Science News - Latest Scientific Discoveries

Wispy white noctilucent clouds swirl over an orange sunset and blue sea

Earth's highest, coldest, rarest clouds are back. How to see the eerie 'noctilucent clouds' this summer.

By Jamie Carter published 5 June 23

Look North as the stars appear in June and July to have a chance of seeing rare noctilucent (or 'night-shining') clouds with the naked eye.

A scan of human lungs, depicted in dark red and pink, with a cancerous tumor in the upper right lung shown in yellow and orange

Lung cancer pill drastically cuts risk of death after surgery

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 5 June 23

Taking the drug Tagrisso daily after surgery reduced non-small cell lung cancer patients' death risk by more than 50%.

Here we see a reconstruction of our human relative Homo naledi, which has a wider nose and larger brow than humans.

Extinct human relative buried their dead 100,000 years before modern humans did, study claims

By Kristina Killgrove published 5 June 23

Homo naledi, an extinct human relative with one-third the brain size of ours, buried and may have memorialized their dead, controversial research suggests.

older woman with light grey hair and tan skin raises the arm of her t shirt to receive a shot from a gloved medical provider who's holding a syringe at the ready

Shingles vaccine may protect against dementia

By Carissa Wong published 5 June 23

An analysis of thousands of healthcare records adds to mounting evidence that people who get the shingles vaccine in their 70s may reduce their dementia risk over the following seven years.

A picture of the orange alligator spotted in South Carolina in 2017 walking across grass.

Crocodiles and gharials are getting bizarre orange 'tans' in Nepal. Here's why.

By Sascha Pare published 5 June 23

Researchers think it could be down to where these crocs are hanging out.

close up of a burmese python looking straight at camera on grassy background and a cotton rat on the bank of a river with its reflection showing in the water

Burmese pythons are helping rats take over Florida's Everglades — and that could help spread disease

By Hannah Osborne published 5 June 23

The invasion of pythons has had little to no impact on cotton rats, explaining why some areas are now increasingly dominated by rodents.

Get started with photography with this Canon EOS Rebel T7 deal, over $100 off at Walmart

By Lloyd Coombes published 5 June 23

Deal Looking for a great DSLR camera? Walmart has you covered with this Canon EOS Rebel T7 deal.

Deal

mexican magic mushrooms lit in pink and blue lights with a black background

Fungi seem to 'sweat' to stay cool and scientists don't know why

By Ethan Freedman published 5 June 23

This discovery reveals a mostly unstudied but apparently universal aspect of fungal life.

Eastern chimpanzee juvenile male 'Gimli' aged 8 years playing with his brother 'Gizmo' aged 3 years. Image taken in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, June 2012.

Do all animals go through adolescence?

By Amanda Heidt published 4 June 23

All species experience the bodily changes of puberty, but the social lessons that define the shift from childhood to adulthood are more nuanced.

Save over $280 on this Surface Pro 9 bundle

By Lloyd Coombes published 3 June 23

Get this Surface Pro 9 tablet/laptop combo for significantly less, with a keyboard, too.

A data plot of the radio filaments, bursting out of the center of the galaxy like fireworks

Hundreds of ancient, invisible structures discovered near our galaxy's center

By Brandon Specktor published 3 June 23

Radio astronomers have discovered hundreds of long, thin structures emanating from our galaxy's supermassive black hole.

View from above of a happy tabby cat kneading its paws on a soft white blanket.

Why do cats knead?

By Charles Q. Choi published 3 June 23

If a cat kneads on your lap, it's likely because it feels safe around you. But why do they knead in the first place?

a beluga whale with a strap around its neck surfacing from the water, and an asteroid with the sun and earth in the background

Science news this week: A quasi-moon and a lonely spy whale

By Alexander McNamara published 3 June 23

June 3, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news over the past few days, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

A woman in a light blue swimsuit walks along a beach coated in a thick layer of brown seaweed

Does the giant blob of seaweed headed to Florida really contain 'flesh-eating' bacteria?

By Kiley Price published 2 June 23

A gargantuan seaweed blob on its way to Florida beaches is filled with plastic and some potentially harmful bacteria, but no "flesh-eating" microbes, as some news reports have suggested.

An artist's illustration of three black holes merging.

Stephen Hawking's most famous prediction could mean that everything in the universe is doomed to evaporate, new study says

By Ben Turner published 2 June 23

A new theory has radically revised Stephen Hawking's 1974 theory of black holes to predict that all objects with mass may eventually disappear.

Here we see a hand clenching around the end of a wooden spear, with the forefinger in the "open ring" finger loop.

150-year-old mystery of strange half-circles from Paleolithic site in France finally solved

By Tom Metcalfe published 2 June 23

Hurling spear-thrower projectiles at archery targets revealed that these loops may have been finger grips.

close up of fuzzy, white fungus growing in a circular lab dish

Deadly fungal meningitis outbreak linked to cosmetic procedures in Mexico

By Nicoletta Lanese published 2 June 23

An outbreak of dangerous fungal infections has been tied to recent cosmetic procedures at specific clinics in Mexico. Health officials urge anyone who underwent such procedures to seek a medical evaluation right away.

hand holds up phone with the Neuralink website displayed on its screen. In the background, an edited photo of Elon Musk's face with the word "Neuralink" superimposed over it can be seen

Elon Musk's Neuralink 'brain chips' cleared for 1st in-human trials

By Sarah Moore published 2 June 23

Brain implants developed by Elon Musk's company Neuralink have been approved for human testing. The safety of the devices previously came under scrutiny following reports of "botched surgeries" in animal test subjects.

Renpho smart scale being tested by Live Science contributor Maddy Bidulph

Save 34% on the RENPHO smart scale, now only $22.94 at Amazon

By Lou Mudge published 2 June 23

Deal One of our favorite Garmins, the Garmin Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar, is now $200 off at Amazon.

Deal

Save 20% on the top rated Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

By Lou Mudge published 2 June 23

Deal One of our favorite Garmins, the Garmin Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar, is now $200 off at Amazon.

Deal