Earth & Environment
Why Jupiter has more giant moons than Saturn
Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets in our solar system, and both are surrounded by dozens—even hundreds—of moons.
But their moon systems look...
Why living at high altitude could prevent diabetes
For many years, scientists have noticed an interesting pattern. People who live at high altitudes, where the air contains less oxygen, tend to have...
Up to 6.4 million children could lose citizenship rights under new proposal
A new study suggests that ending birthright citizenship in the United States could have far-reaching effects, especially for Asian and Latino communities.
Researchers from Penn...
Five things to know about rare earth elements
Aside from oil, rare earth elements may be the most buzzworthy thing coming out of the ground these days.
Headlines trumpet news about new partnerships...
A sleeping giant awakens: Japan’s Kikai volcano is slowly refilling with magma
Scientists have discovered that one of the most powerful volcanoes in Earth’s recent history is slowly building up magma again—more than 7,000 years after...
Scientists discover lost ice age world beneath Texas cave
A surprising discovery deep inside an underwater cave in Texas has revealed a hidden snapshot of life from the Ice Age.
A paleontologist from the...
Why winter could be the most dangerous season for your heart
Many people worry about heat waves and rising temperatures, but new research suggests that cold weather may be a greater danger to heart health.
A...
Not so lonely after all: Bull sharks choose friends and form social bonds
Sharks are often seen as solitary and dangerous animals that roam the ocean alone. But new research is challenging that image.
A long-term study of...
A tiny “ion pump” could make clean water cheaper and power future technologies
Scientists have developed a new kind of device that can move charged particles through water using very little energy—and without any moving parts.
This breakthrough...
Study finds surprising cancer link between cats and humans
A large new study has made an exciting discovery about cancer in cats, and it may also help improve how we treat cancer in...
Earth was already moving 3.5 billion years ago, study finds
The story of our planet is written in the slow movement of its surface.
Over billions of years, shifting tectonic plates have shaped continents, opened...
Why fashion keeps coming back: Scientists find a 20-year style cycle
Have you ever noticed that old fashion trends seem to come back?
Bell-bottom jeans, miniskirts, and vintage styles often return after disappearing for years.
Many people...
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Scientists find new way to search for Earth-like planets
Astronomers searching for Earth-like planets in other solar systems have made a breakthrough by taking a closer look at the surface of stars.
A new...
Scientists reunite Pterodactylus family after 150 million years
This Christmas, paleontologists from the University of Leicester have shared some exciting news: they’ve reunited a family that has been separated for 150 million...
Hidden in the Sun’s glare, this asteroid is uncomfortably close to Earth
In the distant past, the Solar System was rife with impacts and collisions.
Millions of rocky objects zoomed chaotically through the system, smashing into each...
Earth’s magnetic shield is weakening over the Atlantic, scientists warn
Scientists have discovered that a weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field—known as the South Atlantic Anomaly—is continuing to grow.
Using 11 years of precise data...
Why plants don’t die from cancer
Humans would have been killed many times over by the radiation that plants received. So why is plant life so resilient to radiation and nuclear disaster?
Dogs are helping people regulate stress even more than expected
In a 2022 survey of 3,000 U.S. adults, more than one-third of respondents reported that on most days, they feel "completely overwhelmed" by stress.
At...
Scientists find 1,500-year-old Christian reliquary in Austria
Since the summer of 2016, archaeologists from Innsbruck have been digging in an ancient hilltop settlement in southern Austria.
Two years ago, they made an...
Ancient fossils reveal when complex life flourished in earth’s oceans
In a remarkable scientific achievement, researchers have accurately dated some of the world's oldest fossils of complex multicellular life.
This research, led by a team...