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Latest News

Big cloud of smoke surrounding trees and buildings

Canadian wildfire smoke detected thousands of miles away in Norway

Kiley Price published 9 June 23

Wildfire smoke from Canada has hit Norway, which is more than 3,000 miles from the North American country.

An asteroid flying past earth

How to watch a 'potentially hazardous' asteroid the size of Earth's tallest building zoom past the planet Sunday

Brandon Specktor published 9 June 23

A large, skyscraper-size asteroid will pass close to Earth Sunday night (June 11), missing our planet by a few million miles.

spherical bacterial cells shown growing on top of some sort of tissue

Florida man gets 'flesh-eating' bacterial infection after a relative bit him

Nicoletta Lanese published 9 June 23

A resident of Riverview, Florida was bitten by a relative and later developed a "flesh-eating" infection — likely from the bite.

King Tides and El Nino storm combine for monster waves battering Santa Cruz Lighthouse Point.

El Niño is officially here, scientists say

Sascha Pare published 9 June 23

After months of warning, experts have confirmed that the ocean-warming event El Niño is here and will gradually strengthen into the winter, with a potential worldwide climate impact.

Great White Shark near the surface.

Great white sharks have almost no interest in eating humans, study confirms

Ethan Freedman published 9 June 23

Juvenile great white sharks are near to people in Southern California nearly every day but rarely bite them.

A Renaissance painting of the Medicis on horses going for a hunt. They are surrounded by people.

Medici family's famous hunting grounds may have killed them, report suggests

Anna Demming published 9 June 23

At least one Medici was plagued by a deadly strain of malaria, analysis of organ tissue from the Medici family tomb reveals.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe plunged into the sun's atmosphere to capture the granular details of how its solar wind is made. — 1st mission to 'touch' the sun discovers a mysterious source of solar wind NASA's Parker Solar Probe plunged into the sun's atmosphere to capture the granular details of how its solar wind is made.

At least one Medici was plagued by a deadly strain of malaria, analysis of organ tissue from the Medici family tomb reveals. — Medici family's famous hunting grounds may have killed them, report suggests At least one Medici was plagued by a deadly strain of malaria, analysis of organ tissue from the Medici family tomb reveals.

A resident of Riverview, Florida was bitten by a relative and later developed a "flesh-eating" infection — likely from the bite. — Florida man gets 'flesh-eating' bacterial infection after a relative bit him A resident of Riverview, Florida was bitten by a relative and later developed a "flesh-eating" infection — likely from the bite.

After months of warning, experts have confirmed that the ocean-warming event El Niño is here and will gradually strengthen into the winter, with a potential worldwide climate impact. — El Niño is officially here, scientists say After months of warning, experts have confirmed that the ocean-warming event El Niño is here and will gradually strengthen into the winter, with a potential worldwide climate impact.

The unrest may be due to slight changes in pressure or in the amount of water seeping into the underground reservoir system. — New mud-slinging thermal feature at Yellowstone is spewing scalding hot muck The unrest may be due to slight changes in pressure or in the amount of water seeping into the underground reservoir system.

Looking for the perfect gift this Father’s Day? Our Father’s Day Science gift guide has 24 of our favorite items for your science-loving dad. — Father’s Day Science gift guide: Perfect gifts for science-loving dads Looking for the perfect gift this Father’s Day? Our Father’s Day Science gift guide has 24 of our favorite items for your science-loving dad.

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Planet Earth

Gray, sulfurous fumes rise from the rocky verge of Solfatara di Pozzuoli, one of Campi Flegrei's 24 craters

Europe's most dangerous 'supervolcano' could be creeping toward eruption, scientists warn

By Ben Turner published 9 June 23

Italy's Campi Flegrei is showing some troubling early warning signs, but scientists caution that its eruption is far from certain.

Hot springs at Yellowstone National Park give off plumes of steam.

