Skip to main content
Live Science

Live Science

Subscribe
RSS
How It Works Magazine
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
From$3.99
View Deal
  • Space
  • Health
  • Planet Earth
  • Animals
  • Archaeology
  • Physics & Math
  • Human Behavior
  • Technology
  • Chemistry
  • More
    • Science news
    • About Us
    • Forum
    • Story archive
Trending
  • James Webb Space Telescope
  • Nervous stomach
  • El Niño
  • Molnupiravir
  • Best laptops for students

Latest News

Antimatter illustration.

Major CERN experiment proves antigravity doesn't exist — at least when it comes to antimatter

Sharmila Kuthunur published 27 September 23

New research showing that elusive antimatter falls downward toward the Earth proves Albert Einstein right yet again.

An unearthed tomb on the outskirts of the city of Xianyang in Shaanxi province.

1,400-year-old tomb of emperor in China reveals evidence of royal power struggle among brothers and a warlord

Tom Metcalfe published 27 September 23

An inscription on the 1,400-year-old tomb shows the dead man, who was posthumously declared emperor, was buried as a duke.

The skyline of Seattle during sunset

Simultaneous rupture of faults triggered massive earthquake in Seattle area 1,100 years ago — and it could happen again

Harry Baker published 27 September 23

Fossilized tree analysis finds a single massive earthquake may have rocked what is now Seattle around 1,100 years ago rather than several smaller quakes, and that another equally powerful one could hit the city in the future.

A small, yellow sucker-shaped device filled with a blue gel

Octopus sucker-inspired patch delivers drugs into the body without needles or pills

Emily Cooke published 27 September 23

A new patch, which sticks to the inner lining of the cheek like an octopus sucker, effectively delivered two drugs in dogs and passed safety tests in humans.

A fossilized feather

125 million-year-old dinosaur feathers were remarkably similar to modern bird feathers, analysis reveals

Jennifer Nalewicki published 27 September 23

A new X-ray analysis of dinosaur feathers shows that their chemical structure is similar to that of modern bird feathers.

Close-up of a small purple lump on an infant boy's head; the bump is surrounded by long, dark hairs, while the rest of the child's head has lighter, shorter hairs

Strange purple lump on infant's head is rare case of protruding brain tissue, case report says

Emily Cooke published 27 September 23

The cause of the boy's lump is unknown, although doctors suspect it could be an unusual symptom of a neural tube defect.

The famous Harvest Moon — the final supermoon of 2023 — will be the first full moon of autumn when it rises on Sept. 29.
How to see the Harvest Moon, the final supermoon of 2023, rise this weekend The famous Harvest Moon — the final supermoon of 2023 — will be the first full moon of autumn when it rises on Sept. 29.
Researchers are still studying the ancient text of an unknown language, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet.
'Ritual text' from lost Indo-European language discovered on ancient clay tablet in Turkey Researchers are still studying the ancient text of an unknown language, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet.
A new X-ray analysis of dinosaur feathers shows that their chemical structure is similar to that of modern bird feathers.
125 million-year-old dinosaur feathers were remarkably similar to modern bird feathers, analysis reveals A new X-ray analysis of dinosaur feathers shows that their chemical structure is similar to that of modern bird feathers.
The cause of the boy's lump is unknown, although doctors suspect it could be an unusual symptom of a neural tube defect.
Strange purple lump on infant's head is rare case of protruding brain tissue, case report says The cause of the boy's lump is unknown, although doctors suspect it could be an unusual symptom of a neural tube defect.
More orcas have died entangled in fishing gear in Alaska this year than in previous years, which may be linked to a "new behavior" where they feed in front of ascending fishing nets.
Opportunistic orcas have developed a new feeding behavior that appears to be killing them More orcas have died entangled in fishing gear in Alaska this year than in previous years, which may be linked to a "new behavior" where they feed in front of ascending fishing nets.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a distant supernova that appears three times in the same photo. The new observations could help solve one of the universe's biggest inconsistencies.
Ancient supernova in James Webb telescope image could help solve one of the universe's biggest mysteries NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a distant supernova that appears three times in the same photo. The new observations could help solve one of the universe's biggest inconsistencies.
In the 1990s, a group of juvenile bull sharks were left stranded in a golf course pond in Australia, where they thrived for decades. Now scientists are trying to understand why.
The strange story of sharks that lived in a golf course pond for 20 years — then vanished In the 1990s, a group of juvenile bull sharks were left stranded in a golf course pond in Australia, where they thrived for decades. Now scientists are trying to understand why.

