Planet Earth

Close-up photo of the sprite over the lightning

Astronaut snaps giant red 'jellyfish' sprite over North America during upward-shooting lightning event

By Harry Baker published

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured an electrifying image of a giant lightning "sprite" shooting up over Mexico and southern U.S. states. The red "jellyfish" could help researchers learn more about this rare phenomenon.

Weather
Fossil of a whale is seen at Wadi El-Hitan (Valley of the Whales), which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 for its hundreds of fossils of some of the earliest forms of whale after first fossil skeletons of whales were discovered in 1903 and has been turned an open-air museum, in Faiyum, Egypt on August 29, 2023.

Whale Valley: The whale graveyard in the Sahara desert that shows they once had feet and toes

By Sascha Pare published

Egypt's Whale Valley, or "Wadi Al-Hitan" in Arabic, holds more than 400 primitive whale skeletons that offer a snapshot of the evolution of these creatures from land-based to marine animals.

Planet Earth
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Space

Giant radio telescope in the Utah desert could reveal hidden corners of the cosmos — and brand-new physics

By Paul Sutter published

Scientists say that the construction of a vast new radio telescope array in the Utah desert — known as the Deep Synoptic Array 2000 — could uncover some of the biggest outstanding mysteries in astronomy.

Cosmology
wisps of green light stretch across the sky above a farm

May 2024 solar storm cost $500 million in damages to farmers, new study reveals

By Tereza Pultarova Partner Content Created With Space. published

GPS positions were off by up to 230 feet during the Gannon Solar Storm in May 2024 in a disruption that lasted for up to two days, a new study has revealed.

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archaeology

An archaeologist excavating a wooden tool in China.

Oldest wooden tools unearthed in East Asia show that ancient humans made planned trips to dig up edible plants

By Sascha Pare published

The 300,000 year-old tools show that hominins in East Asia made planned foraging trips to lakeshores and designed instruments for specific purposes.

Human Evolution
Ruins of Tiwanaku archaeological site.

Tiwanaku: A little-known pre-Incan civilization that built temples and cities high in the Andes

By Owen Jarus, Laura Geggel last updated

This ancient city in modern-day Bolivia is almost 13,000 feet above sea level. Only a small portion of the ruins have been excavated.

Archaeology
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World of science

Health

A urine collection device.

Scientists transform pee into material fit for medical implants

By Ben Turner published

A new method for chemically altering human urine could be used for producing medical implants and construction materials, scientists claim.

Health
A live Science deal logo and the Garmin Forerunner 255 smartwatch on an orange background

One of the best-value Garmin watches has dropped to its lowest ever price

By Anna Gora published

Deals The excellent Garmin Forerunner 255 is now 43% off at Amazon, and the cheapest it has ever been.

Deals

Can adults make new brain cells? New study may finally settle one of neuroscience's greatest debates

By Theresa Sullivan Barger published

Scientists say they have very strong evidence that the adult human brain is capable of making new neurons, a point of ongoing controversy in neuroscience.

Neuroscience
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Animals

a group of ostriches taken from below, showing their necks and head, with one looking menacingly at the camera

14 of the biggest birds on Earth

By Scott Dutfield last updated

Reference From 9-foot tall ostriches to albatrosses with gargantuan wingspans, here are some of the biggest birds in the world.

Reference
An underwater photograph of an orca offering food.

Wild orcas offer humans food. Could they be trying to make friends — or manipulate us?

By Patrick Pester published

Researchers have documented orcas dropping prey and other marine life in front of humans, as if offering us food. The orcas' motives are uncertain, but the sharing behavior could be an attempt at a cross-species relationship or manipulation.

Orcas

Echidnas: Facts about spiky Australian mammals that lay eggs

By Marilyn Perkins, Alina Bradford last updated

Discover interesting facts about echidnas, the strange platypus relative with spines, spurs and a pouch.

Animals
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Human Behavior

A hand holding a pencil over a crossword puzzle

Live Science crossword puzzle #1: Largest organ in the human body — 9 across

By Harry Baker published

Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!

Science crossword
Girl reading books in front of a cartoon space scene

48 best science books for kids and young adults

By Ben Biggs last updated

Looking to inspire the next generation of curious minds? These are our picks of the best popular science books for children of all ages.

Human Behavior

Strikingly simple 'dial' in the brain may help it distinguish imagination from reality

By Payal Dhar published

Activity levels in a specific region of the brain predict whether we think something is real, irrespective of whether we've seen it or imagined it.

Human Behavior
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Physics & Mathematics

Where do atoms come from? A physicist explains.

By Stephen L. Levy published

Almost everything on Earth is made up of atoms, but where do these fundamental building blocks come from?

Physics & Mathematics

'Dreadful danger for all mankind': Einstein's powerful anti-war letter goes up for auction

By Joanna Thompson published

A fiery letter written by Albert Einstein in 1954 is going to auction. The letter details Einstein's thoughts on his part in developing atomic weapons, and hails Mahatma Gandhi as a political genius.

Physics & Mathematics

Mathematicians discover a completely new way to find prime numbers

By Rachel Crowell published

Using a notion called integer partitions, mathematicians have discovered a new way to detect prime numbers while also connecting two areas of math in an unexpected way

Mathematics
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Chemistry

A cross-section of the new copper alloy, with the orange dots representing copper atoms, the yellow tantalum atoms, and the blue lithium atoms.

Scientists create ultra-tough copper alloy that is stronger than steel and can withstand temperatures of 1500 F

By Ben Turner published

The new super-strong copper alloy can be used to build better airplanes and spacecraft.

Chemistry
a deer's breath is visible in the cold air

Why does nearly all life breathe oxygen?

By Harrison Tasoff published

Nitrogen comprises around 78% of Earth's atmosphere, so why do most lifeforms breathe oxygen?

Chemistry
Plastic waste by the ocean

Scientists break down cheap plastic using the air — and turn it into something far more valuable

By Ben Turner published

Scientists developed a new method for breaking down one of the most common plastics to a byproduct that can be upcycled into more valuable materials.

Chemistry
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Technology

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition review: A wonderfully vibrant prosumer device — with one catch

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published

This sleek and slender ultraportable boasts a great build quality and a stunning OLED panel.

Technology

Dell Pro 13 Premium review: Featherweight with a punch

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published

This robust and lightweight machine is a fantastic option for coding on the go, especially thanks to its phenomenal battery life.

Technology
One of the best laptops for coding

Best laptops for coding & programming 2025: Powerful portable computers

By Mike Jennings last updated

Find one of the best laptops for coding and programming so you can work on the go with ultimate power in a portable package.

Computing
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