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Latest News

hand holds up phone with the Neuralink website displayed on its screen. In the background, an edited photo of Elon Musk's face with the word "Neuralink" superimposed over it can be seen

Elon Musk's Neuralink 'brain chips' cleared for 1st in-human trials

Sarah Moore published 2 June 23

Brain implants developed by Elon Musk's company Neuralink have been approved for human testing. The safety of the devices previously came under scrutiny following reports of "botched surgeries" in animal test subjects.

A painted human-shaped sarcophagus on a table under a tent.

2,300-year-old Egyptian mummification workshops found at Saqqara

Owen Jarus published 2 June 23

Archaeologists in Egypt found ancient mummification workshops — one for humans and one for animals — at Saqqara.

We see the closeup of a stone statue depicting a man wearing a hat. The statue and the background are sandy colored.

Ancient Egypt: History, dynasties, religion and writing

Owen Jarus last updated 2 June 23

Ancient Egypt in North Africa was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations in the region for over 3,000 years.

A rocky planet orbits a small, red star known as a red dwarf -- the most common type of star in the galaxy.

There may be hundreds of millions of habitable planets in the Milky Way, new study suggests

Briley Lewis published 1 June 23

A new analysis of Kepler data shows that one-third of small stars called M dwarfs may have the potential to host life.

Two bracelets with a butterfly design

Ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets contain 1st evidence of long-distance trade between Egypt and Greece

Jennifer Nalewicki published 1 June 23

The silver used to make an ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets came from Greece, a new analysis finds, offering insight into the Old Kingdom's trade networks.

two boxes of the medication "ozempic" sit on a wooden table in a pharmacy

Watch out for Ozempic copycats containing unauthorized active ingredients, FDA warns

Nicoletta Lanese published 1 June 23

Some compounding pharmacies are using unauthorized active ingredients to make copycat versions of Ozempic and Wegovy.

Brain implants developed by Elon Musk's company Neuralink have been approved for human testing. The safety of the devices previously came under scrutiny following reports of "botched surgeries" in animal test subjects.
Elon Musk's Neuralink 'brain chips' cleared for 1st in-human trials Brain implants developed by Elon Musk's company Neuralink have been approved for human testing. The safety of the devices previously came under scrutiny following reports of "botched surgeries" in animal test subjects.
A new search for extraterrestrial life has scientists looking inward — toward the center of our galaxy.
Repeated signals from the center of the Milky Way could be aliens saying hello, new study claims A new search for extraterrestrial life has scientists looking inward — toward the center of our galaxy.
The silver used to make an ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets came from Greece, a new analysis finds, offering insight into the Old Kingdom's trade networks.
Ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets contain 1st evidence of long-distance trade between Egypt and Greece The silver used to make an ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets came from Greece, a new analysis finds, offering insight into the Old Kingdom's trade networks.
The newly described extinct species is closely related to the largest marsupial to ever roam the Earth.
Quarter-ton marsupial that ambled across Australia 3.5 million years ago was 'unlike anything alive today' The newly described extinct species is closely related to the largest marsupial to ever roam the Earth.
Archaeologists in Egypt found ancient mummification workshops — one for humans and one for animals — at Saqqara.
2,300-year-old Egyptian mummification workshops found at Saqqara Archaeologists in Egypt found ancient mummification workshops — one for humans and one for animals — at Saqqara.
Paleontologists have uncovered a graveyard of ancient elephant relatives.
Nearly 6 million-year-old 'elephant graveyard' unearthed in Florida Paleontologists have uncovered a graveyard of ancient elephant relatives.

Planet Earth

A layer of permafrost melts, exposing the rocky substrate underneath.

8 ancient 'zombie viruses' that scientists have pulled from the melting permafrost

By Sascha Pare published 1 June 23

Scientists are discovering and resurrecting ancient viruses trapped in permafrost and frozen remains. Here are 8 'zombie' viruses that scientists have pulled from the permafrost.

A stand of aspen trees

Listen to the sounds of Pando, the largest living tree in the world

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 31 May 23

Researchers are using sound to study Pando, the world's largest tree.

