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Trending
  • Ancient Egyptian bracelets
  • Paleolithic half-circles mystery
  • Ancient structures near galaxy's center
  • Why do cats knead?

Latest News

mexican magic mushrooms lit in pink and blue lights with a black background

Fungi seem to 'sweat' to stay cool and scientists don't know why

Ethan Freedman published 5 June 23

This discovery reveals a mostly unstudied but apparently universal aspect of fungal life.

Eastern chimpanzee juvenile male 'Gimli' aged 8 years playing with his brother 'Gizmo' aged 3 years. Image taken in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, June 2012.

Do all animals go through adolescence?

Amanda Heidt published 4 June 23

All species experience the bodily changes of puberty, but the social lessons that define the shift from childhood to adulthood are more nuanced.

A data plot of the radio filaments, bursting out of the center of the galaxy like fireworks

Hundreds of ancient, invisible structures discovered near our galaxy's center

Brandon Specktor published 3 June 23

Radio astronomers have discovered hundreds of long, thin structures emanating from our galaxy's supermassive black hole.

View from above of a happy tabby cat kneading its paws on a soft white blanket.

Why do cats knead?

Charles Q. Choi published 3 June 23

If a cat kneads on your lap, it's likely because it feels safe around you. But why do they knead in the first place?

a beluga whale with a strap around its neck surfacing from the water, and an asteroid with the sun and earth in the background

Science news this week: A quasi-moon and a lonely spy whale

Alexander McNamara published 3 June 23

June 3, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news over the past few days, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

A woman in a light blue swimsuit walks along a beach coated in a thick layer of brown seaweed

Does the giant blob of seaweed headed to Florida really contain 'flesh-eating' bacteria?

Kiley Price published 2 June 23

A gargantuan seaweed blob on its way to Florida beaches is filled with plastic and some potentially harmful bacteria, but no "flesh-eating" microbes, as some news reports have suggested.

Radio astronomers have discovered hundreds of long, thin structures emanating from our galaxy's supermassive black hole.
Hundreds of ancient, invisible structures discovered near our galaxy's center Radio astronomers have discovered hundreds of long, thin structures emanating from our galaxy's supermassive black hole.
This discovery reveals a mostly unstudied but apparently universal aspect of fungal life.
Fungi seem to 'sweat' to stay cool and scientists don't know why This discovery reveals a mostly unstudied but apparently universal aspect of fungal life.
All species experience the bodily changes of puberty, but the social lessons that define the shift from childhood to adulthood are more nuanced.
Do all animals go through adolescence? All species experience the bodily changes of puberty, but the social lessons that define the shift from childhood to adulthood are more nuanced.
Hurling spear-thrower projectiles at pig and deer carcasses revealed that these loops may have been finger grips.
150-year-old mystery of strange half-circles from Paleolithic site in France finally solved Hurling spear-thrower projectiles at pig and deer carcasses revealed that these loops may have been finger grips.
A new theory has radically revised Stephen Hawking's 1974 theory of black holes to predict that all objects with mass may eventually disappear.
Stephen Hawking's most famous prediction could mean that everything in the universe is doomed to evaporate, new study says A new theory has radically revised Stephen Hawking's 1974 theory of black holes to predict that all objects with mass may eventually disappear.
If a cat kneads on your lap, it's likely because it feels safe around you. But why do they knead in the first place?
Why do cats knead? If a cat kneads on your lap, it's likely because it feels safe around you. But why do they knead in the first place?

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. 1
    Cancer Is a Man-Made Disease, Controversial Study Claims
  2. 2
    Why do cats knead?
  3. 3
    Science news this week: A quasi-moon and a lonely spy whale
  4. 4
    New 'quasi-moon' discovered near Earth has been traveling alongside our planet since 100 BC
  5. 5
    Ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets contain 1st evidence of long-distance trade between Egypt and Greece
  1. 1
    Cancer Is a Man-Made Disease, Controversial Study Claims
  2. 2
    New 'quasi-moon' discovered near Earth has been traveling alongside our planet since 100 BC
  3. 3
    There may be hundreds of millions of habitable planets in the Milky Way, new study suggests
  4. 4
    Ancient Egyptian queen's bracelets contain 1st evidence of long-distance trade between Egypt and Greece
  5. 5
    Stephen Hawking's most famous prediction could mean that everything in the universe is doomed to evaporate, new study says

Space

An artist's illustration of three black holes merging.

Stephen Hawking's most famous prediction could mean that everything in the universe is doomed to evaporate, new study says

By Ben Turner published 2 June 23

A new theory has radically revised Stephen Hawking's 1974 theory of black holes to predict that all objects with mass may eventually disappear.

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

By 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.

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archaeology

Here we see a hand clenching around the end of a wooden spear, with the forefinger in the "open ring" finger loop.

150-year-old mystery of strange half-circles from Paleolithic site in France finally solved

By Tom Metcalfe published 2 June 23

Hurling spear-thrower projectiles at pig and deer carcasses revealed that these loops may have been finger grips.

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

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

By Owen Jarus published 2 June 23

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

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Health

close up of fuzzy, white fungus growing in a circular lab dish

Deadly fungal meningitis outbreak linked to cosmetic procedures in Mexico

By Nicoletta Lanese published 2 June 23

An outbreak of dangerous fungal infections has been tied to recent cosmetic procedures at specific clinics in Mexico. Health officials urge anyone who underwent such procedures to seek a medical evaluation right away.

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

By 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.

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
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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.

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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.

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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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