Planet Earth

a volcano erupting with lightning strikes coming from the crater

Mammals may be driven to extinction by volcanic new supercontinent Pangaea Ultima

By Ben Turner published 25 September 23

The next supercontinent, Pangea Ultima, is likely to get so hot so quickly that mammals cannot adapt, a new supercomputer simulation has forecast.

Planet Earth
Nuclear pasta; Pink diamonds

Science news this week: Pink diamonds and nuclear 'pasta'

By Alexander McNamara published 24 September 23

Sept. 24, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Planet Earth
VIEW MORE
  1. We see a skeleton face down in a dirt grave. The ankles are very close together, indicating that they were once bound.
    1
    Medieval girl buried face down with bound ankles, likely so she couldn't 'return' from the grave
  2. 2
    Indian crocodiles seen saving dog from feral pack attack, but scientists divided over what it means
  3. 3
    Snake choking on invasive fish the size of its head saved by scientist
  4. 4
    Archaeologists in Zambia discover oldest wooden structure in the world, dating to 476,000 years ago
  5. 5
    15 places on Earth that look like alien planets
  1. Dragon blood trees in rocky landscape, Homhil Protected Area, Socotra, Yemen.
    1
    15 places on Earth that look like alien planets
  2. 2
    James Webb telescope spots thousands of Milky Way lookalikes that 'shouldn't exist' swarming across the early universe
  3. 3
    Stunningly perfect 'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen
  4. 4
    Scientists have figured out when the biggest bull sharks are most active — and it's not when official advice suggests

Space

In the field of one of JWST's largest-area surveys, COSMOS-Web, an Einstein ring was discovered around a compact, distant galaxy. It turns out to be the most distant gravitational lens ever discovered by a few billion light-years.

Stunningly perfect 'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen

By Harry Baker published 26 September 23

The James Webb Space Telescope has snapped a stunning image of a perfectly formed Einstein ring, which is also the most distant gravitationally lensed object ever detected.

Astronomy
Warped Milky Way

James Webb telescope spots thousands of Milky Way lookalikes that 'shouldn't exist' swarming across the early universe

By Ben Turner published 26 September 23

Thousands of disk galaxies like our own Milky Way were spotted in the early universe, where they shouldn't exist.

Astronomy
VIEW MORE

archaeology

GIF of facial reconstruction process at the Kilmartin Museum.

See the 'amazing' facial reconstruction of a Bronze Age woman discovered crouching in a 4,200-year-old grave

By Laura Geggel published 24 September 23

Facial reconstruction The skeletal remains of the 'Upper Largie Woman' were found in a quarry in Scotland. Now, scientists have reconstructed the Bronze Age woman's face.

Facial reconstruction
A golden C-shaped bracelet against a black background.

Landslide reveals 2,500-year-old 'richly decorated' gold necklaces in Spain

By Hannah Kate Simon published 22 September 23

A landslide in northern Spain has helped unearth two Iron Age gold necklaces that were likely buried in a hoard about 2,500 years ago.

Archaeology
VIEW MORE

Health

Product photo of the Yosuda Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike

Get your YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike today and save a whopping 43%!

By Ravi Davda published 27 September 23

Deal Amazon is practically giving away the YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike, with a limited-time deal that brings the price down to just $229.99.

Deal
Stock photo of the Garmin Foreunner 945 Smartwatch

Limited-time deal — save over $100 on the Garmin Forerunner 945 premium running smartwatch

By Ravi Davda published 27 September 23

Deal The Garmin Forerunner 945 has dropped below $400 at Amazon. It is lightweight, has excellent battery life, and has a ton of useful features.

Deal
black and white micrograph of a parasitic worm with one end coiled and one extended

Rat 'lungworm' that can invade the human brain found in Georgia rodents

By Nicoletta Lanese published 26 September 23

A parasitic worm that infects rats has established a new population in Georgia after previously being found in other southeastern states.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
VIEW MORE

Animals

a bull shark swimming in a reef with its mouth open and a yellow fish in front of its mouth

Scientists have figured out when the biggest bull sharks are most active — and it's not when official advice suggests

By Lydia Smith published 25 September 23

Researchers tracked more than 200 bull sharks off the coast of New South Wales to find out exactly when they were most active and posed the greatest risk to humans.

Sharks
The sucker mouths of 10 Pacific lampreys through the glass of an aquarium,

Pacific lamprey: The jawless fish that survived 4 mass extinctions and sucks prey dry of blood and body fluids

By Sascha Pare published 23 September 23

Lampreys belong to an ancient group of fish called Agnatha that evolved 450 million years ago, predating both dinosaurs and trees.

