Science news breaks every day, but understanding its significance can be difficult. How is it changing how we live, or how we understand our world and our place in it? Live Science takes a deeper look at emerging science and gives you, our readers, the perspective you need on these advances.
Our stories highlight trends in different fields, how new research is changing old ideas, and how the picture of the world we live in is being transformed thanks to science. These are stories you'll find nowhere else, driven by writer's expertise and broad knowledge of the beats they cover.
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Atlantic ocean currents are weakening — and it could make the climate in some regions unrecognizable
A cold blob of water in the North Atlantic is an ominous sign that a system of currents that regulate the planet's climate could be weakening.
A long-lost ice sheet could predict the future of New York City — one in which Lower Manhattan and Coney Island are 'perpetually submerged'
Scientists are rethinking what we knew about a vanished ice sheet — and that could spell trouble for New York City.
Quantum computers are a dream come true for hackers. Can we stop them?
When quantum computers become commonplace, current cryptographic systems will become obsolete. Scientists are racing to get ahead of the problem and keep our data secure.
Simple blood tests could be the future of cancer diagnosis
Blood tests that detect early cancer are coming to market. Could they lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment?
Is there really a difference between male and female brains? Emerging science is revealing the answer.
Brain scans, postmortem dissections, artificial intelligence and lab mice reveal differences in the brain that are linked to sex. Do we know what they mean?
Invisible DNA lurks everywhere in the environment — and we're on the verge of decoding its secrets
Environments are littered with the DNA of the creatures that inhabit them. Analyzing it could provide a real-time view of how our planet is changing.
Was Alexander the Great eaten by sharks? Inside the wild theories for what happened to the iconic ruler's body.
The remains of Alexander the Great may lie under the streets of Alexandria, they may have been "eaten by a shark," or they may be somewhere else entirely. But one thing is certain: Archaeologists don't agree.
Lucy's last day: What the iconic fossil reveals about our ancient ancestor's last hours
Feature Fifty years after a fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis was unearthed in Ethiopia, we know so much more about how this iconic species lived and died.
Did plate tectonics give rise to life? Groundbreaking new research could crack Earth's deepest mystery.
Feature Emerging evidence suggests that plate tectonics, or the recycling of Earth's crust, may have begun much earlier than previously thought — and may be a big reason that our planet harbors life.
