Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

Jason Elam wades through flood waters around his home after Hurricane Nicole blew ashore on Nov. 10, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Rising sea levels could swamp the US coastline by 2050, NASA predicts

By Joe Phelan published 28 November 22

Sea levels are expected to rise around the contiguous U.S. faster than previously thought, a new NASA study finds.

The lava-filled Moku'āweoweo caldera as captured by the USGC webcam.

Dozens of earthquakes swarm Hawaii as the world's largest volcano erupts

By Ben Turner published 28 November 22

The eruption is so far not threatening downhill communities or affecting flights

1
Ötzi the Iceman’s mummified corpse was found in an Alpine gully — but he didn’t die there, new study finds
2
Two minerals never before been seen on Earth found inside 17-ton meteorite
3
Wormhole simulated in quantum computer could bolster theory that the universe is a hologram
4
Pregnancy causes dramatic changes in the brain, study confirms
5
Colossal 'planet killer' asteroid sparked mega-tsunami on Mars, and now we know where it landed

Space and Physics

Who owns the moon?

By Joanna Thompson published 3 December 22

Does anyone have sovereignty over the moon? And can anyone buy it?

The canyon-like hole, seen as a dark gulf running vertically down the sun's center.

Solar storm from 'canyon-like' hole in the sun could hit Earth as soon as Thursday (Dec. 1)

By Ben Turner published 29 November 22

The hole could beam solar material outwards at speeds up to 1.8 million mph (2.9 million km/h)

History

The great romance of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in All About History 124

By Jonathan Gordon published 2 December 22

Inside All About History 124: Discover how the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert reshaped the monarchies of Europe.

The remains of a gold tongue found on a mummy from ancient Egypt.

Gold tongues found in 2,000-year-old mummies in Egypt

By Owen Jarus published 1 December 22

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered several ancient mummies with gold tongues, which were thought to help transform the deceased into divine beings.

Health

Many people use cannabis to manage pain.

Cannabis is no better than a placebo for treating pain, 20 studies show

By Filip Gedin published 3 December 22

Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. While there are only a few countries where cannabis is legal for recreational use, many more countries have legalized the use of cannabis for medical reasons.

illustration of the inside of the gut with tiny microbes pictured within and near the lining

FDA approved a 1st-of-its-kind treatment made from human poop. What does it do?

By Nicoletta Lanese published 2 December 22

The treatment Rebyota contains gut bacteria and is approved to prevent a dangerous bacterial infection.

Mpox (monkeypox): Symptoms, pictures, treatments & vaccines

By Nicoletta Lanese published 2 December 22

The mpox virus is related to the virus that causes smallpox.

Animals

An artist’s drawing of a Triassic lizard.

Ancient lizard with teeth like butcher knives ‘re-calibrates the whole shebang’ of reptile evolution

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 2 December 22

Despite being palm-size, this Triassic lizard had a vicious bite.

Whatcheeria deltae attacks in this artist's impression of the enormous ancient tetrapod.

Ancient superpredator that lived 328 million years ago was 'the T. rex of its time'

By Stephanie Pappas published 30 November 22

Fangy Whatcheeria measured up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long, and more than 300 million years ago, it was the apex predator in the sinkholes-turned-lakes of the American Midwest.

An abstract artist's impression of what the fossilized worm, Cardiodictyon catenulum, may have looked like.

Fossilized brain of 525 million-year-old deep sea worm likely the oldest ever discovered

By Harry Baker published 30 November 22

An ancient worm unearthed in China has one of the oldest fossilized brains ever found. The brain's shape could also help solve a centuries-old debate about the evolution of arthropods.

Strange News

Protestors holding up signs. Demonstrators hold a "Rolling Car Rally" in front of Democratic Governor Ned Lamont's residence while protesting the state's stay-at-home order to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 04, 2020 in Hartford, Connecticut.

Belief that COVID-19 was a hoax is a gateway drug to other conspiracy theories

By Tia Ghose published 17 November 22

People who believe that the COVID-19 pandemic was a hoax are likelier to believe all sorts of other conspiracy theories, a new study suggests.

A concept image of a Bigfoot silhouette walking through a forest.

Bigfoot: Is the Sasquatch real?

By Benjamin Radford, Patrick Pester published 16 November 22

Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, is a large ape-like creature some people believe inhabits North America but there's no hard evidence it actually exists.

Crop circles in a field outside the village of Avebury, Wiltshire, England

Crop circles: Myth, theories and history

By Stephanie Pappas published 15 November 22

Reference Crop circles are really no mystery. These expansive forms of landscape art are made by people.

Reference

Culture

people hold us flags at naturalization ceremony

Underneath most scientific findings may lie a hidden 'universe of uncertainty'

By Tia Ghose published 22 November 22

Researchers looking at the same data set in social science produce wildly different results, and very little of that variability can be explained by bias.

Soldier in military uniform stands on the ruins.

Are humans inherently violent?

By Joe Phelan published 20 November 22

Human violence is in the news every day. But is violence innate in Homo sapiens?

It can be hard to break the habit of constantly checking your phone.

How do you break a habit?

By Donavyn Coffey published 19 November 22

Habits can be hard to break, but here are a few ways you can do it.

Tech

Quick! Just hours left to save $100 on Fitbit's best watch in the Cyber Monday sales

By David Crookes published 28 November 22

Deal The likeable Fitbit Sense 2 is reduced by 33% in the Cyber Monday sales — but the offer ends soon.

Deal

Want to code on the go? Save $150 on MacBook Pro 13 M2 before Cyber Monday deals end

By Chris McMullen published 28 November 22

Deals Want a sleek but powerful laptop? Save $150 on the MacBook Pro 13.3 M2 and up to $500 on other developer and student-friendly MacBooks.

Deals

Get Discovery+ for just $0.99 per month for 3 months with this Cyber Monday streaming deal

By Kimberley Lane published 28 November 22

Deal Binge all your favorite science shows with this amazing Discovery+ Cyber Monday streaming deal.

Deal

Latest News