Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

An image of the Earth from space. Here we see what Pangaea, or Pangea Earth Supercontinent, would have looked like – one giant land mass.

What's the largest ocean that ever existed on Earth?

By Michael Dhar published 13 August 22

Panthalassa, a single world ocean surrounding the supercontinent Pangaea, would have stretched at least 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers) wider than the Pacific.

Scientist in a lab coat is pictured injecting something into a small glass vial on a lab bench

Scientists uncover ancient source of oxygen that could have fueled life on early Earth

By Nicoletta Lanese published 10 August 22

Chemical reactions in early Earth's crust may have provided oxygen to ancient microbes.

Space and Physics

This four-panel graphic illustrates how the southern region of the rapidly evolving, bright, red supergiant star Betelgeuse may have suddenly become fainter for several months during late 2019 and early 2020. In the first two panels, as seen in ultraviolet light with the Hubble Space Telescope, a bright, hot blob of plasma is ejected from the emergence of a huge convection cell on the star's surface. In panel three, the outflowing, expelled gas rapidly expands outward. It cools to form an enormous cloud of obscuring dust grains. The final panel reveals the huge dust cloud blocking the light (as seen from Earth) from a quarter of the star's surface.

One of the brightest stars in the sky dimmed in 2019. Now we know why.

By Stephanie Pappas published 12 August 22

The star Betelgeuse visibly dimmed in 2019. A new analysis finds that it blew off a huge amount of its surface.

The July full moon rises over Rome, Italy in summer 2022.

Last supermoon of the year — the 'Sturgeon moon' rises tonight (Aug. 11)

By Brandon Specktor published 11 August 22

The Sturgeon Moon, the fourth and final supermoon of 2022, rises on Aug. 11th.

History

A picture taken at the Archaeological Museum in Athens on September 14, 2014 shows a piece of the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2nd-century B.C. device known as the world's oldest computer which tracked astronomical phenomena and the cycles of the Solar System. Here we see what looks like a large gear.

Antikythera mechanism: Ancient celestial calculator

By Owen Jarus published 13 August 22

Here's what researchers know about the ancient Antikythera mechanism, a celestial-tracking device discovered in a shipwreck off a Greek island.

Mary I and Elizabeth I of England, AAH 120

Mary vs Elizabeth: The battle of the Tudor queens in All About History 120

By Jonathan Gordon published 12 August 22

Inside All About History 119: Discover the conflict between the Tudor sisters that informed the reigns of Mary I and Elizabeth I of England

Health

Two senior multi-ethnic woman, one Caucasian and the other African American, sitting on a porch enjoying each other's company. They are facing each other, laughing, talking and drinking coffee.

Does drinking coffee help you live longer?

By Martin McGuigan published 14 August 22

Habitual coffee consumption may lower your risk of heart disease and death in a given time period, but the jury is still out on whether it promotes longevity.

Which vegetables are good for diabetics?

By Lou Mudge published 13 August 22

reference We take a look at the best and worst vegetables for diabetics, to give you a head start on your diabetes diet

reference

Gilead scientists engaging in research activity in laboratory

Advancing Transformational Innovation in HIV Research: A Pillar of Gilead’s Efforts to Help End the Global HIV Epidemic

By Sponsored published 12 August 22

Sponsored Learn about Gilead’s innovative approach to continuous scientific discovery as part of the company’s leadership and commitment that aims to help end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.

Animals

Jakapil Kanikukura, a new species of armored dinosaur from Argentina, weighed as much as a housecat and had a line of armored spikes going down its neck and back.

Small, prickly dinosaur discovered in South America reveals an unknown lineage

By Stephanie Pappas published 12 August 22

An armored dinosaur that weighed as much as a housecat has been discovered in South America. Though it resembles a primitive relative of ankylosaurus, it came from late in dinosaur history.

A close-up image of a jumping spider next to a dew drop.

Sweet dreams, spidey: Arachnids experience REM sleep, and may even dream

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 12 August 22

Spiders likely sleep and dream like humans do.

illustration shows t. rex skull with its true eye socket shape compared to skull with circular eye socket, which can hold a far larger eyeball

Not just tiny arms: T. rex also had super small eyes to accommodate its big bite

By Nicoletta Lanese published 11 August 22

T. rex may have evolved thin eye sockets to help handle its bite force.

Strange News

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image shows auroras above the poles of Jupiter.

Extreme physics of 'supercritical' matter may be surprisingly simple

By Stephanie Pappas published 12 August 22

At 'supercriticality,' the difference between the liquid and gas phases of a material seems to disappear. New research finds that this weird tipping point may be simpler than scientists thought.

Big group of people celebrating a birthday. There are 6 people in total, all cheering and throwing confetti in the air. Three are wearing party hats. In front of them is a table with birthday decorations, such as a chocolate cake and drink cups.

What is the birthday paradox?

By Charles Q. Choi published 30 July 22

If you're in a random group of people, what are the chances that two of the people will have the same birthday?

The holes appear as a closely aligned, regularly repeating pattern. Tiny piles of sediment are piled around them.

Strange 'alien' holes discovered on the ocean floor

By Ben Turner published 29 July 22

The holes form a straight line and appear at regularly repeating distances, and they are surrounded by tiny mounds of sediment.

Culture

What's the most popular color in the world?

By Tia Ghose published 25 July 22

The most popular color can vary by culture, gender and time.

A very crowded Istiklal Street in the Beyoglu District of Istanbul, Turkey

How many people can Earth support?

By Martin McGuigan published 11 July 22

The number of people the planet can sustain depends on both the natural constraints of our environment and human choices.

Aerial view of Paris streets and the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

What is Paris syndrome?

By Joe Phelan published 5 July 22

Some people who visit Paris develop extreme symptoms — such as nausea, vomiting and hallucinations — when their expectations of the city do not jibe with reality.

Tech

Best laptops for students - Student with long hair is sitting in the library wearing glasses and headphones. Surrounded by books, he's looking at his laptop and writing notes in pencil.

Best laptops for students 2022: Go back to school in style with these sleek student laptops

By Mike Jennings published 9 August 22

Buying Guide Go back to school in style with our guide to the best laptops for students.

Buying Guide

Save up to $300 on Apple’s latest MacBook Pro at Best Buy

By Lloyd Coombes published 8 August 22

Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops are cheaper than ever - just in time for your back to school preparations.

MacBook Air M1 is now just $849, grab this fantastic back to school laptop deal

By Lloyd Coombes published 4 August 22

Save $150 on Apple’s most portable MacBook, now at its lowest price in 2022.

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