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Latest News

An aerial view of a volcanic island as it forms off the coast of Iwo Jima.

Newly-formed volcanic island near Japan is still growing, satellite reveals

Robert Lea published 9 December 23

The island forged in fire off the coast of Japan in Oct this year is still growing, as seen in a Copernicus Sentinel-2 image caught on Nov. 27.

Close-up of a woman's hands as she plays the piano

Why do some people have perfect pitch?

Emily Cooke published 9 December 23

Only 1 in 10,000 people can recognize musical notes on the spot. Why?

This view of Comet Halley's nucleus was obtained by the Giotto spacecraft as it passed within 600 km of the comet nucleus on March 13, 1986.

Halley's Comet begins its return journey to Earth Saturday

Brandon Specktor published 8 December 23

Halley's Comet is predicted to reach its farthest point from the sun on Dec. 9, beginning a 38-year journey toward Earth that culminates in 2061.

Horse remains and bridle bit from Urd Ulaan Uneet.

Painted saddle found in Mongolian tomb is oldest of its kind

Kristina Killgrove published 8 December 23

A fifth century Mongolian saddle is one of the earliest examples of evidence of modern horse riding.

3d illustration of sickle-shape blood cells flowing through a blood vessel

The world's 1st CRISPR therapy has been approved. Here's everything you need to know

Emily Cooke last updated 8 December 23

Drug regulators have approved a CRISPR therapy called Casgevy to treat inherited blood disorders. But what is it and how does it work?

illustration of healthy, round red blood cells and sickle shape blood cells flowing through a blood vessel

1st gene therapies for sickle cell cleared by FDA, including CRISPR treatment

Nicoletta Lanese published 8 December 23

The FDA approved two new therapies for sickle-cell disease, including the world's first-ever approved CRISPR therapy.

Ancient workers used a blend of organic materials such as mosses and lichen to build the architectural marvel and help protect it from erosion. — The Great Wall of China is being held together by 'biocrusts' Ancient workers used a blend of organic materials such as mosses and lichen to build the architectural marvel and help protect it from erosion.

Doctors have described a potential new syndrome seen in infants whose mothers used nonprescription fentanyl during pregnancy. — New syndrome identified in children exposed to fentanyl in the womb Doctors have described a potential new syndrome seen in infants whose mothers used nonprescription fentanyl during pregnancy.

Newborns' brains may look relatively smaller than those of other primate babies, but it's not because they're "underdeveloped" by comparison. — Scientists debunk myth that human brains are 'underdeveloped' at birth Newborns' brains may look relatively smaller than those of other primate babies, but it's not because they're "underdeveloped" by comparison.

Five axes found in Poland date to 3,500 years ago, and may have been used as either tools to chop wood or for sacrificial purposes. — 3,500-year-old axes potentially used for 'cult practice' discovered in Polish forest Five axes found in Poland date to 3,500 years ago, and may have been used as either tools to chop wood or for sacrificial purposes.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio spent hours looking for a tomato that floated away on the International Space Station. Eight months later, his colleagues finally found it. — NASA astronauts finally find 1-inch tomato that was 'lost in space' for 8 months NASA astronaut Frank Rubio spent hours looking for a tomato that floated away on the International Space Station. Eight months later, his colleagues finally found it.

As many as 120 'shooting stars' per hour will be visible during the moonless peak of the Geminid meteor shower on Dec. 13 and 14. — The Geminids — this year's only multicolored meteor shower — peaks next week. Here's how to watch. As many as 120 'shooting stars' per hour will be visible during the moonless peak of the Geminid meteor shower on Dec. 13 and 14.

Agitation, anxiety and depression seen in people with Alzheimer's may be driven by brain inflammation, in addition to abnormal proteins. — Brain inflammation may drive mood changes in Alzheimer's Agitation, anxiety and depression seen in people with Alzheimer's may be driven by brain inflammation, in addition to abnormal proteins.

