Planet Earth

Icebergs floating near face of Sveabreen Glacier in Nordfjorden.

Arctic Ocean methane 'switch' that helped drive rapid global warming discovered

By Aubrey Zerkle published

The Arctic Ocean was once an important source of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere — and it could become one again, researchers warn.

Planet Earth
A relativity breaking illusion and scientists drill microbes out of the permafrost.

Revived permafrost microbes spew CO2, scientists image 'relativity-breaking' illusion, and James Webb telescope spots something 'exciting' blasting from black hole M87*

By Ben Turner published

Science news this week Oct. 18, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Science news this week
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Space

$20 million NASA mission to visit 'God of Chaos' asteroid saved from budget cuts in last-minute decision

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission, which was one of 19 designated to be canceled by the Trump administration, has been saved from the chopping block in a last-minute decision. There will be a significant change to its structure, however.

Space Exploration

Astronomers detect first 'heartbeat' of a newborn star hidden within a powerful cosmic explosion

By Mark Thompson published

Astronomers have uncovered the source of a strange, repeating signal nestled within a powerful cosmic explosion.

Astronomy
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archaeology

Photograph of the fortress wall with the zigzag pattern.

3,500-year-old Egyptian military fortress with ancient ovens and fossilized dough discovered in Sinai Desert

By Owen Jarus published

A 3,500-year-old Egyptian fortress has been discovered on an ancient military road in the north Sinai Desert.

Ancient Egyptians

Ancient Roman tombstone found beneath undergrowth in New Orleans yard

By Tom Metcalfe last updated

A New Orleans couple doing yard work behind their house unexpectedly found a Roman headstone of a solider who died 1,900 years ago.

Romans
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World of science

Health

How do our brains wake up?

By Sara Hashemi published

How do we go from sound asleep to awake in the blink of an eye?

Neuroscience
an illustration of a drop of blood

Could simple blood tests identify cancer earlier?

By Emily Cooke published

Blood tests that detect early cancer are coming to market. Could they lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment?

Cancer
Group of friends playing pickleball.

Black eyes, orbital fractures and retinal detachment: Pickleball-related eye injuries are on the rise in the US

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A new analysis suggests the rate of pickleball-related eye injuries has increased dramatically in the U.S. as the sport gains popularity.

Health
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Animals

Can you actually get high from licking a toad?

By Marilyn Perkins published

There's some truth to the urban legend that certain toads have psychedelic properties, but licking them isn't a good idea.

Toads

Jane Goodall revolutionized animal research, but her work had some unintended consequences. Here's what we've learned from them.

By Sophie Berdugo published

Following Jane Goodall's death, chimp experts explain how her early observations still influence our understanding of our ape cousins.

Land Mammals

The viral 'Chicago Rat Hole' wasn't actually made by a rat, scientists claim

By K.R. Callaway published

After researching the rodent indent, scientists are over 98% sure it came from a squirrel.

Land Mammals
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Human Behavior

A hand holding a pencil over a crossword puzzle

Live Science crossword puzzle #15: Explosive death of a star — 11 down

By Harry Baker last updated

Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!

Science crossword
scientist holding test tubes with illustration of money symbols and a sand timer on a blue background

Citation cartels, ghost writing and fake peer-review: Fraud is causing a crisis in science — here's what we need to do to stop it

By Kit Yates published

Opinion Thousands of scientific papers are retracted every year because of fraudulent activity, with both authors and journals gaming a system to gain academic acclaim through deceit, dishonesty and false representation.

Opinion
a 5g cell tower with green waves coming out

'When people gather in groups, bizarre behaviors often emerge': How the rise of online social networks has catapulted dysfunctional thinking

By Carlo Kopp, David Green, Fatima Seeme published

Opinion The pervasive spread of misinformation can be tracked to cognitive limitations, social influence and the global spread of online networks. Combatting it has become an "arms race" between truth and lies.

Opinion
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Physics & Mathematics

Physicists capture rare illusion of an object moving at 99.9% the speed of light

By Larissa G. Capella published

For the first time, physicists have simulated what objects moving near the speed of light would look like — an optical illusion called the Terrell-Penrose effect.

Physics & Mathematics

Einstein's relativity could rewrite a major rule about what types of planets are habitable

By Paul Sutter published

Planets that orbit white dwarf stars should be too hot to host alien life, theories suggest. But a new study accounting for Einstein's general relativity may rewrite that rule.

Physics & Mathematics
The 2025 Nobel Prize winners in physics, illustrated left to write, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis.

Nobel Prize in physics goes to three scientists who discovered bizarre quantum effect on large scales

By Patrick Pester published

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis "for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit."

Physics & Mathematics
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Chemistry

Why does slicing onions make you cry?

By Donavyn Coffey last updated

Here's why you may start tearing up while slicing an onion.

Chemistry
An illustration of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winners.

'Harry Potter' materials land three scientists Nobel Prize in chemistry

By Patrick Pester last updated

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the development of metal–organic frameworks."

Chemistry
The monument for Marie Sklodowska Curie, the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences: the Nobel Prize for physics in 1903 (jointly with her husband), and the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1911.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry: 1901-Present

By Live Science Staff last updated

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry includes famous winners such as Marie Curie and Otto Hahn.

Chemistry
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Technology

Quantum computing concept (artist's impression). A qubit, short for "quantum bit," is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing. Unlike classical bits, which can be either 0 or 1, a qubit can exist in a superposition of both states simultaneously, enabling powerful computational possibilities - digitally generated image

'This moves the timeline forward significantly': Quantum computing breakthrough could slash pesky errors by up to 100 times

By Owen Hughes published

Researchers used a new technique called algorithmic fault tolerance (AFT) to cut the time and computational cost of quantum error correction by up to 100 times in simulations of neutral-atom architecture.

Computing
Celestron NexStar 8SE on a blue background

Cheaper than Prime Day: Our favorite telescope is now $300 off at Amazon

By Kimberley Lane published

Deals The Celestron NexStar 8SE is now the cheapest we've seen it since January — and there's no guarantee it'll be discounted for Black Friday, either.

Deals
A close-up picture of our reviewer testing the Shokz OpenRun bone conduction headphones

Best bone conduction headphones 2025 — Our top picks for every budget

By Anna Gora last updated

Buying guides These are the best bone conduction headphones you can buy in every category, from Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 and Nank Runner Diver 2 Pro to Mrytky S1.

Buying guides
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