Kanzi the bonobo could play pretend — a trait thought unique to humans
Past anecdotal observations have hinted that great apes play pretend. But now, experimental research shows that our closest living relatives can keep track of imaginary objects.
Space
Asteroid 2024 YR4's collision with the moon could create a flash visible from Earth
If the building-size asteroid 2024 YR4 crashes into the moon in December 2032, the impact will produce a bright flash that may be visible to the naked eye, a new study finds.
Auroras likely as most active sunspot in years turns toward Earth
The sunspot region 4366 fired off dozens of powerful solar flares in 24 hours, including the single strongest flare since 2024. Auroras are possible later this week.
Hydrogen leak derails Artemis II wet rehearsal, pushing launch date back by weeks
NASA has delayed the Artemis II launch until March at the earliest after engineers discovered hydrogen leaks during last night's wet dress rehearsal.
2 Comments
Artemis II simulated launch window opens tonight as NASA delays mission due to 'rare Arctic outbreak'
NASA's Artemis II simulated launch is scheduled for tonight after Arctic weather forced the mission to be delayed. The first crewed Artemis mega moon rocket could still leave Earth as early as this weekend.
Planet Earth
New map shows weird magnetic anomaly lurking beneath Australia's Northern Territory
Advanced modeling has revealed an Australia-shaped magnetic anomaly beneath the country's Northern Territory that holds valuable information about Australia's geological history.
'Nitrogen fixing' trees could help tropical forests bounce back, research suggests
On the narrow isthmus of Panama, scientists discovered adding nitrogen to the soil doubled tree growth, providing new insights into forest restoration.
Trippy 'biomass' snap reveals first detailed look at our planet's carbon stores
Earth from space The first false-color image from ESA's newly operational Biomass satellite shows off a unique perspective of the rainforests, grasslands and wetlands surrounding a winding river in Bolivia.
archaeology
'Landmark' elephant bone finding in Spain may be from time of Hannibal's war against Rome
An elephant bone discovered in Spain may date to the time of Hannibal's battles against the Romans.
Ribchester Helmet: A rare 'face mask' helmet worn by a Roman cavalry officer 1,900 years ago
The helmet has been a powerful symbol of Roman Britain since it was discovered over 200 years ago.
'It's similar to how Google can map your home without your consent': Why using aerial lasers to map an archaeology site should have Indigenous partnership
Aerial lidar is transforming how archaeologists map sites, but they should do it in tandem with Indigenous people.
LATEST ARTICLES
Animals
Grim photo captures polar bear mom and cubs resting in mud in summer heat
An image of polar bears napping along the Hudson Bay coast in Canada has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People's Choice Award 2026.
4 Comments
'System in flux': Scientists reveal what happened when wolves and cougars returned to Yellowstone
Large carnivores are both clashing and coexisting in the western United States. Although wolves dominate cougars and steal their prey, cougars' shift from elk- to deer-heavy diets, paired with a rugged landscape for escape, might help cougars avoid violent wolf encounters.
In the search for bees, Mozambique honey hunters and birds share a language with distinct, regional dialects
People searching for honey in Mozambique work with birds via a shared language in a rare case of cooperation between humans and wild animals. This language also comes with regional dialects — that appear to be driven by the birds.
3 Comments
'Part of the evolutionary fabric of our societies': Same-sex sexual behavior in primates may be a survival strategy, study finds
A new study comparing 59 species of primates linked same-sex sexual behavior to scarce resources and more predators in socially complex species. The findings show diverse sexual behaviors are common — and likely beneficial in primates.
Health & Human Behavior
Men develop cardiovascular disease 7 years before women
Men's heart health tends to decline earlier in life, and the difference is driven largely by coronary heart disease, which appears roughly a decade sooner in men than in women.
2 Comments
Preserved hair reveals just how bad lead exposure was in the 20th century
A new study reveals the dramatic decrease in lead exposure in the U.S. following the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency 55 years ago.
'Nose-in-a-dish' reveals why the common cold hits some people hard, while others recover easily
Using a laboratory model of the human nose, scientists have investigated why the severity of common-cold infections varies so widely between individuals.
Lifespan may be 50% heritable, study suggests
A new study suggests that lifespan might be 50% heritable — although for now, it's hard to know if the finding applies across diverse populations.
New triple-drug treatment stops pancreatic cancer in its tracks, a mouse study finds
By targeting three key growth pathways at once, researchers eliminated pancreatic tumors in multiple mouse models and prevented the cancer from returning, a promising step toward overcoming treatment resistance.
8 Comments
-
-
Life's Little Mysteries
Science questions, answered
-
Space photo of the week
Extraordinary images of our sublime universe
-
Diagnostic dilemma
Unusual case reports from the medical literature
-
Incredible places
A window onto extraordinary landscapes on Earth
-
Astonishing artifacts
A glimpse into how people lived in the past
-
Earth from space
Incredible images of our planet from above
-
Technology
What is Moltbook? A social network for AI threatens a 'total purge' of humanity — but some experts say it's a hoax
A new social networking site exclusively for bots has sparked claims of AI inventing its own religion and plotting humanity's downfall. But experts say its real dangers lie elsewhere.
4 Comments
'The problem isn't just Siri or Alexa': AI assistants tend to be feminine, entrenching harmful gender stereotypes
Virtual assistants mostly adopt 'female' personas, but all that does is exacerbate the notion that women are subservient.
AI swarms, mysterious Zapotec tomb, pancreatic cancer breakthrough and the growing threat of U.S. dam collapses.
Science news this week Jan. 31, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Physics, Math & Chemistry
Scientists smash record for superposition, bringing quantum world tantalizingly close to reality
Researchers have demonstrated that a nanoparticle of 7,000 sodium atoms can act as a wave, creating a record-setting superposition.
4 Comments
Quizzes & Games
Daily sudoku: Take a break with this classic numbers puzzle
Get a new challenge every day with our free online sudoku puzzle.
Live Science Recommends
Best bone conduction headphones 2026: Our top picks for every budget
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 Suunto Wing 2.
Live Science Plus24/7
Access Available
25K
Active Members