Grid List

Planet Earth

A wildfire with orange sky

Experts are certain 2023 will be 'the warmest year in recorded history'

By Harry Baker published 7 December 23

After the warmest autumn ever, researchers are confident 2023 will be the hottest year on record before it has even finished.

The Minami Kasuga-2 submarine volcano in the Pacific Ocean.

Underwater volcano riding a sinking tectonic plate may have unleashed major earthquakes in Japan

By Sascha Pare published 7 December 23

A seamount sitting on a subducting tectonic plate off the coast of Japan and plowing its way into Earth's mantle may be at the root of several magnitude 7 earthquakes in the past 40 years.

1
Byzantine gold coin with 'face of Jesus' unearthed by metal detectorist in Norway
2
Half-asleep bears are wandering around Siberia because it's too hot to hibernate
3
Scientists may have finally figured out how elephants got their incredible trunks
4
Strange object trapped between Saturn and Uranus is transforming before our eyes
5
One of the brightest stars in the sky will 'blink out' on Dec. 12. Here's how to watch.

1
Half-asleep bears are wandering around Siberia because it's too hot to hibernate
2
Temple linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great discovered in ancient megacity in Iraq

Grid List

Space

A photo of the moon in its First Quarter phase

What is the moon phase today?

By Colin Stuart last updated 8 December 23

Reference A look at the phases of the moon, from new moon to full moon, including's tonight's lunar phase.

The space junk appears as many small white points surrounding Earth, which has bright blue oceans and green and brown continents. The space junk is thick enough to form a cloud that obscures most of the black background when viewed from the edges around Earth.

'Lightning-like energy bursts' could be used to track the 99% of space junk that can't be seen from Earth

By Stephanie Pappas published 7 December 23

Current methods of tracking space junk in Earth's orbit only follow objects bigger than a softball. A new technique could trace the 99% of junk that's smaller.

Space Exploration

Grid List

archaeology

A digital replica of a temple

Temple linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great discovered in ancient megacity in Iraq

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 7 December 23

Archaeologists have discovered two temples, one buried atop the other, in the ancient megacity of Girsu in Iraq. One temple is linked to Hercules and Alexander the Great.

Three skulls of sacred mummified baboons from Egypt.

Ancient Egypt's sacred baboons had tough lives, study suggests

By Tom Metcalfe published 6 December 23

Ancient baboon mummies show signs of poor diet and lack of sunlight during captivity.

Grid List

Health

Ten white Keppra pills in a silver and cellophane container.

Widely used epilepsy drugs tied to rare, deadly side effect, FDA warns

By Emily Cooke published 8 December 23

The announcement comes after the FDA became aware of more than 40 cases of "DRESS syndrome" linked to the seizure medications levetiracetam and clobazam.

Medicine & Drugs

Runner with knee pain, conceptual computer illustration.

What is inflammation?

By Jessie Szalay last updated 8 December 23

Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection. It works to help heal wounds, but it can also play a role in chronic disease.

A petri dish of a bacterium called MRSA glowing yellow under a black light

Vaccine for superbugs? New shot shows promise in early tests

By Stephanie Pappas published 7 December 23

A new vaccine, so far tested only in mice, broadly activates the immune system against a wide array of bacteria and fungi.

Medicine & Drugs

Grid List

Animals

A reconstruction of gorgosaurus eating a small dinosaur in a forrest

Teenage tyrannosaurs gorged on dino 'drumsticks,' 1st-of-their-kind fossils show

By Harry Baker published 8 December 23

Paleontologists have found two pairs of hind legs from a small, bird-like dinosaur in the stomach of a juvenile Gorgosaurus unearthed in Canada. It is the first time that any food remains have been discovered within a tyrannosaur.

Left hand side shows a drawing of the turtle's ribs and backbone superimposed onto the oval shaped fossil. Right hand shows the fossil without the drawing ontop.

120 million-year-old 'plants' turn out to be ultra-rare fossilized baby turtles

By Patrick Pester published 7 December 23

A new study re-examining old fossils collected by a Colombian priest more than 50 years ago has found they are actually rare hatchling turtles.

