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Latest News

Massive star in a bright yellow and orange fireball with a glowing red aurora.

'Significant and unexpected': Dying star spits out a sun's worth of mass just before going supernova

Keith Cooper published 1 October 23

A supernova, pinpointed by amateur astronomers, could reveal unexpected new steps in the deaths of massive stars.

the rear ends of three adult giraffes standing next to each other

Viruses lurking in giraffe and lemur poop could lead to new antibacterial drugs, scientists say

Nicoletta Lanese published 1 October 23

Scientists uncovered viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages, in animal poop and are testing whether they could work as antibiotics.

Science news this week includes discoveries from the James Webb telescope and the development of an ‘inverse vaccine’.

Science news this week: James Webb telescope discoveries and an inverse vaccine

Alexander McNamara published 1 October 23

Oct. 1, 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.

yellowish bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa shown growing in two circular lab dishes; the lab dish on the left contains antibiotics that the bacteria can't grow near, while the bacteria in the right dish are still successfully growing next to the antibiotics

Superbugs are on the rise. How can we prevent antibiotics from becoming obsolete?

Nicoletta Lanese published 1 October 23

Improving our "stewardship" of antibiotics is key to preventing bacteria from gaining resistance to the essential drugs.

close up of a e. coli bacterial cell with wiggly projections. A large number of viruses can be seen landing on the part of the bacterium furthest from the viewer

Dangerous 'superbugs' are a growing threat, and antibiotics can't stop their rise. What can?

Nicoletta Lanese published 1 October 23

Traditional antibiotics drive bacteria toward drug resistance, so scientists are looking to viruses, CRISPR, designer molecules and protein swords for better treatments.

A silver-colored raw chunk of neodymium stone, part of the rare earth group, the world's strongest magnetic ore used in the technology industry.

Why are rare earth elements so rare?

Victoria Atkinson published 1 October 23

There are 17 rare earth elements on the periodic table, but a better name for them would be the "troublesome earths." Here's why.

Traditional antibiotics drive bacteria toward drug resistance, so scientists are looking to viruses, CRISPR, designer molecules and protein swords for better treatments. — Dangerous 'superbugs' are a growing threat, and antibiotics can't stop their rise. What can? Traditional antibiotics drive bacteria toward drug resistance, so scientists are looking to viruses, CRISPR, designer molecules and protein swords for better treatments.

Improving our "stewardship" of antibiotics is key to preventing bacteria from gaining resistance to the essential drugs. — Superbugs are on the rise. How can we prevent antibiotics from becoming obsolete? Improving our "stewardship" of antibiotics is key to preventing bacteria from gaining resistance to the essential drugs.

Scientists uncovered viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages, in animal poop and are testing whether they could work as antibiotics. — Viruses lurking in giraffe and lemur poop could lead to new antibacterial drugs, scientists say Scientists uncovered viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages, in animal poop and are testing whether they could work as antibiotics.

Life-size carvings of camels have been found in the Saudi Arabian desert, but archaeologists aren't sure who created them and when. — Mysterious and 'beautifully carved' life-size camel carvings discovered in Saudi Arabian desert Life-size carvings of camels have been found in the Saudi Arabian desert, but archaeologists aren't sure who created them and when.

A woman survived a rare infection that had previously been reported in only two other humans, both of whom died from the disease. — Woman is 1st to survive infection with deadly 'blackleg' bacteria she caught while gardening bare-handed A woman survived a rare infection that had previously been reported in only two other humans, both of whom died from the disease.

On an expedition in Hawaii, a remote underwater vehicle filmed a dumbo octopus swimming with its ear-like fins near the seafloor. The pale white creature is one of the deepest-dwelling octopuses on Earth. — Watch ghostly dumbo octopus swim with its massive 'ears' in rare new footage On an expedition in Hawaii, a remote underwater vehicle filmed a dumbo octopus swimming with its ear-like fins near the seafloor. The pale white creature is one of the deepest-dwelling octopuses on Earth.

The female orca was found far from her normal hunting ground with six whole sea otters in its stomach and one lodged between its oral cavity and the esophagus. — Scientists investigate mysterious case of orca that swallowed 7 sea otters whole The female orca was found far from her normal hunting ground with six whole sea otters in its stomach and one lodged between its oral cavity and the esophagus.

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Planet Earth

A lone stone grave surrounded by wild summer flowers meadow with a stone wall in the background.

