Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

Plastic bottle washed up on sandy beach.

The war against plastic is distracting us from pollution that can't be seen

By Thomas Stanton, Matthew Johnson, Paul Kay

The war against plastic may be overshadowing greater threats to the environment.

The growth of the Colorado wildfire can be seen from the GOES-East satellite between Oct. 21 and Oct. 22, 2020.

Explosive growth of Colorado wildfire seen from space

By Stephanie Pappas

The spread of the fire was visible from space.

Space and Physics

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk celebrates the successful launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on May 30, 2020.

The Elysium effect: The coming backlash to the billionaire 'NewSpace' revolution

By Rick Tumlinson

As entrepreneurs spend billions on space, there is a backlash building that holds their projects as icons of extravagance, even as they may help save the Earth. This is the "Elysium effect."

Artist's illustration of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Using data from TESS, scientists have discovered an "improbable" exoplanet that should've been engulfed by its star but wasn't.

Distant alien planets could be turned into dark matter detectors

By Paul Sutter

A pair of astronomers is advocating a daring new research program: to turn our widening search for life beyond Earth into a hunt for dark matter.

History

Britain’s oldest pet cemetery at Hyde Park, established in 1881.

Is there a puppy heaven? Owners think so, headstones in pet cemeteries show

By Mindy Weisberger

Since the first pet cemetery was established in the 19th century, the notion of pets sharing the afterlife with their owners has grown in popularity.

The sacrificed llamas were adorned with colored string earrings and necklaces.

Sacrificed llama mummies unearthed in Peru

By Laura Geggel

These five naturally mummified llamas were sacrificed by the Inca about 500 years ago.

Health

Researchers revamp famous alien-hunting equation to predict spread of COVID-19

By Rachael Rettner

A famous equation used in the search for alien life has inspired a new model that estimates the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

What does 'close contact' for COVID-19 really mean? Epidemiologist explains.

By Ryan Malosh

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has new guidance clarifying what exactly “close contact” means when it comes to transmission of SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

A lawn sign asking visitors to Williamsburg, Virginia to stay 6 feet apart during a tour.

US hits highest average number of new COVID-19 cases since start of the pandemic

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

The third wave of the pandemic may be much worse than the first two waves.

Animals

A drawing of the theropod dinosaur Yi qi, which sported bat-like wings.

These tiny, little-winged dinosaurs were probably worse at flying than chickens

By Jacinta Bowler

The discovery of two small dinosaurs with bat-like wings a few years ago was a paleontologist's dream.

"Murder hornets" earn their nickname when it comes to bees. According to Washington state entomologists, the hornets can destroy tens of thousands of bees in a matter of hours by ripping them into pieces. They then feed the dismembered bees to their larvae.

Photos: Murder hornets will haunt your nightmares

By Stephanie Pappas

Here's a look at one of the most diabolical and invasive insects: the murder hornet, or the Asian giant hornet.

How the same tech in your Nintendo Wii is tracking wild and wily wolverines

By Martin Robards, Tom Glass

Scientists are equipping the endangered wolverine with accelerometers to track them in the wild.

Strange News

Naked mole rats kidnap each other's babies, and turn them into slaves

By Tessa Koumoundouros

Naked mole rats kidnap each other's babies and turn them into slaves.

A birthday celebration helped sad grouper Mikko turn that frown upside down.

Famous fish that ate all his friends gets cheered up by 16th birthday party

By Mindy Weisberger

Happy 16th birthday to Mikko the grouper, a popular aquarium fish in Finland who missed his human visitors during the COVID-19 shutdown.

These Bacillus biofilms resemble embryos.

The very first forms of life may have been more animal-like than we ever realized

By Tessa Koumoundouros

Early life may have been far more like animals than we thought, suggests new research that shows bacteria can 'develop' like an embryo.

Culture

The grosbeak displayed male coloration on the right side of its body, while female coloration dominated on the left side.

Amazing images: The best science photos of the week

By Brandon Specktor

Here are the stories behind the most amazing images in the world of science this week. A recap of the coolest photos featured on Live Science.

Can a cat parasite control your mind?

By Benjamin Plackett

This parasite may manipulate your brain to make you take more risks.

'Elinor Wonders Why' teaches kids to explore science by asking questions

By Mindy Weisberger

A curious bunny named Elinor explores Animal Town with her friends, in an endearing new PBS series that teaches kids how to find answers about science and nature.

Tech

A particle of light, called a photon (yellow arrow), produces electron waves out of an electron cloud (grey) of a hydrogen molecule (red: nucleus). The result of those interactions is what’s called an interference pattern (violet-white). The interference pattern is slightly skewed to the right, allowing researchers to calculate the time for the photon to get from one atom to the next.

Meet the zeptosecond, the shortest unit of time ever measured

By Stephanie Pappas

Scientists have measured the shortest unit of time ever, the time it takes for a particle of light to cross a hydrogen molecule.

celestron nexstar 130slt 130mm Aperture Newtonian Reflector Telescope with SkyAlign Go-To Computer

Save 33% on Celestron's NexStar 130SLT telescope for Prime Day

By Kasandra Brabaw

Celestron's NexStar 130SLT computerized telescope is on sale for $333.16 for Amazon Prime Day 2020. That's 33% off its regular price.

Celestron's Skymaster 25x100 binoculars are just $219 this Prime Day

By Kasandra Brabaw

Celestron's SkyMaster 25x100 Astro Binoculars are is 47% off for Amazon Prime Day.

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