New mud-slinging thermal feature at Yellowstone is spewing scalding hot muck

By Sascha Pare published 9 June 23

The unrest may be due to slight changes in pressure or in the amount of water seeping into the underground reservoir system.

1
150-year-old mystery of strange half-circles from Paleolithic site in France finally solved
2
Burmese pythons are helping rats take over Florida's Everglades — and that could help spread disease
3
Hundreds of ancient, invisible structures discovered near our galaxy's center
4
Orcas have sunk 3 boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the same. But why?
5
Ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets contain 1st evidence of long-distance trade between Egypt and Greece

1
Cancer Is a Man-Made Disease, Controversial Study Claims
2
150-year-old mystery of strange half-circles from Paleolithic site in France finally solved
3
Stephen Hawking's most famous prediction could mean that everything in the universe is doomed to evaporate, new study says
4
Hundreds of ancient, invisible structures discovered near our galaxy's center
5
There may be hundreds of millions of habitable planets in the Milky Way, new study suggests

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Space

How the Swift observatory saw the gamma-ray burst GRB221009A, which may be the most energetic emission of this kind ever seen by astronomers.

Largest explosion since the Big Bang was powered by a bizarre energy jet unlike any other

By Robert Lea published 9 June 23

The enormous gamma-ray burst, called the Brightest Of All Time (or BOAT), may be powered by its strange jet structure, scientists say.

An artist's illustration of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft approaching the sun.

1st mission to 'touch' the sun discovers a mysterious source of solar wind

By Ben Turner published 9 June 23

NASA's Parker Solar Probe plunged into the sun's atmosphere to capture the granular details of how its solar wind is made.

Grid List

archaeology

A collection of flutes carved out of bird bones against a black background.

12,000-year-old flutes carved of bone are some of the oldest in the world and sound like birds of prey

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 9 June 23

A collection of prehistoric flutes unearthed in Israel once used by the Natufians are some of the oldest musical instruments in the world.

An array of stone tools against a black background.

Oldest evidence of humans in Greece is 700,000 years old, a quarter of a million years older than previous record

By Kristina Killgrove published 8 June 23

A prehistoric site in Greece pushes back the earliest known hominin presence in the region by up to 250,000 years.

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Health

photo shows a man with tan skin and black hair wearing a white button down shirt and holding a molecular model of taurine, an atypical amino acid

Amino acid taurine can slow aging in animals, but we don't know if it works in people

By Nicoletta Lanese published 8 June 23

Experiments suggest that taurine, an unusual amino acid, can extend some animals' life spans, but it's unclear if it would work in humans.

left photo shows a close up photo of a person's tongue. The right image shows a microscopic scan of tissue sampled from the tongue

Mysterious bump on a man's tongue had an 'extremely rare' cause

By Nicoletta Lanese published 8 June 23

A dentist noticed a lump on a patient's tongue, and it turned out to have an unusual cause.

Smiling, cheerful young woman is wearing a protective lead apron (patient). She is talking with female doctor who is turning on x-ray machine for foot scanning in a modern hospital.

Do you really need to wear a lead apron to get an X-ray?

By Joshua A. Krisch published 7 June 23

Lead aprons were designed to protect reproductive organs from radiation. But are they actually necessary?

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Animals

A digital image of a raptor like dinosaur with striped gray, brown and green skin on a blue background

Dinosaur named after 2-faced Roman god could be 'missing link' in duck-billed dinos' evolution

By Harry Baker published 9 June 23

The plant-eating, raptor-like dinosaur lived during a time of great transition around 99 million years ago and was named after the Roman god Janus.

We see a slender whale on a beach with yellow ties around its head and tail. The ties are attacked to an excavator.

Ultra-rare, deep-diving whale dies on New England beach with possible case of bird flu

By Sascha Pare published 8 June 23

A necropsy revealed that the animal may have been infected with avian influenza, which would be "a big deal" if it is confirmed by further testing, scientists say.

