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Latest News

Colorful Easter eggs on the grass at sunrise

Why does the date of Easter change every year?

Tom Metcalfe published 6 April 23

Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. The date took millennia to standardize for surprisingly complex reasons.

An image showing the surface of the sun in great detail.

Sun's fiery surface revealed in amazing composite of 90,000 images

Jennifer Nalewicki published 5 April 23

Astrophotographers have created an incredible image of the sun by piecing together thousands of photographs.

An illustration of a large rocky asteroid moving through space as the blue Earth sits in the distance

'Potentially hazardous' skyscraper-size asteroid will zip past Earth Thursday

Brandon Specktor published 5 April 23

The potentially hazardous asteroid 2023 FM is larger than a 40-story building and will zoom within 7.5 lunar distances from Earth on Thursday, April 6, according to NASA.

Two restorers work on their knees on a Roman-era black and white mosaic surrounded by dirt.

Mysterious mosaics depicting Medusa uncovered at 2nd-century Roman villa

Owen Jarus published 5 April 23

Two Roman-era mosaics depicting the snake-haired mythological figure Medusa were unearthed at the Villa of the Antonines in Italy.

A watering hole filled with giraffes, zebras and kudus at Etosha National Park in Namibia.

The smallest and largest creatures make up most of Earth's biomass, surprising study finds

Elana Spivack published 5 April 23

Contrary to a finding from the 1960s, a new study reveals that the bulk of Earth's biomass comes from giant and tiny organisms.

older white woman with grey hair being loaded into ambulance by two paramedics, at night as the ambulance lights flash

Fatal drug overdoses have quadrupled in US seniors

Rachael Rettner published 5 April 23

The rate of fatal drug overdoses among U.S. seniors has quadrupled in the last 20 years.

The James Webb Space Telescope detected what may be the oldest known black hole in the universe by deconstructing faint glimmers of light from close to the dawn of time.
James Webb Space Telescope discovers oldest black hole in the universe — a cosmic monster 10 million times heavier than the sun The James Webb Space Telescope detected what may be the oldest known black hole in the universe by deconstructing faint glimmers of light from close to the dawn of time.
The never-before-seen fish was spotted 5 miles below the ocean's surface in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench near Japan.
Deepest-dwelling fish ever seen is a ghostly snailfish spotted more than 27,000 feet beneath the ocean surface The never-before-seen fish was spotted 5 miles below the ocean's surface in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench near Japan.
Paleontologists have confirmed that a rock enclosing a perfectly round agate crystal is actually a titanosaur egg, which was probably smothered by lava after a volcanic eruption 67 million years ago.
Ancient crystal-filled rock has been hiding dinosaur secret for 140 years Paleontologists have confirmed that a rock enclosing a perfectly round agate crystal is actually a titanosaur egg, which was probably smothered by lava after a volcanic eruption 67 million years ago.
Our top picks of the best telescopes for stargazing, from hobbyist astronomy to serious skywatching.
Best telescopes 2023: beginner and advanced scopes for viewing the cosmos Our top picks of the best telescopes for stargazing, from hobbyist astronomy to serious skywatching.
An enormous red halo of light flashed in the night sky above Italy before disappearing within milliseconds. It was likely caused by an electromagnetic pulse from a nearby thunderstorm.
Eerie ring of red light flashes like a massive UFO above Italy. What was it? An enormous red halo of light flashed in the night sky above Italy before disappearing within milliseconds. It was likely caused by an electromagnetic pulse from a nearby thunderstorm.
For the first time, scientists using chia seed experiments have confirmed that Alan Turing's mathematical model can explain patterns seen in nature.
Alan Turing's famous mathematical model was right all along, chia seed experiment reveals For the first time, scientists using chia seed experiments have confirmed that Alan Turing's mathematical model can explain patterns seen in nature.

Planet Earth

A man holds two rocks containing gold.

'Absolutely gobsmacking' gold nugget worth $160,000 unearthed by metal detectorist in Australia

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 4 April 23

An amateur gold digger in Australia has unearthed a massive gold nugget worth $160,000.

A red ring of light appears to hang above an Italian town.

Eerie ring of red light flashes like a massive UFO above Italy. What was it?

By Harry Baker published 4 April 23

An enormous red halo of light flashed in the night sky above Italy before disappearing within milliseconds. It was likely caused by an electromagnetic pulse from a nearby thunderstorm.

VIEW MORE
  1. young black woman blowing her nose into a tissue while standing outside near some trees
    1
    The 5 most common seasonal allergies
  2. 2
    1,100-year-old 'ceremonial' Viking shields were actually used in battle, study suggests
  3. 3
    Alan Turing's famous mathematical model was right all along, chia seed experiment reveals
  4. 4
    See the oldest human ever found in Egypt in stunning new facial approximation
  5. 5
    Eerie ring of red light flashes like a massive UFO above Italy. What was it?
  1. The destructive space rock was somewhere between 12.4 and 15.5 miles wide.
    1
    Largest asteroid ever to hit Earth was twice as big as the rock that killed off the dinosaurs
  2. 2
    Upside-down anglerfish and other alien oddities spotted in one of the world's deepest trenches
  3. 3
    Scientists discover enzyme that can turn air into energy, unlocking potential new energy source
  4. 4
    James Webb telescope detects light from a small, Earth-like planet — and finds it's missing its atmosphere
  5. 5
    1,000-year-old brick tomb discovered in China is decorated with lions, sea anemones and 'guardian spirits'

Space

An artist's illustration of a black hole.

