Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

Stop picking carnivorous penis plants, Cambodian environmental officials plead

By Patrick Pester published 17 May 22

The Cambodian Ministry of Environment has asked people to stop collecting a carnivorous plant that resembles a penis, after footage appeared on social media of people picking the rare plant.

Whirlpools: Facts, formation and survival tips

By Ailsa Harvey published 11 May 22

Reference Whirlpools form when fast-flowing currents in oceans and rivers constantly change direction. What do they look like and can you escape from one?

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Space and Physics

The LCLS-II accelerator, where temperatures 2 K above absolute zero have been achieved.

Temperatures colder than space achieved here on Earth using superconducting X-ray laser

By Robert Lea published 17 May 22

Using a superconducting X-ray laser, researchers at SLAC achieved a temperature 4 degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero.

This NASA graphic shows the major stages of the Super Flower Blood Moon of May 2022 and their times.

What time is the Blood Moon lunar eclipse?

By Samantha Mathewson published 15 May 22

A Blood Moon total lunar eclipse will occur this weekend, and here's when to watch it.

History

An ancient tooth (specifically a molar) being displayed in the center of a person's palm.

Ancient tooth of mysterious Denisovan girl possibly found

By Charles Q. Choi published 17 May 22

Researchers in Laos have uncovered an ancient molar that may have belonged to a Denisovan girl who lived up to 164,000 years ago.

This relief depicts the tomb owner, Mehtjetju, who lived around 4,300 years ago.

Tomb of ancient Egyptian dignitary who read top secret documents discovered

By Owen Jarus published 16 May 22

Archaeologists in Egypt have found the tomb of an official who claimed to have access to secret royal documents.

Health

Clock on table with bowl of salad and weights to symbolise intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting: What is it and how does it work?

By Lou Mudge published 17 May 22

Reference There are several different types of intermittent fasting. Here’s how they work, including the potential benefits and risks

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What can you eat on a vegan keto diet?

By Anna Gora published 16 May 22

Reference What can you eat on a vegan keto diet? Here’s a comprehensive guide to the ketogenic diet for those who don’t eat animal products

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Are protein bars good for you?

By Joanne Lewsley published 15 May 22

Reference Are protein bars good for you? We weigh up the case for and against using a high-protein snack to build muscle, support weight loss and give you an energy boost

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Animals

photo of little penguins marching onto phillip island from the water

5,000 of the world's smallest penguins waddle onto Australian beach in record-breaking parade

By Nicoletta Lanese published 17 May 22

A nightly penguin parade takes place on Phillip Island.

A Tyrannosaurus rex and juvenile swimming in episode 1 of “Prehistoric Planet.”

Nuzzling T. rexes and grappling sauropods: Dinosaurs on 'Prehistoric Planet' will astonish you

By Patrick Pester published 16 May 22

"Prehistoric Planet" on Apple TV+ presents dinosaurs as we've never seen them before by pairing wildlife filmmakers and David Attenborough narration with Hollywood visual effects.

An illustration of Eusmilus, a now-extinct saber-toothed genus of nimravid that stalked prey in Europe during the late Eocene and early Oligocene epochs (about 37 million to 28 million years ago).

Did cats really disappear from North America for 7 million years?

By Joe Phelan published 16 May 22

Here's the science behind the so-called "cat gap," a roughly 7 million-long period in North America in which there aren't any known cat fossils.

Strange News

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.

The Mars Curiosity rover’s Mast camera snapped this intriguing image of the Red Planet, showing a “doorway” structure, on May 7, 2022, or Sol 3466 in Martian days.

The 'doorway' seen on Mars is not for aliens. Here's how it really formed.

By Tom Metcalfe published 13 May 22

The internet erupted after a photograph from the Mars Curiosity rover appeared to show an "alien door," experts are pretty sure it's just a natural feature.

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.

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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

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

VR headset deals: HTC Vive Pro 2_tracking illustration

VR headset deals: Save on Oculus Quest 2, the ideal gateway to VR

By Lloyd Coombes published 16 May 22

Enter a whole new world with these VR headset deals, including ways to get the Meta Quest 2 cheap.

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