Live Science: The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries & Discoveries

Planet Earth

Whirlpools: Facts, formation and survival tips

By Ailsa Harvey published 11 May 22

Reference Whirlpools form when fast-flowing currents in oceans and rivers constantly change direction. What do they look like and can you escape from one?

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The Antarctic coast where the East Antarctic Ice sheet comes into contact with the sea.

City-size lake found miles below Antarctica's biggest ice sheet

By Ben Turner published 11 May 22

Drilling into the lake will enable scientists to track the history of climate change.

Space and Physics

The LCLS-II accelerator, where temperatures 2 K above absolute zero have been achieved.

Temperatures colder than space achieved here on Earth using superconducting X-ray laser

By Robert Lea published 17 May 22

Using a superconducting X-ray laser, researchers at SLAC achieved a temperature 4 degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero.

This NASA graphic shows the major stages of the Super Flower Blood Moon of May 2022 and their times.

What time is the Blood Moon lunar eclipse?

By Samantha Mathewson published 15 May 22

A Blood Moon total lunar eclipse will occur this weekend, and here's when to watch it.

History

An ancient tooth (specifically a molar) being displayed in the center of a person's palm.

Ancient tooth of mysterious Denisovan girl possibly found

By Charles Q. Choi published 17 May 22

Researchers in Laos have uncovered an ancient molar that may have belonged to a Denisovan girl who lived up to 164,000 years ago.

This relief depicts the tomb owner, Mehtjetju, who lived around 4,300 years ago.

Tomb of ancient Egyptian dignitary who read top secret documents discovered

By Owen Jarus published 16 May 22

Archaeologists in Egypt have found the tomb of an official who claimed to have access to secret royal documents.

Health

Clock on table with bowl of salad and weights to symbolise intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting: What is it and how does it work?

By Lou Mudge published 17 May 22

Reference There are several different types of intermittent fasting. Here’s how they work, including the potential benefits and risks

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What can you eat on a vegan keto diet?

By Anna Gora published 16 May 22

Reference What can you eat on a vegan keto diet? Here’s a comprehensive guide to the ketogenic diet for those who don’t eat animal products

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Are protein bars good for you?

By Joanne Lewsley published 15 May 22

Reference Are protein bars good for you? We weigh up the case for and against using a high-protein snack to build muscle, support weight loss and give you an energy boost

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Animals

photo of little penguins marching onto phillip island from the water

5,000 of the world's smallest penguins waddle onto Australian beach in record-breaking parade

By Nicoletta Lanese published 17 May 22

A nightly penguin parade takes place on Phillip Island.

Judith Pardo Pérez with the ichthyosaur skeleton in Chile.

Meet 'Fiona' the pregnant ichthyosaur, Chile's oldest marine reptile mom

By Joanna Thompson published 17 May 22

Paleontologists recently excavated a marine reptile known as an ichthyosaur that died while pregnant. The fossil provides a rare glimpse of the life cycle for this extinct ocean species.

A Tyrannosaurus rex and juvenile swimming in episode 1 of “Prehistoric Planet.”

Nuzzling T. rexes and grappling sauropods: Dinosaurs on 'Prehistoric Planet' will astonish you

By Patrick Pester published 16 May 22

"Prehistoric Planet" on Apple TV+ presents dinosaurs as we've never seen them before by pairing wildlife filmmakers and David Attenborough narration with Hollywood visual effects.

Strange News

A metal kettle attached to a log structure hangs over a campfire near a lake.

Why does wood catch fire, but metal doesn't?

By JoAnna Wendel published 15 May 22

Burning is the release of energy, and some materials like metals, can absorb energy better than others, such as wood.

A screenshot from the EVNautilus Youtube video on the 'yellow brick road' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TID2kc8yb9Q&t=1s

Eerie 'yellow brick road' to Atlantis discovered atop ancient undersea mountain

By Brandon Specktor published 12 May 22

Researchers exploring underwater mountains near Hawaii discovered a bizarre "yellow brick road" on an ancient seamount.

A photo of Dolly, the cloned sheep in Roslin, Scotland on Sept. 2, 1997.

Why haven't we cloned a human yet?

By Joe Phelan published 9 May 22

Here's a look at the science for why we haven't cloned any humans yet.

Culture

Brooklyn's Mexican community marches down 5th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood during a Cinco de Mayo parade on May 7, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York

Cinco de Mayo: History and facts about the celebration of Latin culture

By Remy Melina published 4 May 22

Reference Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration of Latin culture, with origins in a 19th-century battle.

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Two darker skinned females against blue background. Researchers have found that as a tool for grouping people into racial categories, skin color is basically useless.

What's the difference between race and ethnicity?

By Emma Bryce published 9 April 22

Race and ethnicity are terms that are sometimes used sloppily, almost interchangeably. But race and ethnicity are not the same thing.

Nelson Mandela visits Hlengiwe School_Louise Gubb via Getty Images

What is the Mandela effect? And have you experienced it?

By Joe Phelan published 19 March 22

The Mandela effect is when many people believe that something happened when, in reality, it never did.

Tech

Olympus OM-D E-M1X review

By James Artaius published 17 May 22

REVIEW Looking for ultra lightweight kit that packs a heavyweight punch? The Olympus OM-D E-M1X provides a compact system that’s ideal for wildlife and safari shooting.

REVIEW

Canon EOS R5 review

By James Artaius published 17 May 22

REVIEW The Canon EOS R5 is so good at photographing wildlife, it’s effectively a cheat code for capturing images of animals – not to mention humans or any other subject.

REVIEW

VR headset deals: HTC Vive Pro 2_tracking illustration

VR headset deals: Save on Oculus Quest 2, the ideal gateway to VR

By Lloyd Coombes published 16 May 22

Enter a whole new world with these VR headset deals, including ways to get the Meta Quest 2 cheap.

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