After you die, your microbiome cooperates with soil microbes to 'recycle' your body

By Jennifer DeBruyn published 29 September 23

After you die, bacteria harvest your body for the nutrients that help push daisies.

Light shines through the water of a rocky cave in the deep sea.

'We know far more about the deep ocean than the moon or Mars,' says explorer Jon Copley

By Sascha Pare published 28 September 23

The deep sea, which encompasses waters deeper than 660 feet (200 meters), is home to alien-like creatures, but we know far more about these inky depths than people think, ocean explorer Jon Copley tells Live Science.

Rivers & Oceans

1
Mammals may be driven to extinction by volcanic new supercontinent Pangaea Ultima
2
The strange story of sharks that lived in a golf course pond for 20 years — then vanished
3
Kelping is a 'global phenomenon' sweeping the world of humpback whales, scientists say
4
The 1st American cowboys may have been enslaved Africans, DNA evidence suggests
5
Green-banded broodsac: The brain-hijacking parasite that creates disco zombie snails

1
'They seemed primed to take over': How the Great Dying doomed the 'beast tooth' and set the stage for the dawn of the dinosaurs
2
Why are rare earth elements so rare?

Grid List

Space

Arp 107, a celestial object that comprises a pair of galaxies in the midst of a collision, with a Seyfert galaxy on the left.

Space photo of the week: Hubble spies a spectacular galaxy crash

By Jamie Carter published 30 September 23

Arp 107 hosts a special spiraling 'Seyfert' galaxy connected to a smaller galaxy by a 'bridge' of dust and gas.

A photo of the moon in its First Quarter phase

What is the moon phase today?

By Colin Stuart last updated 29 September 23

Reference A look at the phases of the moon, from new moon to full moon, including's tonight's lunar phase.

Grid List

archaeology

Pantaneiro cowboy herding horses at sunset in North Pantanal, Brazil.

The 1st American cowboys may have been enslaved Africans, DNA evidence suggests

By Kristina Killgrove published 29 September 23

DNA from cattle suggests some of the first cowboys in the Americas were enslaved Africans, who herded cows that were brought with them on slave ships.

We see a wooden arrow shaft with a black point on a mountainous landscape

'Very rare' Bronze Age arrow with quartzite tip uncovered from melting ice after 3,000 years

By Laura Geggel published 28 September 23

Glacial archaeologists in Norway have found an arrow with its quartzite tip still attached after spending up to 3,000 years in the snow and ice.

Grid List

Health

48-hour time-lapse of developing neurons connecting the opposite side of the central nervous system in a chick embryo

Electrifying time-lapse video shows neurons shooting across the inside of a chick embryo

By Hannah Osborne published 30 September 23

An striking video of developing neurons won the 2023 Nikon Small World in Motion Video Competition.

pregnant woman in a pink shirt sits in a doctor's office as her doctor puts a bandage on her arm after a vaccination

Prenatal RSV vaccine protects newborns from the virus, CDC says

By Nicoletta Lanese published 29 September 23

The CDC recommends a newly approved RSV vaccine be given during the last trimester of pregnancy to protect newborns.

Viruses, Infections & Disease

Nurse gives a vaccine to an older woman at a clinic

Who should get the new RSV vaccines? Here's everything you need to know

By Nicoletta Lanese last updated 29 September 23

There are now RSV vaccines approved for older adults and for pregnant people, and antibody shots (not vaccines) available for babies. What's the difference?

Medicine & Drugs

Grid List

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.

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.

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.

Grid List

Physics & Mathematics

Antimatter illustration.

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

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 27 September 23

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

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.

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.

Grid List

Chemistry

One-line drawing of a complex pattern with rectangular and 45° angles as well as multiple line crossings. The inset shows the intended result (Das Haus vom Nikolaus).

For 1st time, scientists write words in liquid water

By Victoria Atkinson published 28 September 23

Scientists used a process called 'diffusioosmosis' to write words that lingered in liquid water.

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.

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?

Grid List

Tech

Apple MacBook Air M2

Save $150 on the M2 MacBook Air, with extra storage

By Lloyd Coombes published 28 September 23

Save a chunk on the MacBook Air with M2 processor.

Garmin Venu 2 watch

Save big on this excellent Garmin running watch

By Lloyd Coombes published 28 September 23

The Garmin Venu 2 is reduced by almost $140.

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.

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