Latest News

A sign indicating a COVID-19 testing center.

1st case of omicron variant in US confirmed in California

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

U.S. officials confirmed the first U.S. case of omicron in California.

This model of Laetoli Site A shows five hominin footprints (a), along with the corresponding contour map (b) of the site in Tanzania.

Unknown human ancestor may have walked a bit like a bear on its hind legs

By Charles Q. Choi

Ancient footprints reveal a mysterious relative of humans may have lived at the same time and in the same area as the famous human ancestor "Lucy" in Tanzania.

The newly described ankylosaur Stegouros elengassen displays its weaponized tail.

'Very weird' ankylosaur's tail looked like an Aztec war club

By Laura Geggel

Paleontologists in Chile have found the remains of an ankylosaur that represents a new dinosaur lineage.

A close-up of three SpaceX Raptor engines clustered together for the company's Starship SN8 prototype.

Starship engine 'crisis' poses possible bankruptcy risk for SpaceX, Elon Musk says: report

By Mike Wall

Elon Musk thinks that problems with SpaceX's Raptor engine production pose potentially dire consequences for the company, according to media reports.

An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope on track for Dec. 22 launch

By Elizabeth Howell

The generational observatory is nearly ready for space after years of delays.

Close-up view of the two bright galactic nuclei, each housing a supermassive black hole, in NGC 7727, a galaxy located 89 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Aquarius.

This pair of merging black holes is the closest to Earth we've ever found

By Tereza Pultarova

A pair of supermassive black holes that will soon become one has been discovered hiding in a nearby galaxy.

Planet Earth

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A gold nugget

Gold: The rich element

By James S. Horton

Reference Gold is a versatile and unique metal, here's how it forms and used today.

Reference
How It Works covers

Christmas sale: Read a free issue of How It Works magazine, plus save up to 57% on a subscription!

By Jeanna Bryner

Our sister publication, How It Works, is the action-packed magazine that’s bursting with the answers to your curious questions.

  1. Here, one of the Denisovan bones found in Denisova Cave in Siberia.
    1
    Oldest-known fossils of mysterious human lineage uncovered in Siberian cave
  2. 2
    How to get pregnant: Tips and facts to increase fertility
  3. 3
    Why did ancient Egyptian pharaohs stop building pyramids?
  4. 4
    Octopuses, squids and lobsters could become 'sentient beings' in the UK
  5. 5
    Exquisitely-preserved mammoth tusk found 10,000 feet underwater
  1. The digital facial reconstruction of the Bronze Age woman wearing the diadem.
    1
    Facial reconstruction shows powerful Bronze Age woman's serene expression and huge earrings
  2. 2
    Watch a black hole rip 4 stars to shreds in epic new NASA simulation
  3. 3
    What is time dilation?
  4. 4
    Oldest-known fossils of mysterious human lineage uncovered in Siberian cave
  5. 5
    Gold: The rich element

Space and Physics

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A close-up of three SpaceX Raptor engines clustered together for the company's Starship SN8 prototype.

Starship engine 'crisis' poses possible bankruptcy risk for SpaceX, Elon Musk says: report

By Mike Wall

Elon Musk thinks that problems with SpaceX's Raptor engine production pose potentially dire consequences for the company, according to media reports.

An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope on track for Dec. 22 launch

By Elizabeth Howell

The generational observatory is nearly ready for space after years of delays.

History

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This model of Laetoli Site A shows five hominin footprints (a), along with the corresponding contour map (b) of the site in Tanzania.

Unknown human ancestor may have walked a bit like a bear on its hind legs

By Charles Q. Choi

Ancient footprints reveal a mysterious relative of humans may have lived at the same time and in the same area as the famous human ancestor "Lucy" in Tanzania.

History of computers: Apple I computer 1976

History of computers: A brief timeline

By Timothy Williamson

Reference The history of computers began with primitive designs in the early 19th century and went on to change the world during the 20th century.