VIEW MORE
  1. An ancient Egyptian painted relief depicting Pharaoh Ramesses III with Isis.
    1
    What was the longest-lasting civilization?
  2. 2
    The oldest tree in the world (and the 7 runner-ups)
  3. 3
    Scientists may be able to put Mars-bound astronauts into 'suspended animation' using sound waves, mouse study suggests
  4. 4
    2,700-year-old petroglyphs depicting people, ships and animals discovered in Sweden
  5. 5
    153,000-year-old footprints from South Africa are the oldest Homo sapiens tracks on record
  1. Mars in late spring. William Herschel believed the light areas were land and the dark areas were oceans.
    1
    First Martian life likely broke the planet with climate change, made themselves extinct
  2. 2
    Octopuses torture and eat themselves after mating. Science finally knows why.
  3. 3
    Never-before-seen 'crystal-like matter' hidden in a chunk of fossilized lightning is probably a brand new mineral
  4. 4
    2,700-year-old petroglyphs depicting people, ships and animals discovered in Sweden
  5. 5
    What is the speed of light?

Space

An illustration of a metallic, orblike alien craft blasting twin beams of blue light into space

Repeated signals from the center of the Milky Way could be aliens saying hello, new study claims

By Stephanie Pappas published 1 June 23

A new search for extraterrestrial life has scientists looking inward — toward the center of our galaxy.

Rainbow rings surround the sun, which is half obscured by a pine tree

Shining rainbow rings around the sun photographed in Finland. What caused them?

By Harry Baker published 1 June 23

The extremely rare kaleidoscopic circles have a surprising Earth-based origin.

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archaeology

 Here we see an underground chamber with brick-lined walls.

Hidden tunnel and rooms unearthed under 1,500-year-old church in Istanbul

By Tom Metcalfe published 1 June 23

Archaeologists have excavated subterranean rooms and a tunnel under an early church in Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

We see the raised imprint of a human footprint in brownish stone.

153,000-year-old footprints from South Africa are the oldest Homo sapiens tracks on record

By Kristina Killgrove published 29 May 23

A modern dating method has revealed the oldest Homo sapiens' footprints yet, placing bipedal humans in South Africa around 153,000 years ago.

VIEW MORE

Health

Renpho smart scale being tested by Live Science contributor Maddy Bidulph

Save 34% on the RENPHO smart scale, now only $22.94 at Amazon

By Lou Mudge published 2 June 23

Deal One of our favorite Garmins, the Garmin Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar, is now $200 off at Amazon.

Deal
Two bottles of sunscreen on top of a yellow towel and next to a straw hat on a sandy beach .

What is SPF? A guide to understanding sunscreen labels

By Anna Gora published 1 June 23

Confused by sunscreen terminology? Here is everything you need to know to understand sunscreen labels.

close up of an analog bathroom scale on a light wood floor

Weight-loss surgery is becoming more common among US teens

By Nicoletta Lanese published 31 May 23

A study suggests that more U.S. teens with obesity are getting weight-loss surgeries, in line with official guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

VIEW MORE

Animals

A diagram of the new marsupial species body outline with fossils superimposed on top

Quarter-ton marsupial that ambled across Australia 3.5 million years ago was 'unlike anything alive today'

By Harry Baker published 1 June 23

The newly described extinct species is closely related to the largest marsupial to ever roam the Earth.

We see six people in a rocky area with excavated fossils on the ground and covered in plaster blocks.

Nearly 6 million-year-old 'elephant graveyard' unearthed in Florida

By Kiley Price published 1 June 23

Paleontologists have uncovered a graveyard of ancient elephant relatives.

Beluga whale in harness

Suspected Russian spy whale is looking for love in all the wrong places

By Harry Baker published 31 May 23

A beluga whale that was discovered wearing a suspicious harness in 2019 is on the move in search of other belugas. But it's heading in the wrong direction.

VIEW MORE

Human Behavior

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?

Screenshot from Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Best zombie movies: viruses, fungi, space radiation & voodoo magic

By Fran Ruiz published 26 May 23

Movie Science We're shambling onto your screens to look at the best zombie movies, and the scientific (and not so scientific) inspirations behind them.

Movie Science
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Physics & Mathematics

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.

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.

An artist's illustration of three Schrödinger's cats.

World's heaviest Schrödinger's cat made in quantum crystal visible to the naked eye

By Ben Turner published 26 April 23

Physicists have placed part of a sapphire crystal into a quantum superposition, making it the heaviest object to show quantum effects, in a new take on Erwin Schrödinger's famous cat experiment.

VIEW MORE

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.

VIEW MORE

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.

VIEW MORE

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