James Webb Space Telescope discovers oldest black hole in the universe — a cosmic monster 10 million times heavier than the sun

By Ben Turner published 5 April 23

The James Webb Space Telescope detected what may be the oldest known black hole in the universe by deconstructing faint glimmers of light from close to the dawn of time.

A photo of the moon in its First Quarter phase

What is the moon phase today?

By Colin Stuart last updated 5 April 23

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

Reference
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archaeology

A replica of the Viking ship Gokstad, photographed in Kent, England in 1949. Men dressed as Vikings as sailing it and shields are positioned along its side.

1,100-year-old 'ceremonial' Viking shields were actually used in battle, study suggests

By Tom Metcalfe published 4 April 23

The Viking shields found on the Gokstad ship in 1880 were not strictly ceremonial and may have been used in hand-to-hand combat, according to a new analysis.

Two facial approximations of an ancient Egyptian man.

See the oldest human ever found in Egypt in stunning new facial approximation

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 3 April 23

Using photogrammetry, researchers created two facial approximations of an ancient Egyptian man.

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Health

Best foam rollers

Best foam rollers 2023 for effective warm-ups, cool-downs and recovery

By Harry Bullmore last updated 5 April 23

BUYING GUIDE Invest in one of the best foam rollers to prime your muscles and reduce post-workout soreness.

BUYING GUIDE
A close up of white woman's wrist, which she's holding as if experiencing pain or joint stiffness. She's sitting on a grey couch and wearing a white blouse

Fibromyalgia: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatments

By Anna Gora published 5 April 23

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body, fatigue and poor sleep.

illustration of the appendix, depicted in pink, extending off of the colon, depicted in blue

Appendicitis: Causes, symptoms and treatment

By Dr. David Warmflash published 4 April 23

Appendicitis refers to the inflammation of a small structure in the gastrointestinal tract. The condition can lead to dangerous complications.

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Animals

A group of snailfish swim around the camera near the seafloor.

Deepest-dwelling fish ever seen is a ghostly snailfish spotted more than 27,000 feet beneath the ocean surface

By Harry Baker published 5 April 23

The never-before-seen fish was spotted 5 miles below the ocean's surface in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench near Japan.

Two halves of the titanosaur egg filled with an agate crystal.

Ancient crystal-filled rock has been hiding dinosaur secret for 140 years

By Sascha Pare published 5 April 23

Paleontologists have confirmed that a rock enclosing a perfectly round agate crystal is actually a titanosaur egg, which was probably smothered by lava after a volcanic eruption 67 million years ago.

Lolita performs at the Miami Seaquarium.

Lolita, the 2nd-oldest orca in captivity, is finally getting released after more than 50 years

By Harry Baker published 4 April 23

Lolita, also known as Tokitae, is returning to the waters of the Pacific Northwest more than half a century after her capture there.

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Human Behavior

white seder plate with lamb bone

What Is Passover?

By Natalie Wolchover last updated 3 April 23

Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays, celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. In 2023, it begins the evening of April 5.

Victorian medicine illustration

Inside the gory world of Victorian Medicine in All About History 128

By Jonathan Gordon published 23 March 23

Inside All About History 128: From bloody surgery to strange medical theories, uncover the evolving world of Victorian medicine.

A collection of board games - Board game deals 2023

Board game deals 2023: Save on modern greats and family classics

By Jordan Middler published 22 March 23

Recently won 2nd prize in beauty contest? Here’s some board game deals to spend your prize money on.

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Physics & Mathematics

Computer generated image of concentric rings around a central shaded hat (dark blue).

Newly discovered 'einstein' tile is a 13-sided shape that solves a decades-old math problem

By Paul Sutter published 31 March 23

A new 13-sided shape is the first example of an elusive "einstein" — a single shape that can be tiled infinitely without repeating a pattern.

The two high school students high five each other.

High school students may have just discovered an 'impossible' proof to the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean theorem

By Sascha Pare published 31 March 23

Two high school seniors have presented their proof of the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry — which mathematicians thought to be impossible — at an American Mathematical Society meeting.

A visual representation of Ramsey theorem for five nodes on a graph. Here, no triangle has edges that are all the same color, indicating no groups of three that are either all 'friends' or all 'strangers.'

Mathematicians make rare breakthrough on notoriously tricky 'Ramsey number' problem

By Stephanie Pappas published 28 March 23

The bounds on Ramsey numbers, which describe relationships between nodes in a network, have been narrowed.

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Chemistry

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.

Elemental Shift: Periodic Table Gets Weight Changes

By Charles Q. Choi last updated 14 October 22

Ten elements that help make up the universe, including carbon, are getting their very atomic weights altered.

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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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