Science

Science spans our understanding of how Earth and the cosmos work. Get the biggest news on biology, physics, space, dinosaurs, and more—along with the latest episodes of the Ask Us Anything and Weirdest Thing podcasts.

Latest in Science

seven circular pieces of silver dating back to the viking age

Science

Metal detector enthusiast finds Viking silver in a field Metal detector enthusiast finds Viking silver in a field

By Laura Baisas

cellular shades

DIY

Ditch your old blinds for cellular shades Ditch your old blinds for cellular shades

By Lauren Leffer

salton sea in california

Health

Why are people near the Salton Sea getting lung disease? Why are people near the Salton Sea getting lung disease?

By Fletcher Reveley / Undark

A freshly-collected batch of venomous cone snails.

Health

Precise, lethal sea snail toxin could one day lead to better medicines Precise, lethal sea snail toxin could one day lead to better medicines

By Laura Baisas

Two images displaying possible kilonova

Science

Scientists want your help finding black holes with your phone Scientists want your help finding black holes with your phone

a python with a wide open mouth swallows a white rat whole

Environment

How pythons can eat such giant meals How pythons can eat such giant meals

By Laura Baisas

Anatomically accurate sculpture of a dodo

Science

The dodo was faster and smarter than you think The dodo was faster and smarter than you think

a spider traps a glowing firefly in its web

Environment

Spiders may be hacking firefly signals to trap dinner Spiders may be hacking firefly signals to trap dinner

By Laura Baisas

Health

West Nile Virus cases are on the rise again: How to protect yourself West Nile Virus cases are on the rise again: How to protect yourself

By Lauren Leffer

whole family sick

Health

Infectious diseases spike when kids return to school−here’s what you can do about it Infectious diseases spike when kids return to school−here’s what you can do about it

By Libby Richards/The Conversation

baby sloth poses for the camera on the tree

Science

Which animals can and can’t fart? Which animals can and can’t fart?

By Alex Hazlett

Science

This eyeless cavefish grows extra taste buds on its head This eyeless cavefish grows extra taste buds on its head

Mug of beer splashing

Science

Space beer may taste better than Earth beer Space beer may taste better than Earth beer

a bunch of yellow bananas

Environment

Bananas are at risk of extinction, but scientists have a plan Bananas are at risk of extinction, but scientists have a plan

By Laura Baisas

Viruses called bacteriophages infect intestinal bacteria by injecting their genetic material and later, new phages burst out of the bacterium. But these phages and bacteria can also live in harmony.

Science

The phageome: A hidden kingdom within your gut The phageome: A hidden kingdom within your gut

By Amber Dance/Knowable Magazine

a group of earthworms in rich, dark soil

Environment

Hear the ‘rave’-like sounds of a healthy soil Hear the ‘rave’-like sounds of a healthy soil

By Laura Baisas

a large, domed rock formation

Science

Geologists find solid evidence of ancient ‘snowball Earth’ Geologists find solid evidence of ancient ‘snowball Earth’

By Laura Baisas

Artist impression of a large asteroid impacting on Earth such as the Chicxulub event that caused the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, 66 million years ago. The illustration shows an asteroid impacting at Chicxulub. Shown in the background are planet Mars and asteroid bodies.

Science

Dinosaur-killing asteroid likely came from deep space beyond Jupiter Dinosaur-killing asteroid likely came from deep space beyond Jupiter

Woman singing in studio microphone

Science

You can (probably) sing better than you think You can (probably) sing better than you think

Astronomy: the corona of the sun, viewed during a total solar eclipse. Process print after a photograph, 1871.

Science

‘The sun has been eaten’: A brief history of solar eclipses ‘The sun has been eaten’: A brief history of solar eclipses

By Briley Lewis

Port Jackson sharks sleeping on the seafloor at Beagle Marine Park.

Environment

Watch a huge ‘No Boys Allowed’ shark slumber party Watch a huge ‘No Boys Allowed’ shark slumber party

By Laura Baisas

A transparent zebrafish in a tank in a laboratory at the Pasteur Institute in Paris on June 20, 2023.

Science

Zebrafish regenerate their spinal cords in a surprising way Zebrafish regenerate their spinal cords in a surprising way

By Laura Baisas

Columbian mammoth tusk fossil in creek

Science

Man finds gigantic mammoth tusk in a Mississippi creek Man finds gigantic mammoth tusk in a Mississippi creek

An old ink drawing of Sweden’s Forsa Ring with the runic inscription.

