Did reintroducing Wolves to Yellowstone really cause an ecological cascade?
Previous research on the effect of wolves on the food web has been criticized, raising questions about the predator’s role in the Yellowstone ecosystem.
Space
Stunning array of 400 rings in a 'reflection' nebula solves a 30-year-old star-formation mystery — Space photo of the week
The discovery is the first direct observational confirmation of a theory for how young stars feed on, and then explosively expel, surrounding material.
James Webb telescope spies a monstrous molecular cloud shrouded in mystery — Space photo of the week
In this James Webb telescope image, the gigantic molecular cloud near our galaxy's center appears as a canvas of pink and purple clouds set against a shadowy backdrop.
Is the sun really a dwarf star?
Our sun is huge, at least compared to Earth and the other planets. So is it really a dwarf?
Planet Earth
See the exact point where a glacier, a lake and a river 'touch' in Argentina
Earth from space A 2021 astronaut photo shows a triple valley system in Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park where a massive climate-resilient glacier, a pristine turquoise lake and a murky green "river" come together at a single point.
'Stop and re-check everything': Scientists discover 26 new bacterial species in NASA's cleanrooms
Scientists discover 26 new bacterial species in NASA cleanrooms, revealing surprisingly resilient microbes with potential uses in biotechnology and medicine.
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The world's 'hidden' volcanoes pose the greatest risk for global crisis
A dormant volcano in Ethiopia erupted after 10,000 years of silence. This event shows how the world's little-known volcanoes pose the greatest threat.
archaeology
Lchashen wagon: A 3,500-year-old covered wagon that transported a deceased chief to the next world
This 3,500-year-old covered wagon is the best-preserved example in the world of this ancient form of wheeled transport.
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1.5 million-year-old Homo erectus face was just reconstructed — and its mix of old and new traits is complicating the picture of human evolution
A never-before-seen Homo erectus face reveals a complex picture of early human evolution.
10 things we learned about our human ancestors in 2025
Findings about our human ancestors continue to surprise us, especially those from 2025.
LATEST ARTICLES
Animals
Orcas are adopting terrifying new behaviors. Are they getting smarter?
From sinking boats and feasting on shark livers to dining on whale tongue and tossing porpoises around for fun, orcas are displaying some fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — behaviors.
Science history: Dian Fossey found murdered, after decades protecting gorillas that she loved — Dec. 27, 1985
Dian Fossey was a zoologist who spent decades studying the elusive mountain gorillas of Congo and Rwanda before she was murdered.
Spinosaurus relative longer than a pickup truck stalked Thailand's rivers 125 million years ago
A large fish-eating dinosaur died beside a river 125 million years ago in Cretaceous Thailand. Now, the remains of this ancient predator are helping researchers better understand Asia's enigmatic spinosaurids.
Flat-headed cat not seen in Thailand for almost 30 years is rediscovered
Conservationists are celebrating the rediscovery of flat-headed cats in Thailand after camera traps recorded the endangered feline for the first time in almost 30 years.
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Health & Human Behavior
A fentanyl vaccine enters human trials in 2026 — here's how it works
A vaccine in development would be the first proactive treatment for overdose and fentanyl addiction, if approved.
Year in review: The standout health stories of 2025, from measles outbreaks to AI-made viruses
Catch up on the latest trends in health news in this roundup of long-reads compiled by Live Science's health channel editor.
New tests could nearly halve the rate of late-stage cancers, some scientists say — is that true?
Blood tests that look for over a dozen cancers are being developed. But how soon will they help patients?
A man's bladder looked like a Christmas tree
In an unusual case, a man's bladder swelled dramatically at its base, taking the shape of a Christmas tree.
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Life's Little Mysteries
Science questions, answered
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Space photo of the week
Extraordinary images of our sublime universe
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Diagnostic dilemma
Unusual case reports from the medical literature
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Incredible places
A window onto extraordinary landscapes on Earth
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Astonishing artifacts
A glimpse into how people lived in the past
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Earth from space
Incredible images of our planet from above
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Technology
'Putting the servers in orbit is a stupid idea': Could data centers in space help avoid an AI energy crisis? Experts are torn.
Google’s proposal to explore space-based AI infrastructure raises fundamental questions about energy, physics and feasibility – and whether Earth has really run out of options.
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Physics, Math & Chemistry
Science history: Richard Feynman gives a fun little lecture — and dreams up an entirely new field of physics — Dec. 29, 1959
In a short talk at Caltech, physicist Richard Feynman laid out a vision of manipulating and controlling atoms at the tiniest scale. It would precede the field of nanotechnology by decades.
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New electrochemical method splits water with electricity to produce hydrogen fuel — and cuts energy costs in the process
Scientists adapted a method that can produce double the amount of hydrogen when splitting water molecules with electricity.
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Science history: Marie Curie discovers a strange radioactive substance that would eventually kill her — Dec. 26, 1898
Scientists in Paris discovered two new substances with incredible radioactivity. It earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics but would ultimately kill one of them.
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Quizzes & Games
Primates Quiz: Go ape and test your knowledge on our closest relatives
Time to stop monkeying around — just don't go bananas if you get the wrong answer!
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