Reference

Health

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A sign indicating a COVID-19 testing center.

1st case of omicron variant in US confirmed in California

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

U.S. officials confirmed the first U.S. case of omicron in California.

Oral B electric toothbrush deals

Oral B electric toothbrush deals: Discounted toothbrushes in stock and available

By Sarah Finley

DEAL Top Oral B electric toothbrush deals for you to improve your oral care routine without breaking the bank.

DEAL
Check out these Cyber Monday running headphones deals. Shown here, a woman running while wearing earbuds and a smartphone on her arm.

Running headphones deals: Save on Bose, Samsung and more

By Molly Cleary

DEAL Beat boredom while you work out with these running headphones deals.

DEAL

Animals

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The newly described ankylosaur Stegouros elengassen displays its weaponized tail.

'Very weird' ankylosaur's tail looked like an Aztec war club

By Laura Geggel

Paleontologists in Chile have found the remains of an ankylosaur that represents a new dinosaur lineage.

THE “TRISTAN OTTO” TYRANNOSAURUS REX SKULL THAT WAS EXAMINED BY RESEARCHERS

Famous T. rex had a bone infection, new medical scans reveal

By Nicoletta Lanese

Scientists used a special technique to examine the fossil without damaging it.

A depth scan through the wing scales of a pupa that has completed 83% of its metamorphosis. The left shows the amount of light reflected by the scales, while the phase information on the right shows finer gradations of how far the light traveled to the scales.

New video reveals how 'caterpillar soup' transforms into shimmering butterfly wings

By Nicoletta Lanese

Scientists watched butterfly wing scales form within the chrysalis.

Strange News

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Photograph of submariners standing on top of the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut in the water at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Washington, May 7, 2018.

Nuclear-powered US submarine collided with a hidden underwater mountain, Navy reveals

By Harry Baker

An investigation into a recent collision involving a nuclear-powered U.S. submarine has revealed it hit an unmapped seamount in the South China Sea.

The SETI Institute's Allen Telescope Array (ATA) searches our galaxy for radio signals from potential intelligent alien life.

Why extraterrestrial intelligence is more likely to be artificial than biological

By Martin Rees

Lord Martin Rees argues that if humans do find intelligent alien life, it will be artificial not biological.

What would happen if light traveled much more slowly?

What would happen if the speed of light was much lower?

By Ashley P. Taylor

Here's what would happen if the speed of light were orders of magnitude slower.

Culture

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Fascism leaders, May 9, 1938: German dictator Adolf Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini standing in the back of a car, on display as they drive through Rome.

What is fascism?

By Mindy Weisberger

Reference Fascism is a political ideology usually characterized by authoritarianism and nationalism. However, many scholars say the concept is difficult to define.

Reference
Waving a transgender flag during a gay pride march.

What does transgender mean?

By Alina Bradford, Timothy Williamson

Reference The term transgender describes people whose gender identity differs from the sex to which they were assigned at birth.

Reference
Buddhism is a big part of some Eastern cultures. Here, three buddhist monks walking to Angkor Wat temple.

What is culture?

By Kim Ann Zimmermann, Stephanie Pappas

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.

Tech

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Here's a look at the best binoculars deals.

Binoculars deals: Magnificent savings on Celestron, Nikon, Bushnell and more

By Jeanna Bryner

These amazing binoculars deals will have you stargazing and sightseeing for less.

This Cyber Monday exercise bike deal will save you on the Schwinn IC4 exercise bike.

Save $200 on this Schwinn IC4 spin bike for Cyber Monday

By Live Science Staff

Deals This Cyber Monday exercise bike deal will save you $200 at Best Buy on this amazing spin bike.

Deals
Science kit deals: Image of kids playing with science kit

Best science kit deals 2021

By Jeanna Bryner

Deal Find the perfect science kit deals for your child this holiday season.

Deal