Life's Little Mysteries

Life's Little Mysteries answers fascinating questions about the world around you and the stuff in it, including wild questions you didn't even know you had.

And check out our "Life's Little Mysteries" podcast, where we answer questions about mysteries big and small — about ancient civilizations; our planet and solar system; the plants and animals that live alongside us; our bodies and how they work; and more. Listen in on Apple podcasts, Spotify and Audioboom. 

Related Topics: The Most Interesting YouTube Science Channels, The Amazing Human Brain, Our Amazing Planet

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The medical symbol of snakes intertwined around a staff is today, instantly recognisable.

Why is the medical symbol a snake on a stick?

By Remy Melina, Ben Biggs published

Life's Little Mysteries investigates the meaning behind the medical emblem of two snakes entwined around a rod.

Comet 67P_Churyumov-Gerasimenko_European Space Agency

Why are asteroids and comets such weird shapes?

By JoAnna Wendel published

Small bodies like asteroids and comets are shaped more by their geological makeup than by gravity, which molds planets and moons into spheres.

Jupiter is a gas giant, but it has rocky moons, including Ganymede (shown here), the largest moon in the solar system.

Are there any moons that are made of gas?

By Ashley Hamer published

There aren't any gaseous moons in the solar system, but here's what it would take for one to exist elsewhere.

A church in Yakutsk, Siberia.

What is the coldest city in the world?

By Joe Phelan published

The coldest city in the world is in Siberia. Here's why it's so cold there.

Magic Johnson in 2018

How has Magic Johnson survived with HIV?

By Adam Hadhazy, Jonathan Gordon published

Reference Magic Johnson continues to live with HIV and is an example of how new treatments are improving people's standard of life with the disease.

Black and white cat hiding in a box_ALFSnaiper via Getty Images

Why do cats love boxes so much?

By John Arnst published

It's an instinctual behavior for cats to seek out confined spaces, such as boxes, bags and baskets — Live Science explains why.

Feet of male hiker inside tent with mosquitoes waiting on mesh doorway, Staloluokta, Padjelantaleden trail, Lappland, Sweden_ Cavan Images via Getty Images

Should we kill every mosquito on Earth?

By Joe Phelan published

Not every mosquito species carries viruses that are deadly to humans, so should we kill all or just some mosquitoes?

A snake with its tongue out.

How do snakes hiss if they don't have front teeth?

By Ashley Hamer published

Here's how snakes can hiss even though they don't have front teeth.

Practicality and efficiency influence breakfast choices more than pleasure-seeking does.

Why do you usually eat the same thing for breakfast?

By Mindy Weisberger published

Researchers found that people are more likely to seek variety for lunch and dinner, while eating the same thing for breakfast day after day.

Medieval surgery tools

How did doctors perform surgery before modern anesthesia?

By Emma Bryce published

The history of anesthesia in surgery was grisly, painful and occasionally very dubious.

A 3D illustration of Argentinosaurus, possibly the most massive dinosaur that ever existed.

Are there any giant animals humans haven't discovered yet?

By Patrick Pester published

It's hard to imagine we could miss creatures the size of elephants roaming the planet, but are there any giant animals humans haven't discovered?

An ant bridge

What do ants smell like?

By Tyler Santora published

Different ants emit different smells. Here's why.

Offshore oil rig in the twilight_think4photop via Getty Images

What is crude oil?

By Joe Phelan published

Here's the science behind how crude oil forms and how experts locate and extract it.

An illustration of an asteroid slamming into Earth.

What are the largest impact craters on Earth?

By Donavyn Coffey published

What does it take for an asteroid to make a dent on Earth, and which known impact events have left the biggest craters?

A cat hides under a rug with its butt sticking out.

Why do cats and dogs rub their butts on the floor?

By Tyler Santora published

Here's why your cat or dog might be rubbing its butt on the floor.

An artist's impression of the planets in the solar system, not to scale.

What's the maximum number of planets that could orbit the sun?

By Harry Baker published

If a super-advanced civilization had to ability to engineer the solar system from scratch, how many planets could they squeeze around the sun?

The damaged body of US Airways Flight 1549, after the plane was pulled from the Hudson River after its emergency landing in 2009.

What happens when a plane makes an emergency landing?

By Joe Phelan published

Here's what pilots need to be prepared for in case they need to make an emergency landing.

Sunrise over Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which is part of the Appalachian Mountains.

What's the oldest mountain range in the world? (How about the youngest?)

By Brittney J. Miller published

Geologists have dated mountains all over the world, allowing them to discover some of the oldest and youngest ranges on the planet.

In the 2022 sci-fi movie "Moonfall," the Space Shuttle Endeavor docks at the International Space Station while the moon hurtles toward Earth.

Could the moon ever be pushed from orbit, like in 'Moonfall'?

By Mindy Weisberger published

What would it take to dislodge the moon from its orbit and send it on a collision course with Earth?

Groundhog handler AJ Derume holds Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow, predicting a late spring during the 136th annual Groundhog Day festivities on Feb. 2, 2022 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

How accurate are Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day forecasts?

By Live Science Staff published

Crowds showed up this morning to watch as Punxsutawney Phil came out of his "burrow," only to see ... his shadow on 2-2-22.