Two elephant calves play together with their trunks

Scientists may have finally figured out how elephants got their incredible trunks

By Jacklin Kwan published 6 December 23

Elephants appear to have evolved their long, grasping trunks as a result of climate change pressures on their ancestors millions of years ago.

Grid List

Human Behavior

LEGO Ideas The insect Collection

Save over 40% on this amazing LEGO Ideas set

By Lloyd Coombes published 8 December 23

Deal Save almost $100 on the LEGO Ideas Insect Collection at Amazon.

'Yeti hair' found in Himalayas is actually from a horse, BBC series reveals

By Patrick Pester published 4 November 23

DNA from a supposed Abominable Snowman actually came from a horse, but that doesn't mean stories of the Yeti passed on by local people aren't important.

Conspiracies & Paranormal

The mummified remains of what appears to be a small mermaid

Haunting 'mermaid' mummy from Japan is a gruesome monkey-fish hybrid with 'dragon claws,' new scans reveal

By Harry Baker published 31 October 23

Scientists have scanned the mummified remains of a supposed "mermaid" from Japan. The initial results suggest it is a horrifying mix of fish, monkey and lizard parts.

Conspiracies & Paranormal

Grid List

Physics & Mathematics

An artist's illustration of electric charge.

Electricity flows like water in 'strange metals,' and physicists don't know why

By Ben Turner published 1 December 23

A weird phenomenon in which electricity flows like water was spotted in a nanowire made of "strange metal" — a bizarre metal phase that has stumped physicists for 40 years.

Physics & Mathematics

The ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider.

Large Hadron Collider could be generating dark matter in its particle jets

By Keith Cooper published 29 November 23

If dark matter is made from "dark" versions of the basic building blocks of ordinary matter, the world's largest particle accelerator should be able to pin it down, a new study suggests.

Artist's impression composed of a star with a disc around it (a Be "vampire" star; foreground) and its companion star that has been stripped of its outer parts (background).

'Vampire' stars that bleed their companions dry may have a hidden accomplice, new study reveals

By Anna Demming published 25 November 23

Scientists suspect that type-Be 'vampire' stars grow by preying on their smaller companions. New research suggests there may be an important third player in these systems.

Physics & Mathematics

Grid List

Chemistry

Large iceberg floating in the arctic sea

Why does ice float?

By Hannah Loss published 2 December 23

Why does ice float in water, instead of sinking to the bottom? It has to do with water's density and molecular structure.

A wispy blue cloud of molecular gas glows from the light of distant stars in this James Webb Space Telescope image

Building blocks of life may have formed on dust in the cold vacuum of space

By Paul Sutter published 15 November 23

Far from any galaxy, icy grains of dust in deep space may be able to form organic molecules, a new preprint study finds.

Colorful depiction of atoms.

Scientists get rare glimpse of 'nesting doll' isotope nitrogen-9

By Ben Turner published 3 November 23

With five more protons than should be stable, the newly discovered nitrogen-9 isotope sits right on the borderline of physical possibility.

Grid List

Tech

Lenovo Ideapad

This Lenovo laptop is under $130 at Best Buy

By Lloyd Coombes published 8 December 23

Deal Save almost 50% on this nifty Ideapad laptop.

Image of three Anthrobots

These astonishing biobots can help neurons regrow — but researchers have no idea how

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 6 December 23

Tiny biological robots can move on their own, assemble into 'superbots' and encourage nerve cells regrow.

Star Wars Les derniers Jedi Star Wars The last Jedi 2017 Real Rian Johnson Daisy Ridley.

Scientists uncover the secret to building Star Wars-style laser weapons — but don't worry, we won't have a Death Star anytime soon

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 2 December 23

Today's infrared lasers are only powerful enough to disable aerial targets, but scientists now have the keys to building high-powered laser weaponry that can 'melt' distant targets.

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