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How to see the Harvest Moon
Humpback whale 'kelping'
James Webb Space Telescope
El Niño
Best laptops for students

Latest News

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

Jennifer DeBruyn published 29 September 23

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

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

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

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.

Video footage of a comet in black and white. A wave of plasma from the sun hits the comet and blows away its tail

See green comet Nishimura's tail get whipped away by powerful solar storm as it slingshots around the sun

Harry Baker published 28 September 23

After surviving its closest approach to the sun, Comet Nishimura was buffeted by a possible coronal mass ejection that briefly blew its tail away. The rare event was captured by a NASA spacecraft.

Frank Rubio gives the camera a thumbs up while he is carried by four men

Record-breaking astronaut Frank Rubio finally returns to Earth after accidentally spending 371 days in space

Harry Baker published 28 September 23

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has finally returned home from a 371-day stay on the International Space Station — a record for an American — after being trapped when his ride home was damaged.

An artist's illustration of the black hole M87* wobbling on its axis.

Scientists just proved that 'monster' black hole M87 is spinning — confirming Einstein’s relativity yet again

Ben Turner published 28 September 23

Astronomers have spotted two huge jets fired off by the 'monster' black hole M87 wobbling on an 11-year cycle, proving for the first time that black holes spin.

The International Space Station at the center of the image with Earth in the background

New drug could prevent bone loss on lengthy space missions, study in space-faring mice suggests

Emily Cooke published 28 September 23

A new drug reduced bone loss in mice on the International Space Station, without causing any negative side effects.

After surviving its closest approach to the sun, Comet Nishimura was buffeted by a possible coronal mass ejection that briefly blew its tail away. The rare event was captured by a NASA spacecraft. — See green comet Nishimura's tail get whipped away by powerful solar storm as it slingshots around the sun After surviving its closest approach to the sun, Comet Nishimura was buffeted by a possible coronal mass ejection that briefly blew its tail away. The rare event was captured by a NASA spacecraft.

Humpback whales may enjoy rolling around in seaweed as a form of play, but "kelping" could also help maintain their skin health by removing parasites and bacteria. — Kelping is a 'global phenomenon' sweeping the world of humpback whales, scientists say Humpback whales may enjoy rolling around in seaweed as a form of play, but "kelping" could also help maintain their skin health by removing parasites and bacteria.

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

The famous Harvest Moon — the final supermoon of 2023 — will be the first full moon of autumn when it rises on Sept. 29. — How to see the Harvest Moon, the final supermoon of 2023, rise this weekend The famous Harvest Moon — the final supermoon of 2023 — will be the first full moon of autumn when it rises on Sept. 29.

Astronomers have spotted two huge jets fired off by the 'monster' black hole M87 wobbling on an 11-year cycle, proving for the first time that black holes spin. — Scientists just proved that 'monster' black hole M87 is spinning — confirming Einstein’s relativity yet again Astronomers have spotted two huge jets fired off by the 'monster' black hole M87 wobbling on an 11-year cycle, proving for the first time that black holes spin.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has finally returned home from a 371-day stay on the International Space Station — a record for an American — after being trapped when his ride home was damaged. — Record-breaking astronaut Frank Rubio finally returns to Earth after accidentally spending 371 days in space NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has finally returned home from a 371-day stay on the International Space Station — a record for an American — after being trapped when his ride home was damaged.

A new drug reduced bone loss in mice on the International Space Station, without causing any negative side effects. — New drug could prevent bone loss on lengthy space missions, study in space-faring mice suggests A new drug reduced bone loss in mice on the International Space Station, without causing any negative side effects.

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Planet Earth

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

The skyline of Seattle during sunset

Simultaneous rupture of faults triggered massive earthquake in Seattle area 1,100 years ago — and it could happen again

By Harry Baker published 27 September 23

Fossilized tree analysis finds a single massive earthquake may have rocked what is now Seattle around 1,100 years ago rather than several smaller quakes, and that another equally powerful one could hit the city in the future.

