Science News: Recent scientific discoveries and expert analysis
Read the latest science news and recent scientific discoveries on Live Science, where we've been reporting on groundbreaking advances for over 20 years. Our expert editors, writers and contributors are ready to guide you through today's most important breakthroughs in science with expert analysis, in-depth explainers and interesting articles, covering everything from space, technology, health, animals, planet Earth, and much more.
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Grumpy-looking Pallas's cat photographed by camera trap in stunning photo from eastern Himalayas
By Lydia Smith published
The Pallas’s cat is just one of several wildcats spotted in Arunachal Pradesh, which also supports snow leopards, common leopards, clouded leopards, leopard cats and marbled cats.

'This needs to happen fast': Scientists race to cryopreserve a critically endangered tree before it goes extinct
By Sascha Pare published
Less than 400 angle-stemmed myrtle specimens remain in the wild in Australia. Scientists are working on ways to preserve the species so that we can bring it back at any point if it dies out.

Asteroid Ryugu once had 'flowing water', shocking analysis hints
By Harry Baker published
A new analysis of asteroid Ryugu hints that the "potentially hazardous" space rock once had flowing water in its core, possibly leftover from the impact that created it.

World's oldest mummies were smoke-dried 10,000 years ago in China and Southeast Asia, researchers find
By Kristina Killgrove published
The world's oldest evidence for purposeful human mummification comes from Southeast Asia, where people smoke-dried their ancestors' corpses 10,000 years ago.

1,900-year-old oil lamp that provided 'light in the journey to the afterlife' found in Roman cemetery in the Netherlands
By Kristina Killgrove published
Archaeologists excavating in a Roman cemetery in the Netherlands have uncovered a unique oil lamp dating to the second century A.D.

Scientists measure the 'natal kick' that sent a baby black hole careening through space for the first time
By Sophie Berdugo published
Two black holes merged together 2.4 billion light years away from Earth, and scientists have just figured out how fast the newborn ricocheted, and in which direction.

'Russian nesting doll' virus hides inside a deadly fungus, making it even more dangerous to people
By Christoph Schwaiger published
A virus found lurking inside a deadly fungus may make the microbe even stronger and harder to kill when it infects people.

Diet change could make brain cancer easier to treat, early study hints
By RJ Mackenzie published
A new lab study exploited a unique aspect of metabolism in glioblastoma to boost the effectiveness of chemoradiation, turning the cancer's properties against itself.

New EV battery tech could power 500-mile road trips on a 12-minute charge
By Owen Hughes published
An EV battery breakthrough from Korea could help give lithium-metal tech the green light.

AI could use online images as a backdoor into your computer, alarming new study suggests
By Deni Ellis Béchard published
Artificial-intelligence agents — touted as AI's next wave — could be vulnerable to malicious code hidden in innocent-looking images on your computer screen

Chinese scientists hunt for alien radio signals in 'potentially habitable' TRAPPIST-1 system
By Mark Thompson published
Researchers in China have conducted the most thorough search yet for alien radio signals in the nearby TRAPPIST-1 system, which may harbor potentially Earth-like planets.

3,300-year-old ancient Egyptian whistle was likely used by police officer tasked with guarding the 'sacred location' of the royal tomb
By Laura Geggel published
Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed a 3,300-year-old bone whistle carved out of a cow's toe, and it may have been used by an ancient "police officer."

JWST finds planet with all-carbon atmosphere orbiting 'black widow' star
By Andy Tomaswick published
Scientists using the James Webb telescope have spotted an exoplanet orbiting a 'black widow' pulsar in surprising new observations.

AI slop is on the rise — what does it mean for how we use the internet?
By Adam Nemeroff published
AI slop refers to low- to mid-quality content created with AI tools, often with little regard for accuracy or quality.

Science news this week: NASA finds best evidence of life on Mars and scientists invent visible time crystals
By Ben Turner published
Science news this week Sept. 13, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

350-year-old mummified head from Bolivia isn't what it seems
By Tom Metcalfe published
A mummified skull from Bolivia was long thought to be of an Inca man, but a new study finds it had a different history.

Have you gotten this year's COVID vaccine?
By Nicoletta Lanese published
Federal guidance about the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine has raised questions and confusion around the shots. Have you tried to get one this year?

Astronomers use rare 'double zoom' to view black hole corona in unprecedented detail
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
For the first time, astronomers have directly measured a solar-system-size corona around a distant supermassive black hole, thanks to a rare cosmic alignment.
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