Fish
A large brown fish with a torpedo-shape body swims in an aquarium tank

World's oldest aquarium fish 'Methuselah' could be decades older than we originally thought, DNA clock reveals

By Harry Baker published 22 September 23

A new study has found that the famous Australian lungfish Methuselah, who first arrived in the U.S. in 1938, could be up to 101 years old.

Fish
VIEW MORE

Human Behavior

Ryan Graves, executive director of Americans for Safe Aerospace, David Grusch, former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force at the U.S. Department of Defense, and Retired Navy Commander David Fravor take their seats as they arrive for a House Oversight Committee hearing titled "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency" on Capitol Hill 26, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Several witnesses are testifying about their experience with possible UFO encounters and discussion about a potential covert government program concerning debris from crashed, non-human origin spacecraft.

How wealthy UFO fans helped fuel fringe beliefs

By Keith Kloor published 16 September 23

There is a long U.S. legacy of plutocrat-funded pseudoscience. Congress just embraced it.

Human Behavior
A rock from Mars which looks like a face taken by the Viking 1 spacecraft

What is pareidolia?

By Tia Ghose last updated 13 September 23

Pareidolia is the phenomenon in which people see faces or other patterns in ambiguous images, such as Jesus on toast or the man in the moon.

Human Behavior
Stressed teen suffering heat stroke on the beach.

Hot weather could boost aggression — but only in certain conditions

By Stephanie Pappas published 4 September 23

Under some circumstances, people may become more aggressive when they're overheated. But other decision-making doesn't seem to be affected.

Human Behavior
VIEW MORE

Physics & Mathematics

An illustration of the Milky Way on a black background, with the galaxy's edges drooping down on one side and lifting up on the other

Our entire galaxy is warping, and a gigantic blob of dark matter could be to blame

By Ben Turner published 19 September 23

An invisible halo of misaligned dark matter could explain the warps at the Milky Way's edges.

Dark Matter
Scientists think that dark matter produces a bright and spherical halo of X-ray emission around the center of the Milky Way.

Astronomers measure dark matter 'haloes' around hundreds of ancient black holes for 1st time

By Robert Lea published 18 September 23

Studying the mysterious form of matter around ancient quasar galaxies could have profound implications for our understanding of how the cosmos evolved.

Dark Matter
An illustration of various star systems swirling through space, each with multiple planets

Mathematicians find 12,000 new solutions to 'unsolvable' 3-body problem

By Briley Lewis published 15 September 23

Calculating the way three things orbit each other is notoriously tricky — but a new study may reveal 12,000 new ways to make it work.

Physics & Mathematics
VIEW MORE

Chemistry

An old kettle boils on a small bonfire at the beach with a picnic basket in the background.

What's the highest temperature water can freeze, and the lowest it can boil on Earth?

By Cameron Duke published 25 September 23

Ice can form on Earth at temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius), and water can boil below 212 F (100 C). Here's how.

Chemistry
The rose window in the narthex, Strasbourg Cathedral, Strasbourg, Alsace, France.

Is glass a liquid or a solid?

By Victoria Atkinson published 24 September 23

Glass has unique properties, but is it a solid or a liquid, or does it fall into its own scientific category?

Chemistry
A microscopic scale image of photonic crystals on the surface of ancient Roman glass

Roman glass keeps turning into photonic crystals. Scientists finally know why

By Ben Turner published 22 September 23

Analysis of the microscopic structure of an ancient shard of Roman glass has revealed how photonic crystals form, and might enable them to be grown.

Chemistry
VIEW MORE

Tech

A composite image of Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds in their charging case and three loose earbuds

Save $40 on the Jabra Elite 4 Active running headphones at Best Buy

By Ravi Davda published 25 September 23

Deal Reduced by 33%, you can get the highly-rated Jabra Elite 4 Active running headphones for just $79.99 at Best Buy.

Deal
Stock photo of the Garmin Enduro 2

Save $100 on the world-class Garmin Enduro 2 running watch at Amazon

By Ravi Davda published 20 September 23

Deal The Garmin Enduro 2 adventure watch has been reduced by $100 at Amazon, perfect if you're looking for masses of features and super-long battery life.

Deal
Military drone with a bomb at sunset. Attack drone in military conflicts.

DARPA is funding AI to help make battlefield decisions

By Joe Phelan published 19 September 23

The U.S. military research agency DARPA is spending millions to develop artificial intelligence that can help make strategic battlefield decisions.

Artificial Intelligence
VIEW MORE

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.