Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

A visible satellite image of Hurricane Ida approaching land in the Gulf of Mexico, taken by NOAA's GOES-16 (GOES East) satellite at 4:10 a.m. EDT on August 29, 2021.

Expect another above-average hurricane season in 2022, NOAA predicts

By Harry Baker published 24 May 22

NOAA has announced that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be more active than average for the seventh year in a row.

The tallest trees on Earth live in California. These towering coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), shown here in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve, Santa Cruz Mountains, can live for hundreds of years.

What is the world's tallest tree?

By Tia Ghose published 23 May 22

The largest coastal redwoods tower more than 350 feet above the ground.

Space and Physics

A photo of Neptune taken by Voyager 2 on August 16, 1989.

Neptune: The farthest planet from our sun

By Patrick Pester published 24 May 22

Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system and home to blistering winds and diamond rain.

Artist's concept of a pulsar. There is a small blue sphere in the center with light pulsing out from the NW and SE areas of the pulsar.

What are pulsars?

By Paul Sutter published 24 May 22

Reference Pulsars are the ultradense cores of gigantic stars that emit beams of radio waves in regular pulses, like cosmic lighthouses.

Reference

History

The image shows the wall of an ancient Egyptian temple. Half of the wall has been cleaned to reveal that the Egyptian hieroglyphs are actually quite colorful.

Gorgeous paintings of ancient Egyptian goddesses revealed under layers of bird poop

By Owen Jarus published 24 May 22

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered colorful ceiling frescoes in an ancient Egyptian temple.

This image shows 2 leg bones at different angles, the lower right leg being amputated. The rough endings on the bones of the lower right leg suggest the amputation was inflicted as a punishment and was not the result of an accident or disease.

Ancient Chinese woman faced brutal 'yue' punishment, had foot cut off, skeleton reveals

By Tom Metcalfe published 23 May 22

Archaeologists think the missing foot of a woman buried in China almost 3,000 years ago was amputated as a criminal punishment, according to a new study.

Health

Abortion rights demonstrators gather near the Washington Monument during a nationwide rally in support of abortion rights in Washington, D.C., on May 14, 2022.

What is an abortion?

By Kimberly Hickok published 24 May 22

An abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy, which can happen spontaneously, as in the case of a miscarriage, or by medical or surgical means.

Blue Apron review

By Lizzy Briskin published 24 May 22

review We tested the Blue Apron meal delivery kit to see how the service and meals stacked up against the competition

review

Woman holding bottle of wine rubbing her forehead

Can you be intolerant to alcohol?

By Maddy Biddulph published 24 May 22

Reference Is it possible to be intolerant to alcohol? We speak to an expert about the symptoms, causes and treatment of alcohol intolerance

Reference

Animals

The aptly named Thanatosdrakon "dragon of death" pterosaur was a flying reptile that lived alongside dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period.

Giant ‘dragon of death’ with 30-foot wingspan unearthed in Argentina

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 24 May 22

Scientists recently discovered fossils in Argentina that belong to Thanatosdrakon. The specimens are the largest pterosaurs ever found in South America.

A black and a pink axolotl snuggling up together in their aquarium.

Axolotls: The adorable, giant salamanders of Mexico

By Jeremy Rehm published 24 May 22

Reference Starring in mythological origin tales, axolotls are threatened salamanders that may hold the key to regenerating body parts in mammals.

Reference

Dromedary camels have one hump, like the animal here walking in the desert between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

What do camels eat in the desert?

By Jeanna Bryner published 23 May 22

Camels' large, leathery mouths can handle the prickly thorns of almost any kind of desert vegetation, including that which other desert animals steer clear of.

Strange News

U.S. Navy videos of alleged UFO sightings were previously available but had not been officially declassified.

Footage of hypersonic metallic UFO shown by Pentagon officials at historic hearing

By Ben Turner published 17 May 22

Pentagon officials speaking at the first public hearing on UFOs since the 1960s have shown previously classified footage of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP).

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.

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

Best wildlife photography cameras 2022

By James Artaius published 17 May 22

BUYING GUIDE These are the best wildlife photography cameras for shooting in the Serengeti, the local zoo, and everywhere in-between.

BUYING GUIDE

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

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