Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

The GOES-17 satellite captured images of an umbrella cloud generated by the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on Jan. 15, 2022. Crescent-shaped bow shock waves and numerous lighting strikes are also visible.

Record-shattering Tonga volcanic eruption sent atmospheric waves zipping around the Earth

By Nicoletta Lanese published 16 May 22

The eruption triggered huge atmospheric waves called Lamb waves.

Whirlpools: Facts, formation and survival tips

By Ailsa Harvey published 11 May 22

Reference Whirlpools form when fast-flowing currents in oceans and rivers constantly change direction. What do they look like and can you escape from one?

Reference

Space and Physics

The LCLS-II accelerator, where temperatures 2 K above absolute zero have been achieved.

Temperatures colder than space achieved here on Earth using superconducting X-ray laser

By Robert Lea published 17 May 22

Using a superconducting X-ray laser, researchers at SLAC achieved a temperature 4 degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero.

This NASA graphic shows the major stages of the Super Flower Blood Moon of May 2022 and their times.

What time is the Blood Moon lunar eclipse?

By Samantha Mathewson published 15 May 22

A Blood Moon total lunar eclipse will occur this weekend, and here's when to watch it.

History

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is shown here in May 1986, a few weeks after the disaster.

Chernobyl: Facts about the world's worst nuclear disaster

By Marc Lallanilla published 18 May 22

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion resulted in the most horrific nuclear disaster in the world.

An ancient tooth (specifically a molar) being displayed in the center of a person's palm.

Ancient tooth of mysterious Denisovan girl possibly found

By Charles Q. Choi published 17 May 22

Researchers in Laos have uncovered an ancient molar that may have belonged to a Denisovan girl who lived up to 164,000 years ago.

Health

Pox viruses (shown here in this illustration) like monkeypox are oval-shaped with double-strand DNA.

Rare monkeypox infections detected in several European countries

By Nicoletta Lanese published 18 May 22

It's unknown whether the monkeypox cases in different countries are linked.

Artist's illustration of Toxoplasma gondii

Parasite that controls cat minds may infect billions of people. The clue is in their eyes.

By Justine R. Smith, Joao M. Furtado published 18 May 22

Toxoplasma gondii is probably the most successful parasite in the world today. The disease caused by this parasite can scar the back of the eye.

What's the difference between veganism vs vegetarianism?

By Anna Gora published 18 May 22

Reference Veganism vs vegetarianism: which is better? We compare the benefits and risks of these popular plant-based diets

Reference

Animals

A wasp larva curls forward to take a bite out of its nestmate. Body lengths of the cannibal and its victim were about 0.8 inches (20 millimeters).

Cannibal wasp babies eat their siblings, because nature is brutal

By Mindy Weisberger published 18 May 22

When food starts running low in wasp larvae nurseries, the babies resort to cannibalism in order to survive.

A photo of an entire Deinonychus skeleton. The Deinonychus specimen is about 10 feet (3 meters) long.

Sold! Dinosaur skeleton that inspired Velociraptors from 'Jurassic Park' auctioned for $12.4 million

By Laura Geggel published 18 May 22

A rare skeleton of the dinosaur Deinonychus, the species that inspired the Velocirators in the movie "Jurassic Park," just sold for $12.4 million at auction.

Fluid inclusions in halite with microorganisms.

830 million-year-old organisms found locked in ancient crystals could be resurrected

By Stephanie Pappas published 18 May 22

Researchers discovered microorganisms from 830 million years ago trapped in ancient salt crystals from Australia

Strange News

A government employee photographed a UFO that hovered for 15 minutes near Holloman Air Development Center in New Mexico, on Dec.16, 1957.

Watch live: Pentagon UFO sightings will finally be publicly aired at today's Congressional hearing

By Ben Turner published 16 May 22

The U.S. Congress is set to hold its first public hearing on UFOs since the 1960s on Tuesday (May 17). Here's what to expect.

A metal kettle attached to a log structure hangs over a campfire near a lake.

Why does wood catch fire, but metal doesn't?

By JoAnna Wendel published 15 May 22

Burning is the release of energy, and some materials like metals, can absorb energy better than others, such as wood.

The Mars Curiosity rover’s Mast camera snapped this intriguing image of the Red Planet, showing a “doorway” structure, on May 7, 2022, or Sol 3466 in Martian days.

The 'doorway' seen on Mars is not for aliens. Here's how it really formed.

By Tom Metcalfe published 13 May 22

The internet erupted after a photograph from the Mars Curiosity rover appeared to show an "alien door," experts are pretty sure it's just a natural feature.

Culture

Brooklyn's Mexican community marches down 5th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood during a Cinco de Mayo parade on May 7, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York

Cinco de Mayo: History and facts about the celebration of Latin culture

By Remy Melina published 4 May 22

Reference Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration of Latin culture, with origins in a 19th-century battle.

Reference

Two darker skinned females against blue background. Researchers have found that as a tool for grouping people into racial categories, skin color is basically useless.

What's the difference between race and ethnicity?

By Emma Bryce published 9 April 22

Race and ethnicity are terms that are sometimes used sloppily, almost interchangeably. But race and ethnicity are not the same thing.

Nelson Mandela visits Hlengiwe School_Louise Gubb via Getty Images

What is the Mandela effect? And have you experienced it?

By Joe Phelan published 19 March 22

The Mandela effect is when many people believe that something happened when, in reality, it never did.

Tech

Olympus OM-D E-M1X review

By James Artaius published 17 May 22

REVIEW Looking for ultra lightweight kit that packs a heavyweight punch? The Olympus OM-D E-M1X provides a compact system that’s ideal for wildlife and safari shooting.

REVIEW

Canon EOS R5 review

By James Artaius published 17 May 22

REVIEW The Canon EOS R5 is so good at photographing wildlife, it’s effectively a cheat code for capturing images of animals – not to mention humans or any other subject.

REVIEW

VR headset deals: HTC Vive Pro 2_tracking illustration

VR headset deals: Save on Oculus Quest 2, the ideal gateway to VR

By Lloyd Coombes published 16 May 22

Enter a whole new world with these VR headset deals, including ways to get the Meta Quest 2 cheap.

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