Science

Even Vikings had to pay fines Even Vikings had to pay fines

By Laura Baisas

stonehenge. these large neolithic standing stones are arranged in a circle

Archaeology

Geologists crack a major Stonehenge mystery Geologists crack a major Stonehenge mystery

By Laura Baisas

The device, which is about the size of a stick of gum, can be implanted under the skin, where it monitors heart rate, breathing rate, and other vital signs. When it determines that an overdose has occurred, it rapidly pumps out a dose of naloxone.

Health

First-of-its-kind implant detects and treats opioid overdoses First-of-its-kind implant detects and treats opioid overdoses

Environment

Roach sprays don’t work Roach sprays don’t work

By Lauren Leffer

Specimen photographed with autofluorescence under confocal microscope at 639 nm; different colors indicate z-depth, with violet to red gradient representing the shallowest to deepest planes, respectively.

Animals

Extremely rare tardigrade fossils seen in unprecedented detail Extremely rare tardigrade fossils seen in unprecedented detail

In Scandinavia, early people adorned rocks with thousands of images of boats.

Science

Scandinavia’s missing Bronze-Age boatyards Scandinavia’s missing Bronze-Age boatyards

By Richard Kemeny / Hakai Magazine

Odyssey’s THEMIS view the horizon of Mars.

Science

Ultrasonic tools could one day track wind speeds on Mars Ultrasonic tools could one day track wind speeds on Mars

a spotted cat walks through a mountain region at night

Animals

Rare, endangered ocelot caught on camera Rare, endangered ocelot caught on camera

By Laura Baisas

Starship test launch in 2021

Science

SpaceX accused of dumping polluted Starship wastewater in Texas for years SpaceX accused of dumping polluted Starship wastewater in Texas for years

NASA's InSight Mars lander acquired this image of the area in front of the lander using its lander-mounted, Instrument Context Camera (ICC).

Science

NASA data suggests there’s liquid water deep beneath Mars’ surface NASA data suggests there’s liquid water deep beneath Mars’ surface

Illustration of Enalioetes head

Dinosaurs

This ancient crocodile looked kind of like a dolphin This ancient crocodile looked kind of like a dolphin

Ancient star, but not one of the first: One of the oldest known stars ever observed is a subgiant star in the Milky Way, just 190 light-years from Earth. The star, known as HD 140283 or the Methuselah star, appears to be almost as old as the universe. However, we know it is not one of the first stars because of it contains metals that must have formed in the core or during the explosion of even earlier stars.

Science

The hunt for the first stars in the universe The hunt for the first stars in the universe

By Briley Lewis

Saturn’s moon Mimas, floating above the planet’s rings, might conceal a liquid ocean beneath its surface.

Science

Saturn’s moon Mimas may hide a surprisingly young ocean Saturn’s moon Mimas may hide a surprisingly young ocean

By Shannon Hall / Knowable Magazine

Chrysalis attached to tree branch with silk

Animals

Butterflies anchor cocoons with silk Velcro and seat-belts Butterflies anchor cocoons with silk Velcro and seat-belts

The central region of a spiral galaxy. Its core is a small bright point radiating bright, bluish-white light over the scene. The white light is diffuse and many point-like stars in the galaxy (and even background galaxies) can be seen through it. The galaxy’s arms can be seen as broad, swirling streaks of glowing gas and dust, coloured red and orange. Two additional arms are revealed in green

Deep Space

You’ve never seen a prettier radiation-spewing supermassive black hole You’ve never seen a prettier radiation-spewing supermassive black hole

By Laura Baisas

a close up of a burmese python.

Animals

The 2024 Florida Python Challenge begins The 2024 Florida Python Challenge begins

By Laura Baisas

SpaceX is seeking approval to expand its Starlink constellation to 40,000 satellites.

Science

‘What goes up, must come down:’ Junk satellites are a looming hazard ‘What goes up, must come down:’ Junk satellites are a looming hazard

By Mack DeGeurin

a long grey sediment core taken from the earth's mantle

Environment

Longest rocks ever recovered from Earth’s mantle Longest rocks ever recovered from Earth’s mantle

By Laura Baisas

Illustration of two astronauts on Mars

Mars

Scientists think atmospheric ‘glitter’ can warm Mars over 50 degrees Scientists think atmospheric ‘glitter’ can warm Mars over 50 degrees

a lemur in an enclosure stares into a takeout container

Animals

Lemurs use smell, social cues, and superior memories to find treats Lemurs use smell, social cues, and superior memories to find treats

By Laura Baisas

A deceased blue tit is being held in a womans hand

Environment

More than a billion birds could be dying from flying into buildings each year in US More than a billion birds could be dying from flying into buildings each year in US

By Lauren Leffer

A sample location from the Sampling Quadrangle Assemblages Research Experiment (SQuARE), Square 03 in the starboard Maintenance Work Area of the International Space Station. An open crew berth is visible at right. The yellow dotted line indicates the boundaries of the sample area.

