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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'More Neanderthal than human': How DNA from our long-lost ancestors affects our health today
Neanderthals and humans mated millennia ago, and their legacy lives on in us today. Here's how.
Tractor beams inspired by sci-fi are real, and could solve the looming space junk problem
Researchers are developing a real-life tractor beam, with the goal of pulling defunct satellites out of geostationary orbit to alleviate the space junk problem.
Orcas are adopting terrifying new behaviors. Are they getting smarter?
From sinking boats and feasting on shark livers to dining on whale tongue and tossing porpoises around for fun, orcas are displaying some fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — behaviors.
We now know much more about how our ancestor 'Lucy' lived — and died
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.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is rapidly moving away from us. Can we 'intercept' it before it leaves us forever?
3I/ATLAS has passed its closest point to Earth, meaning we will soon lose sight of it for good. Some scientists want to send a spacecraft to chase down the alien comet — or the next interstellar object.
AI is solving 'impossible' math problems. Can it best the world's top mathematicians?
AI is making gains in solving pure math problems. Can it crack the hardest problems in mathematics?
Earth's crust hides enough 'gold' hydrogen to power the world for tens of thousands of years, emerging research suggests
Reservoirs of hydrogen gas that form naturally in Earth's crust could help humans decarbonize. The challenge now is finding these accumulations and working out how best to mine them, experts say.
A huge helium shortage is looming — but ancient rocks in Earth's crust may be hiding massive reservoirs
For decades, helium has been produced with natural gas, generating huge carbon emissions. Now, geologists are looking for new helium sources — and finding enormous "carbon-free" reservoirs that could revolutionize the industry.
A looming 'insect apocalypse' could endanger global food supplies. Can we stop it before it's too late?
Insect populations are in steep decline, which could endanger the food supply. But there are things we can do to reverse the trend.
Quantum computing will make cryptography obsolete. But computer scientists are working to make them unhackable.
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.