1
Stephen Hawking's most famous prediction could mean that everything in the universe is doomed to evaporate, new study says
2
Oops! US Space Force may have accidentally punched a hole in the upper atmosphere
3
15 places on Earth that look like alien planets
4
James Webb telescope spots thousands of Milky Way lookalikes that 'shouldn't exist' swarming across the early universe
5
Stunningly perfect 'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen

1
15 places on Earth that look like alien planets
2
James Webb telescope spots thousands of Milky Way lookalikes that 'shouldn't exist' swarming across the early universe
3
Stunningly perfect 'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen
4
Scientists have figured out when the biggest bull sharks are most active — and it's not when official advice suggests

Grid List

Space

Life requires repetition of chemical reactions. Describing the kinds of reactions and conditions required for self-sustaining repetition — called autocatalysis — could focus the search for life on other planets.

Alien life may evolve from radically different elements than human life did

By Charles Q. Choi published 28 September 23

Radioactive metals and even certain gases may be capable of the kinds of reactions needed to spur life, new research suggests.

Extraterrestrial Life

In the field of one of JWST's largest-area surveys, COSMOS-Web, an Einstein ring was discovered around a compact, distant galaxy. It turns out to be the most distant gravitational lens ever discovered by a few billion light-years.

Stunningly perfect 'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen

By Harry Baker published 26 September 23

The James Webb Space Telescope has snapped a stunning image of a perfectly formed Einstein ring, which is also the most distant gravitationally lensed object ever detected.

Grid List

archaeology

An unearthed tomb on the outskirts of the city of Xianyang in Shaanxi province.

1,400-year-old tomb of emperor in China reveals evidence of royal power struggle among brothers and a warlord

By Tom Metcalfe published 27 September 23

An inscription on the 1,400-year-old tomb shows the dead man, who was posthumously declared emperor, was buried as a duke.

A broken clay tablet with cuneiform against a black background.

'Ritual text' from lost Indo-European language discovered on ancient clay tablet in Turkey

By Tom Metcalfe published 27 September 23

Researchers are still studying the ancient text of an unknown language, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet.

Grid List

Health

A small, yellow sucker-shaped device filled with a blue gel

Octopus sucker-inspired patch delivers drugs into the body without needles or pills

By Emily Cooke published 27 September 23

A new patch, which sticks to the inner lining of the cheek like an octopus sucker, effectively delivered two drugs in dogs and passed safety tests in humans.

Medicine & Drugs

Product photo of the Yosuda Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike

Get your YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike today and save a whopping 43%!

By Ravi Davda published 27 September 23

Deal Amazon is practically giving away the YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike, with a limited-time deal that brings the price down to just $229.99.

Close-up of a small purple lump on an infant boy's head; the bump is surrounded by long, dark hairs, while the rest of the child's head has lighter, shorter hairs

Strange purple lump on infant's head is rare case of protruding brain tissue, case report says

By Emily Cooke published 27 September 23

The cause of the boy's lump is unknown, although doctors suspect it could be an unusual symptom of a neural tube defect.

Viruses, Infections & Disease

Grid List

Animals

A deep sea female anglerfish with two parasitic males dangling off her body.

'Parasitic provider of sperm on-tap': Why the sex lives of deep sea creatures demand extreme solutions

By Jon Copley published 28 September 23

From the opportunistic "have-a-go" approach of octopuses to "accessory males" that supply female anglerfish with a lifetime of sperm, author Jon Copley explores the sex lives of deep sea creatures.

A fossilized feather

125 million-year-old dinosaur feathers were remarkably similar to modern bird feathers, analysis reveals

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 27 September 23

A new X-ray analysis of dinosaur feathers shows that their chemical structure is similar to that of modern bird feathers.

A mother orca and her calf swim near a boat and the coast in northern Norway.

Opportunistic orcas have developed a new feeding behavior that appears to be killing them

By Sascha Pare published 27 September 23

More orcas have died entangled in fishing gear in Alaska this year than in previous years, which may be linked to a "new behavior" where they feed in front of ascending fishing nets.

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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