Archaeology

Astronauts conduct the first archeological study in space Astronauts conduct the first archeological study in space

China's Shenlong space plane blurry image taken by telescopic camera.

Aviation

China’s super-secret space plane spotted above Europe China’s super-secret space plane spotted above Europe

four different types of corn. one is long and yellow, the other is shorter and yellow. the other two are shorter and black

Environment

Love corn? Thank interbreeding Love corn? Thank interbreeding

By Laura Baisas

The newly discovered Paragonaster hoeimaruae. There are many types of starfish and this one is particularly adapted to living in sandy, muddy waters, a feature the researchers want to learn more about.

Environment

New, vibrant starfish discovered in Japan New, vibrant starfish discovered in Japan

By Laura Baisas

two sea lions swim in blue water, with their heads above the water

Animals

Sea lion camera crews help scientists map unexplored seabeds Sea lion camera crews help scientists map unexplored seabeds

By Laura Baisas

human bones belonging to an small, extinct, early human secies

Archaeology

New ‘Hobbit’ fossils discovered on Indonesia’s Flores island New ‘Hobbit’ fossils discovered on Indonesia’s Flores island

By Laura Baisas

Pyramid of Djoser with camel

Archaeology

Egypt’s oldest pyramid may have been built using a hydraulic lift Egypt’s oldest pyramid may have been built using a hydraulic lift

two ancient gold coins with the image of an archer carved into them

Archaeology

Archeologists uncover hoard of gold coins linked to ancient mercenaries Archeologists uncover hoard of gold coins linked to ancient mercenaries

By Laura Baisas

Pouring cooking oil from bottle into frying pan, closeup

Health

What science actually says about seed oils What science actually says about seed oils

By Lauren Leffer

The agency’s decision of MDMA could slow down the timelines of getting psychedelics to market as other potential treatments, including psilocybin and ketamine, are likely to face similar regulatory challenges.

Health

How the FDA could shape the future of psychedelics research How the FDA could shape the future of psychedelics research

By Joshua Cohen / Undark

text says 'ancient iphone' over a calculator-type gadget

Technology

The terrible Radio Shack computer that became your phone The terrible Radio Shack computer that became your phone

By Popular Science Team

bee on dandelion

Environment

Air pollution makes it harder for bees to smell flowers Air pollution makes it harder for bees to smell flowers

By Katarina Zimmer / Knowable Magazine

a red aurora along with the stars of the milky way over mountains

Science

19 magnificent images from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist 19 magnificent images from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist

By Popular Science Team

moon in the 90s

Science

Yes, the moon has an atmosphere—and it’s metal as hell Yes, the moon has an atmosphere—and it’s metal as hell

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a compound that is effective against common bacteria that can lead to rare, dangerous illnesses. This image shows untreated Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial culture full of healthy microbes, labeled green (left). After treatment by GmPcide, the dish is full of dead bacteria (red; right).

Science

A breakthrough in fighting bacteria that causes ‘flesh-eating’ illness A breakthrough in fighting bacteria that causes ‘flesh-eating’ illness

By Laura Baisas

an illustration of a small penguin with light black, yellow, and white feathers on a new zealand beach

Animals

Tiny fossil reveals when penguins evolved their surprisingly useful wings Tiny fossil reveals when penguins evolved their surprisingly useful wings

By Laura Baisas

young person standing on scale

Health

Schools launched anti-obesity policies. Experts say they failed. Schools launched anti-obesity policies. Experts say they failed.

By Amanda Salazar / Undark

Close up of Screaming Woman mummy's face

Archaeology

‘Screaming woman’ may solve a 3,500-year-old mummy mystery ‘Screaming woman’ may solve a 3,500-year-old mummy mystery

An artist’s reconstruction of Shishania aculeata as it would have appeared in life as viewed from the top, side and bottom (left to right). This early mollusk lived about 514 million years ago.

Animals

A ‘rotting little plastic bag’ was actually a 514 million-year-old fossil A ‘rotting little plastic bag’ was actually a 514 million-year-old fossil

By Laura Baisas

This is an artist’s impression of a young star surrounded by a protoplanetary disk in which planets are forming.

Science

What happens when you don’t have enough ingredients to make a planet? What happens when you don’t have enough ingredients to make a planet?

By Briley Lewis