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.
Explainers | Everything you need to know about the science news that matters.
Science Spotlight | Shining a light on new science transforming our world.
Latest news

Doomed Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 could hit Earth tonight. Here's when.
By Brandon Specktor published
The failed Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 could crash to Earth overnight tonight after more than 50 years in the wrong orbit. Here are the latest predictions on the exact time of reentry, and where it could land.

Satellite study reveals the fastest sinking city in the US
By Patrick Pester published
Satellite data revealed that Houston is the fastest-sinking city in the U.S., and that all of the other biggest cities are dropping in at least some areas. Researchers say groundwater extraction is largely to blame for the sink.

AI model predicts 'biological age' from selfie — and could help doctors personalize cancer treatments
By Skyler Ware published
A new AI model can deduce a person's biological age using a selfie. Could it be used to guide cancer treatment decisions?

Heat waves may accelerate the aging process
By Sanket Jain, Yale Climate Connections published
Recent studies have found that prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures can be harmful to health – and might even influence aging.

Rare genetic mutation lets some people thrive on just 4 hours of shut-eye
By Patrick Pester published
A newly identified mutation helps super-sleepers get by on just four to six hours of shut-eye per night, while the rest of us need around eight hours. Researchers described the SIK3-N783Y mutation in a new study after testing it on sleep-deprived inbred mice.

Climate change made April's catastrophic floods worse, report finds
By Patrick Pester published
A report into April's deadly flooding has found that climate change made the central Mississippi River valley's extreme weather event more likely and more intense.

'It was deliberately hidden': Gold hoard of nearly 600 coins found in Czech Republic may date to World War II
By Ben Turner published
A coin stash worth more than $340,000 could have been hidden in the hills of the Czech Republic during one of the 20th century’s greatest upheavals. Historians are attempting to unravel the mystery.

What does the Pope do, anyway?
By Stephanie Pappas, Kristina Killgrove last updated
New pope's schedule will be 'exhausting.'

1940s Ford car found on wartime US carrier wreck
By Tom Metcalfe published
Researchers think the vehicle was used as a staff car by naval officers during World War II.

Watch elusive New Zealand snail lay an egg through a 'genital pore' in its neck
By Pandora Dewan published
Very little is known about Powelliphanta augusta, an elusive snail species threatened with extinction. The new footage is the first time their bizarre egg laying behavior has been captured on camera.

Invasive Asian needle ants are surging in US Southeast — and their bite can trigger anaphylaxis
By Sascha Pare published
Asian needle ants found in the southeastern states of the U.S. have been spreading north and west for years, but experts now consider them to be a medically important pest and urge caution.

What's an 'omega block,' and why is it messing with US weather right now?
By Sascha Pare published
A strange atmospheric pattern known as an "omega block" is preventing the usual eastward progression of weather across the U.S. — but what is this weird block, and when will it go away?

Scientists discover how to use your body to process data in wearable devices
By Alan Bradley published
Scientists have discovered a way to use live tissue as a computational reservoir to solve problems and potentially predict chaotic systems like the weather.

Did astronomers just discover the smallest galaxy in the universe?
By Brian Koberlein published
A mysterious cluster of 60 stars may be just another Milky Way star cluster, or it may be one of the smallest galaxies ever seen.

Chopped-up skulls found in Maya 'blood cave' were a ritual offering for a good harvest, archaeologists suggest
By Kristina Killgrove published
Archaeologists working at the Cueva de Sangre site in Guatemala have discovered an unusual ancient Maya ritual.

Giant NASA science balloon completes trip around the world in 16 days
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's massive super-pressure balloon has completed a 16-day trip around the Southern Hemisphere — a milestone in high-altitude flight and atmospheric research.

Metal detectorists unearth dazzling Anglo-Saxon gold-and-garnet raven head and ring: 'It's unbelievable — I'm a bit emotional'
By Kristina Killgrove published
Metal detectorists in southwest England unearthed the two gold-and-garnet objects from the Anglo-Saxon period in January.

Scientists find the best crops to grow during the apocalypse
By Jesse Steinmetz published
Sugar beets and spinach are the best vegetables to grow if you live in a temperate, midsize city during a nuclear winter, a new study suggests, while wheat and carrots are recommended for industrial production on the outskirts of town.

NASA Mars satellite uncovers markings 'like paint dripping down a wall' on Martian surface
By Patrick Pester published
Wave-like soil patterns on the Martian surface match those found in Earth's cold, mountain regions, which could help scientists better understand the Red Planet's climate history and search for signs of life.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.