants appear to have evolved their long, grasping trunks as a result of climate change pressures on their ancestors millions of years ago.

Archaeologists estimate the "curse tablet," made from a folded lead sheet and inscribed with proto-alphabetic characters, may be at least 3,200 years old.

Ancient 'curse tablet' may show earliest Hebrew name of God

Tom Metcalfe last updated 6 December 23

Archaeologists working in the West Bank say they've discovered a tiny lead "curse tablet" that may include the oldest known mention of the Hebrew name of God "Yahweh" ever found.

Image of three Anthrobots

These astonishing biobots can help neurons regrow — but researchers have no idea how

Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 6 December 23

Tiny biological robots can move on their own, assemble into 'superbots' and encourage nerve cells regrow.

While hunting for dark matter, astronomers accidentally discovered the first known stellar stream stretching between galaxies. The trail of stars is also the longest ever seen. — Intergalactic 'stream of stars' 10 times longer than the Milky Way is the 1st of its kind ever spotted While hunting for dark matter, astronomers accidentally discovered the first known stellar stream stretching between galaxies. The trail of stars is also the longest ever seen.

An AI model found that 28% of non-smokers are at high risk of developing lung cancer, with 2.9% of high-risk individuals developing the disease within six years. — This AI model can tell if you're at high risk of lung cancer by analyzing a single X-ray scan An AI model found that 28% of non-smokers are at high risk of developing lung cancer, with 2.9% of high-risk individuals developing the disease within six years.

Tiny biological robots can move on their own, assemble into 'superbots' and encourage nerve cells regrow. — These astonishing biobots can help neurons regrow — but researchers have no idea how Tiny biological robots can move on their own, assemble into 'superbots' and encourage nerve cells regrow.

Today's infrared lasers are only powerful enough to disable aerial targets, but scientists now have the keys to building high-powered laser weaponry that can 'melt' distant targets. — Scientists uncover the secret to building Star Wars-style laser weapons — but don't worry, we won't have a Death Star anytime soon Today's infrared lasers are only powerful enough to disable aerial targets, but scientists now have the keys to building high-powered laser weaponry that can 'melt' distant targets.

Betelgeuse, the most famous red supergiant star and one of the sky's brightest, will disappear for up to 12 seconds during an ultra-rare occultation by asteroid 319 Leona. — One of the brightest stars in the sky will 'blink out' on Dec. 12. Here's how to watch. Betelgeuse, the most famous red supergiant star and one of the sky's brightest, will disappear for up to 12 seconds during an ultra-rare occultation by asteroid 319 Leona.

NASA and scientists from around the world are sending new science instruments, as well as a few stocking stuffers, to the moon on Dec. 24 in the debut launch of a new rocket. — 7 nations are sending 'one heck of a Christmas present' to the moon on Dec. 24. Here's what's inside. NASA and scientists from around the world are sending new science instruments, as well as a few stocking stuffers, to the moon on Dec. 24 in the debut launch of a new rocket.

Experts have laid out a road map to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Is it possible? — We could end the AIDS epidemic in less than a decade. Here's how. Experts have laid out a road map to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Is it possible?

Grid List

Planet Earth

Kraftwerk Duisburg-Walsum, a coal plant near Germany's Ruhr river, belches black smoke. Coal use is projected to reach a record high this year.

Breach of key global warming threshold 'inevitable' as carbon emissions hit record high

By Ben Turner published 5 December 23

At the current emissions level, there is a 50% chance that global warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius consistently in about seven years, new research suggests.

The pieces of Libyan desert glass that formed the basis of the study.

Strange yellow glass found in Libyan desert may have formed from lost meteor impact

By Elizaveta Kovaleva published 3 December 23

A strange type of glass that was discovered in 1933 in the Libyan desert may come from a meteorite, an analysis shows, but impact crater is still missing.

1
Enormous planet discovered around tiny star could break our understanding of solar system formation
2
Watch ancient, giant millipede the size of a car brought back to life in remarkable reconstruction
3
Traumatic memories are processed differently in PTSD
4
A Russian cargo ship burnt to a crisp in Earth's atmosphere while ISS astronauts watched
5
James Webb telescope finds water in roiling disk of gas around ultra-hot star for 1st time ever

1
Half-asleep bears are wandering around Siberia because it's too hot to hibernate
2
Gigantic 'hole' in the sun wider than 60 Earths is spewing superfast solar wind right at us
3
Byzantine gold coin with 'face of Jesus' unearthed by metal detectorist in Norway
4
World's oldest tortoise still randy at 191 years old
5
One of the brightest stars in the sky will 'blink out' on Dec. 12. Here's how to watch.

Grid List

Space

An illustration of a protoplanetary disk of planet-forming gas and dust around an infant star.

James Webb telescope finds water in roiling disk of gas around ultra-hot star for 1st time ever

By Robert Lea published 5 December 23

The James Webb Space Telescope's discovery of water and other molecules in the inner region of a hot protoplanetary disk suggests that rocky, Earth-like planets may be able to form in some very extreme environments.

A halo of light appears around the moon as a rocket streaks through the sky

SpaceX rocket punches a hole in the clouds, birthing an ethereal halo around full moon

By Harry Baker published 5 December 23

Shortly after lifting off from Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flew through clouds of ice crystals, temporarily creating a bright halo of light that appeared to surround the full moon.

Space Exploration

Grid List

archaeology

A gold coin depicting Jesus Christ.

Byzantine gold coin with 'face of Jesus' unearthed by metal detectorist in Norway

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 5 December 23

A metal detectorist stumbled upon a rare gold coin while exploring the mountains in southern Norway.

Photograph of curse tablet in light colored stone, in the shaped of a rough square. Photograph of the front, back and side.

