Planet Earth

Greenland is twisting, tensing and shrinking due to the 'ghosts' of melted ice sheets

By Sascha Pare published

Earth's mantle is so gooey, it takes eons for material that has been displaced by the weight of ice sheets to flow back. And Greenland is very much still processing its glacial past, a new study shows.

Geology

22 of Earth's 34 'vital signs' are flashing red, new climate report reveals — but there's still time to act

By Sascha Pare published

Earth's systems are nearing tipping points that could plunge the planet into a "hothouse" regime — but there's still time to prevent that from happening, scientists say.

Climate change
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Space

telescope against a starry sky

Best telescopes 2025: Explore planets, galaxies and beyond

By Jase Parnell-Brookes last updated

The best telescopes offer an unparalleled view of the cosmos, and we've gathered our favorites.

Space
an image of the cigar galaxy

Webb reveals a fiery starburst in the Cigar Galaxy — Space photo of the week

By Jamie Carter published

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed the blazing heart of an iconic nearby galaxy, where rapid star formation and galactic winds light up the cosmos in infrared light.

Astronomy
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archaeology

The Bering Land Bridge has been submerged since the last ice age. Will scientists ever study it?

By Charles Q. Choi published

Humans likely left a lot of archaeological evidence along the Bering Land Bridge when they crossed from Asia to Alaska during the last ice age. But will we ever be able to dive down to examine it?

Archaeology

Crimean Stone Age 'crayons' were used by Neanderthals for symbolic drawings, study claims

By Sophie Berdugo published

Scientists have discovered Stone Age "crayons" in Crimea, hinting that Neanderthals may have used them for symbolic drawings or markings. But not everyone agrees.

Human Evolution
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World of science

Health

A toxicologist explains when you can safely cut the moldy part off food, and when it's best to toss it

By Brad Reisfeld published

Molds and bacteria can produce dangerous toxins — and they don’t taste very good, either.

Food & Diet

Do people dream in color or black and white?

By Abby Wilson published

Whether we report having dreams in color or in black and white may be influenced by the media we watch, or perhaps that simply influences the way we remember them.

Dreams

'Chemo brain' may stem from damage to the brain's drainage system

By Sophie Berdugo published

An early-stage study has found that a common chemotherapy drug disrupts lymphatic cells in the tissue surrounding the brain. This is linked to memory issues in mice.

Cancer
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Animals

Which animals are tricked by optical illusions?

By Kit Yates published

It's not just humans who notice optical illusions; certain animals do too, and they often use it to their advantage.

Animals

Orcas in the Gulf of California paralyze young great white sharks before ripping out their livers

By Sascha Pare published

An orca pod that made headlines last year for gutting a whale shark has struck again, this time perfecting a technique that involves paralyzing young great white sharks to eat their livers.

Orcas

Chimps 'think about thinking' in order to weigh evidence and plan their actions, new research suggests

By RJ Mackenzie published

Chimpanzees use a variation of the "scientific method" — discarding prior beliefs if convincing new evidence comes along to change their minds, research shows.

Animals
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Human Behavior

There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you

By Kit Yates published

Opinion How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.

Opinion
scientist holding test tubes with illustration of money symbols and a sand timer on a blue background

Citation cartels, ghost writing and fake peer-review: Fraud is causing a crisis in science — here's what we need to do to stop it

By Kit Yates published

Opinion Thousands of scientific papers are retracted every year because of fraudulent activity, with both authors and journals gaming a system to gain academic acclaim through deceit, dishonesty and false representation.

Opinion
a 5g cell tower with green waves coming out

'When people gather in groups, bizarre behaviors often emerge': How the rise of online social networks has catapulted dysfunctional thinking

By Carlo Kopp, David Green, Fatima Seeme published

Opinion The pervasive spread of misinformation can be tracked to cognitive limitations, social influence and the global spread of online networks. Combatting it has become an "arms race" between truth and lies.

Opinion
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Physics & Mathematics

Clocks stand in a row in front of autumn trees

Daylight saving time 2025: When does the time change, and why?

By Jeanna Bryner last updated

When does daylight saving time end in 2025? Here's a look at when the time changes this year, and why we change our clocks in the first place.

Physics & Mathematics

Mysterious glow at the Milky Way's center could reshape a major cosmic theory

By Andrey Feldman published

A mysterious glow at the center of the Milky Way has puzzled astronomers for more than a decade. New research offers an explanation that could also reshape what we know about dark matter.

Dark Matter

World's biggest X-ray laser discovers never-before-seen type of ice that's solid at room temperature

By Patrick Pester published

Researchers have unveiled ice XXI, a new form of ice that's solid at room temperatures when subjected to immense pressure.

Physics & Mathematics
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Chemistry

Science history: Scientists use 'click chemistry' to watch molecules in living organisms — Oct. 23, 2007

By Tia Ghose published

Carolyn Bertozzi and colleagues laid out a way to make paradigm-shifting "click-chemistry" compatible with living cells, opening up a window into living organisms.

Chemistry

Why does slicing onions make you cry?

By Donavyn Coffey last updated

Here's why you may start tearing up while slicing an onion.

Chemistry
An illustration of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winners.

'Harry Potter' materials land three scientists Nobel Prize in chemistry

By Patrick Pester last updated

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the development of metal–organic frameworks."

Chemistry
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Technology

An image of a faceless human silhouette (chest up) with exposed microchip contacts and circuitry erupting from its open head. This visual metaphor explores transhumanism, AI integration, or the erosion of organic thought in the digital age.

AI models refuse to shut themselves down when prompted — they might be developing a new 'survival drive,' study claims

By Ben Turner published

Some AI models appear to show a resistance to being shut off. Are they developing a survival drive? Or is it all in how they prioritize tasks?

Artificial Intelligence
Computer illustration of a robot holding a dumbbell.

Humanoid robots could lift 4,000 times their own weight thanks to breakthrough 'artificial muscle'

By Bobby Hellard published

Researchers have developed a chemical structure for an artificial muscle that can lift up to 4,000 times its weight, and they say it could be used in future humanoid robots.

Robotics
Sony A7 IV on a green background

Capture the Leonids meteor shower with our favorite astro camera — now under $2,000

By Kimberley Lane published

Deals The Sony A7 IV is the cheapest it's been since last Black Friday, and there's no guarantee it'll drop lower this year — this could be your best chance to save.

Deals
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