A yellowish octopus against a black background

Octopuses 'rewire' their brains to adapt to different ocean temperatures

By Kiley Price published 8 June 23

Octopuses edit their RNA to adapt to fluctuating temperatures, from the warm waters of summer to chilly ocean temperatures in winter.

Grid List

Human Behavior

Members of Divaz dance group join participants in the Juneteenth Music Festival and parade on June 17, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Organizers say that this is one of Denver's longest-running parades, dating back to the 1950s.

What is Juneteenth?

By Mindy Weisberger last updated 5 June 23

Juneteenth is a federally-recognized American holiday observed on June 19. It is also known as Emancipation Day and Black Independence Day. In 2023, it falls on a Monday.

Japanese Unit 731 staff carrying a body from one of the unit's facilities.

World War II 'horror bunker' run by infamous Unit 731 discovered in China

By Ben Turner published 30 May 23

A bunker discovered near the city of Anda in northeast China is believed to be the largest test site of Imperial Japan's infamous Unit 731, which conducted horrifying human experiments during the 1940s.

A 1920s illustration of an ancient Greek Bireme that has two decks of oars.

What is the 'ship of Theseus' thought experiment?

By Meg Duff published 27 May 23

The Greek writer Plutarch proposed this question: If a ship's planks are replaced over time due to wear and tear until none of the original pieces remain, is it still the same ship?

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Physics & Mathematics

A 14-sided shape tiled endlessly without repeating a pattern

Mathematicians end decades-long quest to find elusive 'vampire einstein' shape

By Paul Sutter published 6 June 23

Researchers have discovered a new 14-sided shape called the Spectre that can be used to tile a surface without ever creating a repeating pattern, ending a decades' long mathematical hunt.

Red and blue bar magnet or physics magnetic with iron powder magnetic field on white background.

Why do magnets have north and south poles?

By Laurel Hamers published 30 April 23

Spinning electrons may help explain why magnets have north and south poles.

Physics & Mathematics

8 Einstein rings in a grid

Dark matter's secret identity could be hiding in distorted 'Einstein rings'

By Harry Baker published 27 April 23

Researchers may be a step closer to identifying dark matter after studying unusual cases of gravitational lensing caused by "dark matter halos" surrounding distant galaxies.

Grid List

Chemistry

Uranium nitrate called uranyl, with uranium ore, radioactive material on isolated white background_RHJ via Getty Images

Scientists discover 1st 'neutron-rich' isotope of uranium since 1979

By Robert Lea published 15 April 23

Scientists have synthesized a previously unknown isotope of uranium, uranium-241, that may start to disappear after just 40 minutes.

A selection of images showing seedlings growing in a lab vs. computerized models.

Alan Turing's famous mathematical model was right all along, chia seed experiment reveals

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 5 April 23

For the first time, scientists using chia seed experiments have confirmed that Alan Turing's mathematical model can explain patterns seen in nature.

Best chemistry sets - Girl and boy playing with chemistry set_Thames & Kosmos

Best chemistry sets 2023: amazing at-home chemistry sets for kids and adults

By Jake Green last updated 7 December 22

Get the reaction you're looking for with the best chemistry sets for kids and adults.

Grid List

Tech

Science kit deals - Kid doing science

Science kit deals 2023: Fun & educational STEM sets on offer at Amazon, Target, and more

By Kimberley Snaith published 5 April 23

From microscopes to robotic unicorns, we’ve rounded up some of the best science kit deals from around the web.

Laptop and assorted desk gadgets - best office gadgets and toys

Best office gadgets and toys 2023: Useful tools and fun toys for your desk

By Susan Arendt published 5 April 23

Having the best office gadgets and toys at your disposal transforms your personal space into a luxe working environment.

Best science kits for kids - Two cute children at chemistry lesson making experiments on white background.

Best science kits for kids 2023: Fun experiments for children of all ages

By Mihaela Bozukova published 5 April 23

Inspire your children to learn about the world with the best science kits for kids.

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