Earth & Environment
Solar wind creates giant space waves that slowly strip away Mars’ atmosphere
Mars is slowly losing parts of its atmosphere to space, and scientists have discovered that the process may be driven by giant waves created...
Why Monkeys Befriend Dogs, Deer and Other Animals
Why do humans enjoy keeping pets?
A new international study suggests that the answer may reach much further back in evolution than scientists once believed.
Researchers...
Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Created a Planet-Wide Firestorm, Study Finds
A new study suggests that the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs may have been even more deadly than scientists once thought.
Researchers now...
Air Pollution May Help Bladder Cancer Spread
Most people think of dirty air as something that mainly harms the lungs. Doctors have warned for years that breathing polluted air raises the...
New Recyclable Stretchy Yarn Could Help Keep Millions Of Tons Of Clothing Out Of...
Every year, millions of tons of old clothing end up in landfills because most textiles are difficult or impossible to recycle.
While plastic bottles and...
New Low-Cost Leaf Spray Helps Tomatoes Thrive in Salty Soil, Study Finds
A simple and inexpensive leaf spray could help tomato plants grow better in salty soils, offering farmers a promising new way to protect crops...
Cameras attached to whale sharks capture krill chases never witnessed before
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus)—the world's biggest fish—are one of the most charismatic marine species.
They connect with the hearts of anyone lucky enough to encounter...
1.4-Million-Year-Old Footprints Reveal Giant Human Relative and Surprising Social Life
A remarkable set of fossil footprints discovered in Kenya is giving scientists a rare look at how one of humanity's ancient relatives lived more...
Spring daylight saving time may raise the risk of eye disease
Changing the clocks for daylight saving time may do more than make people feel tired.
A new study suggests that the one-hour time change could...
Could Purple Corn Replace Artificial Food Dyes?
A special type of purple corn may soon help replace artificial food dyes in many foods and drinks, according to new research from the...
1789 Smallpox Epidemic May Have Killed Up to 220,000 Indigenous Australians, Study Finds
A new study has used computer modeling to provide one of the clearest pictures yet of the devastating smallpox epidemic that struck Indigenous Australians...
Fossilized wood preserved 300 million years of Earth’s history
Most people think of fossilized wood as an attractive stone displayed in museums or sold as a decorative souvenir.
However, scientists have now discovered that...
FEATURED
What is the “mini moon” that is now orbiting Earth
For the next two months, Earth will have a cosmic guest. A so-called “mini moon” will join our actual moon in circling the planet...
White sharks run away when they see orcas
In a new study, scientists found that white sharks give up their feeding areas when they encounter orcas.
The finding challenges the idea that great...
Why we stick with long-term goals—even when it doesn’t make sense
Have you ever kept pushing toward a goal, even when switching to something else might have been smarter or easier?
You’re not alone—and scientists are...
MIT device could turn seawater into cheap drinking water, shows study
Scientists and engineers at MIT, along with collaborators in China, have created an innovative device powered by the sun, capable of turning seawater into...
Ancient Roman glass turns into a modern-day marvel, shows study
Have you ever wondered what happens to old, broken glass?
Two scientists at Tufts University made a groundbreaking discovery using a sparkling piece of ancient...
How investor emotions could solve a big mystery in the stock market
For decades, financial experts have been puzzled by a strange inconsistency in the stock market: risk doesn't always lead to higher returns.
The basic idea...
Cleaner air may bring big health benefits very quickly
In a new paper, researchers report that when people are breathing cleaner air, their health could be improved rapidly.
They conclude that people can reap...
A global IT outage has knocked thousands of Microsoft computers offline. What this means
Flights were being canceled around the world.
Bank and hospital systems were in a deadlock. TV stations were scrambling, and 911 services were down in...