'Curse tablet' with oldest Hebrew name of god is actually a fishing weight, experts argue

By Tom Metcalfe published 5 December 23

Researchers say they see no sign of an inscription on a tablet previously thought to contain the Hebrew name for the god Yahweh.

Grid List

Health

illustration showing an electrode implanted in the center of a person's brain with a wire extending out of

Electrical stimulation could treat traumatic brain injuries

By Emily Cooke published 5 December 23

An early trial suggests that deep brain stimulation could treat cognitive impairment associated with traumatic brain injury.

an illustration of red bacterial cells shaped like rods and spheres

'Extremely high' number of pneumonia cases strike kids in Ohio county

By Nicoletta Lanese published 4 December 23

Common respiratory viruses and bacteria are likely behind the uptick in pediatric pneumonia in Warren County, Ohio.

Viruses, Infections & Disease

Young woman sits on her bedroom floor next to her bed with her head in her hands

Traumatic memories are processed differently in PTSD

By Emily Cooke published 4 December 23

People with PTSD feel like they're reliving past experiences in the present. This may be tied to how the brain processes memories of those experiences.

Grid List

Animals

A grizzly bear walks in the snow in West Yellowstone, Montana.

Half-asleep bears are wandering around Siberia because it's too hot to hibernate

By Sascha Pare published 6 December 23

Bears that are struggling to hibernate due to abnormally warm weather in Russia's Amur region are wandering around in a daze, having suppressed their metabolism in preparation for winter.

Large tortoise poses with neck extended upwards with its mouth wide open

World's oldest tortoise still randy at 191 years old

By Carys Matthews published 5 December 23

Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise, has turned 191, living through 40 U.S. presidents and 31 St. Helena governors.

Chimp sits perched in between tree branches in a forest, eating on what appears to be a motionless young pushback

Alpha chimp steals eagle's dinner in 'surreal and exhilarating' forest encounter

By Patrick Pester published 5 December 23

Chimps usually hunt for their meat, but a rare confrontation between a chimp and an eagle in Tanzania showcased their ability to scavenge.

Grid List

Human Behavior

'Yeti hair' found in Himalayas is actually from a horse, BBC series reveals

By Patrick Pester published 4 November 23

DNA from a supposed Abominable Snowman actually came from a horse, but that doesn't mean stories of the Yeti passed on by local people aren't important.

Conspiracies & Paranormal

The mummified remains of what appears to be a small mermaid

Haunting 'mermaid' mummy from Japan is a gruesome monkey-fish hybrid with 'dragon claws,' new scans reveal

By Harry Baker published 31 October 23

Scientists have scanned the mummified remains of a supposed "mermaid" from Japan. The initial results suggest it is a horrifying mix of fish, monkey and lizard parts.

Conspiracies & Paranormal

Black and white photo of an empty wooden attic with a metal folding chair in the center.

Are ghosts real?

By Benjamin Radford last updated 6 October 23

One difficulty in scientifically evaluating is ghost are real is the surprisingly wide variety of phenomena attributed to ghosts.

Conspiracies & Paranormal

Grid List

Physics & Mathematics

An artist's illustration of electric charge.

Electricity flows like water in 'strange metals,' and physicists don't know why

By Ben Turner published 1 December 23

A weird phenomenon in which electricity flows like water was spotted in a nanowire made of "strange metal" — a bizarre metal phase that has stumped physicists for 40 years.

Physics & Mathematics

The ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider.

Large Hadron Collider could be generating dark matter in its particle jets

By Keith Cooper published 29 November 23

If dark matter is made from "dark" versions of the basic building blocks of ordinary matter, the world's largest particle accelerator should be able to pin it down, a new study suggests.

Artist's impression composed of a star with a disc around it (a Be "vampire" star; foreground) and its companion star that has been stripped of its outer parts (background).

'Vampire' stars that bleed their companions dry may have a hidden accomplice, new study reveals

By Anna Demming published 25 November 23

Scientists suspect that type-Be 'vampire' stars grow by preying on their smaller companions. New research suggests there may be an important third player in these systems.

Physics & Mathematics

Grid List

Chemistry

Large iceberg floating in the arctic sea

Why does ice float?

By Hannah Loss published 2 December 23

Why does ice float in water, instead of sinking to the bottom? It has to do with water's density and molecular structure.

A wispy blue cloud of molecular gas glows from the light of distant stars in this James Webb Space Telescope image

Building blocks of life may have formed on dust in the cold vacuum of space

By Paul Sutter published 15 November 23

Far from any galaxy, icy grains of dust in deep space may be able to form organic molecules, a new preprint study finds.

Colorful depiction of atoms.

Scientists get rare glimpse of 'nesting doll' isotope nitrogen-9

By Ben Turner published 3 November 23

With five more protons than should be stable, the newly discovered nitrogen-9 isotope sits right on the borderline of physical possibility.

Grid List

Tech

Impression of a rover on the surface of Mars.

Chinese scientists build robo-chemist that can extract oxygen from water on Mars

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 30 November 23

The robot was tested in a simulated Martian environment, and can one day be used to aid humanity's survival on the Red Planet.

Artificial Intelligence

A woman wearing augmented reality smart glasses at night

Smart glasses could boost privacy by swapping cameras for this 100-year-old technology

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 29 November 23

Researchers have built a tool called PoseSonic that can accurately track a glasses wearer's upper body movements.

An image montage of the soft robotic hand holding a marker pen and a water bottle.

Robot hand exceptionally 'human-like' thanks to new 3D printing technique

By Ben Turner published 28 November 23

The hand was printed using a technique called slow-curing, which gives plastics more time to set and makes them more durable.

Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

About Us
Contact Future's experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Accessibility Statement
Advertise with us
Web notifications
Careers
Editorial standards
How to pitch a story to us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.