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Left hand side shows a drawing of the turtle's ribs and backbone superimposed onto the oval shaped fossil. Right hand shows the fossil without the drawing ontop.

120 million-year-old 'plants' turn out to be ultra-rare fossilized baby turtles

Patrick Pester published 7 December 23

A new study re-examining old fossils collected by a Colombian priest more than 50 years ago has found they are actually rare hatchling turtles.

The space junk appears as many small white points surrounding Earth, which has bright blue oceans and green and brown continents. The space junk is thick enough to form a cloud that obscures most of the black background when viewed from the edges around Earth.

'Lightning-like energy bursts' could be used to track the 99% of space junk that can't be seen from Earth

Stephanie Pappas published 7 December 23

Current methods of tracking space junk in Earth's orbit only follow objects bigger than a softball. A new technique could trace the 99% of junk that's smaller.

A picture of the Dolomite mountain range in Italy.

6 million-year-old 'fossil groundwater pool' discovered deep beneath Sicilian mountains

Sascha Pare published 7 December 23

Fresh water that trickled down into Earth's crust 6 million years ago became trapped thousands of feet beneath the Hyblaean Mountains in Sicily, forming an aquifer that has not budged since.

A petri dish of a bacterium called MRSA glowing yellow under a black light

Vaccine for superbugs? New shot shows promise in early tests

Stephanie Pappas published 7 December 23

A new vaccine, so far tested only in mice, broadly activates the immune system against a wide array of bacteria and fungi.

Galaxy AzTECC71 as imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope.

James Webb telescope finds 'vanishing' galaxy from the dawn of the universe

Sharmila Kuthunur published 7 December 23

The early galaxy AzTECC71 is so far away it keeps disappearing from telescope observations. A new study by the James Webb Space Telescope finally pins it down.

box of the antiviral paxlovid on a table next to a sleeve of the pills

Can antiviral drugs prevent long COVID?

Ziyad Al-Aly, Suman Majumdar, Emma Pakula, Michelle Scoullar, Brendan Crabb published 7 December 23

Experts explain what we know about preventing and treating long COVID, at this point.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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Planet Earth

Aerial view of Grand Prismatic spring at Yellowstone.

What is a supervolcano? The answer isn't so simple.

By Sascha Pare published 7 December 23

Supervolcanoes are defined by their ability to produce supereruptions — explosions of more than 240 cubic miles of volcanic material. But scientists disagree on how useful the term is.

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.

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
Gigantic 'hole' in the sun wider than 60 Earths is spewing superfast solar wind right at us

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

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Space

Three galactic swirls among stars against a black sky.

Scientists are searching for alien signals at frequencies never studied before

By Owen Johnson published 7 December 23

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) continues as scientists look to low-frequency radio waves that have long gone unexplored.

Extraterrestrial Life

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

By 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.

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archaeology

Three skulls of sacred mummified baboons from Egypt.

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

By Tom Metcalfe published 6 December 23

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

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

By 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.

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Health

Yosuda exercise bike being ridden by fitness writer Sam Hopes

Hurry! The YOSUDA Indoor Bike is down to it's lowest-ever price on Amazon

By James Frew published 7 December 23

Save 43% on this indoor bike with a comfortable seat, sturdy design, and small footprint to boost your cardio fitness at home.

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

Shroom compound psilocybin shows promise for bipolar disorder in early trial

By 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.

Medicine & Drugs

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.

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Animals

Two elephant calves play together with their trunks

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

By 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.

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.

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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

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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

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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

Star Wars Les derniers Jedi Star Wars The last Jedi 2017 Real Rian Johnson Daisy Ridley.

Scientists uncover the secret to building Star Wars-style laser weapons — but don't worry, we won't have a Death Star anytime soon

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 2 December 23

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.

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.

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