Science News - Latest Scientific Discoveries

A fish bone pierced a hole through a man's intestine. Above, an X-ray showing the fish bone in the man's gut, in the upper right corner of the image.

A Man Accidentally Swallowed a Fish Bone. It Tore a Hole Through His Intestine.

By Rachael Rettner

People swallow fish bones all the time. But it's rare for fish bones to pierce a hole through the intestine, as was the case for one man in Japan.

The Titanic Shipwreck Is Collapsing into Rust, First Visit in 14 Years Reveals

By Brandon Specktor

The wreck of the Titanic is rapidly disintegrating into the sea, but our hearts will go on.

We Could Detect Extraterrestrials Because They May Glow, Scientists Say

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Whole planets may be covered with glowing red, blue and green life-forms.

We May Finally Know Where Vicious 'Black Widow' Pulsars Come From

By Rafi Letzter

These little "redback" and "black widow" stars have intensely magnetic poles, which could help explain how they eat their twins.

Teen Has 3-Pound Hair Ball Removed from Her Stomach

By Rachael Rettner

A teen girl in India who secretly ate her own hair ended up having a giant hairball removed from her stomach.

Why Are Dozens of US Teens Getting Sick After Vaping?

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

The illnesses left nearly 100 people hospitalized.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the sixth meeting of the National Space Council at the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Va., on Aug. 20, 2019.

New US Space Command Will Launch Next Week, VP Pence Says

By Hanneke Weitering

The United States Space Command will officially be up and running by the end of the month, Vice President Mike Pence said today (Aug. 20) at a meeting of the National Space Council.

Imgae of galaxy cluster Abell 2744 shows dark matter locations

What Is the Universe Made of?

By Mindy Weisberger

What are the building blocks of everything that makes up the universe, and where did it all come from?

Medical professional takes a cheek swab from a patient.

Genetic Tests for Depression Treatment Aren't Effective, Experts Say

By Nicoletta Lanese

Dozens of companies invite consumers to spit in a tube to determine which antidepressant is right for them. There's little evidence that these tests work.

Day became night on the afternoon of Monday (Aug. 19) in São Paulo, Brazil.

Smoke from Burning Amazon Turns São Paulo Afternoon into Midnight

By Laura Geggel

There's so much smoke from wildfires in the Amazon rainforest that São Paulo plunged into darkness on Monday afternoon (Aug. 19), with day turning into night.

A Hubble Space Telescope image shows an object known as NGC 6052, which is made up of two relatively-nearby galaxies colliding just 230 million light years away.

Astronomers Trained AI to find Ancient Galaxy Collisions from the Early Universe

By Rafi Letzter

There are bright lights all over the universe where galaxies are smashing together. And now astronomers have a new way to find them.

Vaping May Create Toxic Chemicals That Damage Your Blood Vessels

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Here’s another reason vaping may not be good for you.

Men Are Being Warned Not to Eat Lichen Touted as 'Natural Viagra'

By Rachael Rettner

Experts in New Zealand are warning men not to consume a type of lichen that's been touted as a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction.

'Terminator' Android Preaches Buddhist Wisdom at Ancient Japanese Temple

By Tom Metcalfe

This android preaches Buddhist wisdom from the heart.

Dark 'Half-Magnets' from the Sun Could Be Streaming Through Us Every Day

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

Two theoretical physicists propose a novel idea to find dark matter — and it might actually be testable.

Many People with Diabetes Can't Afford 'Good' Insulin. What Should They Know About Switching to the Cheaper Stuff?

By Laura Geggel

Here's why switching insulins can be so challenging and how medical professionals can help patients do it safely.

An illustration shows jets of matter launched from a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy.

'UFOs' Are Flying Out from Supermassive Black Holes and Reshaping Galaxies

By Rafi Letzter

These jets of matter act like snowplows that shove gas around inside galaxies. And for the first time astronomers have spotted it happening.

Researchers discovered a new organ sitting below the outer layer of the skin. The organ is made up of nerves (blue) and sensory glia cells (red and green).

Scientists Just Found a Previously Unknown Organ Lurking Under Your Skin, and It Helps Detect Pain

By Yasemin Saplakoglu

You can blame this mysterious newfound organ for the pain you feel when you prick your finger.

Eerie 'Fire Cloud' Floats Like Alien Structure Over Washington

By Mindy Weisberger

A photographer on a NASA airplane captured a rare and spectacular shot when flying through a fire cloud, a type of thunderhead that forms above a wildfire's smoke plume.

How a Silent Cosmos Led Humans to Fear the Worst

By Thomas Moynihan

If all aliens have gone extinct, what does the future hold for humanity?

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