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

You might be overusing hand sanitizer

Science

You might be overusing hand sanitizer You might be overusing hand sanitizer

By Claire Maldarelli

Science

Kepler Search Finds Two New Cozy, Possibly Watery Planets Around Faraway Star Kepler Search Finds Two New Cozy, Possibly Watery Planets Around Faraway Star

By Rebecca Boyle

Discovery Docks with Hubble

Science

The silliest names scientists have given very serious telescopes The silliest names scientists have given very serious telescopes

By Sophie Bushwick

A spacecraft in the sunset, a gold telescope in bloom, and other amazing images of the week

Science

A spacecraft in the sunset, a gold telescope in bloom, and other amazing images of the week A spacecraft in the sunset, a gold telescope in bloom, and other amazing images of the week

NASA’s Kepler Spacecraft May Be Finished

Science

NASA’s Kepler Spacecraft May Be Finished NASA’s Kepler Spacecraft May Be Finished

By Rebecca Boyle

Aliens used to keep our fear of extinction at bay—then we realized how alone we are

Science

Aliens used to keep our fear of extinction at bay—then we realized how alone we are Aliens used to keep our fear of extinction at bay—then we realized how alone we are

By Thomas Moynihan/The Conversation

I Tried Really Hard Not To Contaminate NASA’s Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft

Science

I Tried Really Hard Not To Contaminate NASA’s Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft I Tried Really Hard Not To Contaminate NASA’s Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft

By Robin Seemangal

An image of the surface of Venus showing it's 'crustal blocks,' which are similar to but distinct from tectonic plates on Earth.

Science

Jostling in Venus’ crust could reveal clues about Earth’s early geology Jostling in Venus’ crust could reveal clues about Earth’s early geology

By Leto Sapunar

Earth’s Northern Lights Pale In Comparison To This Powerful Alien Aurora

Science

Earth’s Northern Lights Pale In Comparison To This Powerful Alien Aurora Earth’s Northern Lights Pale In Comparison To This Powerful Alien Aurora

Wildfires In Northern California Threaten The Search For Alien Life

Science

Wildfires In Northern California Threaten The Search For Alien Life Wildfires In Northern California Threaten The Search For Alien Life

By Sarah Scoles

Caressing The Future At A ‘Petting Zoo For Materials’

Science

Caressing The Future At A ‘Petting Zoo For Materials’ Caressing The Future At A ‘Petting Zoo For Materials’

Ceres’ Mountains And Craters Now Have Names

Science

Ceres’ Mountains And Craters Now Have Names Ceres’ Mountains And Craters Now Have Names

A large, yellow moon rises over the branches of a tree.

Science

The Strawberry Moon, explained The Strawberry Moon, explained

By Erin Fennessy

A close-up of juvenile Hawaiian bobtail squid.

Science

Dozens of baby squid are orbiting our planet right now Dozens of baby squid are orbiting our planet right now

Human Remains Found In 2,000-Year-Old Antikythera Shipwreck

Science

Human Remains Found In 2,000-Year-Old Antikythera Shipwreck Human Remains Found In 2,000-Year-Old Antikythera Shipwreck

By Mary Beth Griggs

Just read the instructions

Science

After Successful Launch, SpaceX Rocket Lands On Drone Ship But Topples Over After Successful Launch, SpaceX Rocket Lands On Drone Ship But Topples Over

When and how did dinosaurs go extinct?

Science

When and how did dinosaurs go extinct? When and how did dinosaurs go extinct?

By Jillian Mock

From space sprouts to landmine legumes, here are the world’s weirdest farms

Technology

From space sprouts to landmine legumes, here are the world’s weirdest farms From space sprouts to landmine legumes, here are the world’s weirdest farms

By Eleanor Cummins

What Are Those Bright Spots On Ceres Made Of?

Science

What Are Those Bright Spots On Ceres Made Of? What Are Those Bright Spots On Ceres Made Of?

One Creator Edition by Magic Leap Goggles

Technology

The best gadgets of 2018 The best gadgets of 2018

By Stan Horaczek and Andrea Smith

See Ceres’s Spots Shine In Extraordinary Detail

Science

See Ceres’s Spots Shine In Extraordinary Detail See Ceres’s Spots Shine In Extraordinary Detail

Microbes Will Be Essential For Human Survival On Mars

Science

Microbes Will Be Essential For Human Survival On Mars Microbes Will Be Essential For Human Survival On Mars

By Kate Baggaley

kepler telescope

Science

Could A Black Hole Be Blocking The Light From That ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star? Could A Black Hole Be Blocking The Light From That ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star?

Science

Why Are There No Close-Ups Of Ceres Yet? Why Are There No Close-Ups Of Ceres Yet?

Science

Second Bright Spot Is Further Evidence That Ceres Is A Death Star Second Bright Spot Is Further Evidence That Ceres Is A Death Star

Walking On Water

Science

The Co-Robots In ‘Interstellar’ Are Gorgeous–And Silly The Co-Robots In ‘Interstellar’ Are Gorgeous–And Silly

How NASA Found The Lost ExoMars Lander So Quickly

Science

How NASA Found The Lost ExoMars Lander So Quickly How NASA Found The Lost ExoMars Lander So Quickly

By Kate Baggaley

Science

Global Warming Could Be The Best Way To Terraform Mars Global Warming Could Be The Best Way To Terraform Mars

By Mary Beth Griggs

Last week in tech: A dummy went to space and we got some new emojis

Science

Last week in tech: A dummy went to space and we got some new emojis Last week in tech: A dummy went to space and we got some new emojis

By Stan Horaczek

We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights

Science

We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights We finally know what sparks the Northern Lights

a woman on her side clutching her stomach as if in pain against a green background

Science

Viagra could have been a groundbreaking cure for period cramps Viagra could have been a groundbreaking cure for period cramps

By Popular Science Team

Here’s our original coverage of Apollo 11

Science

Here’s our original coverage of Apollo 11 Here’s our original coverage of Apollo 11

Science

Curiosity Sends Back Some Final Photos Of Martian Buttes Curiosity Sends Back Some Final Photos Of Martian Buttes

By Mary Beth Griggs

To find life on Mars, we’ll need new orbiters, more advanced rovers, and humans

Science

To find life on Mars, we’ll need new orbiters, more advanced rovers, and humans To find life on Mars, we’ll need new orbiters, more advanced rovers, and humans

A demagogic dinosaur, a mysterious space robot, and other amazing images of the week

Science

A demagogic dinosaur, a mysterious space robot, and other amazing images of the week A demagogic dinosaur, a mysterious space robot, and other amazing images of the week

By Mark D. Kaufman

The Moon Could Be Littered With Fossils From Earth

Science

The Moon Could Be Littered With Fossils From Earth The Moon Could Be Littered With Fossils From Earth

Freshness sensor

Science

Miniature Aroma Sensors Put A Nose In Your Pocket Miniature Aroma Sensors Put A Nose In Your Pocket

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Science

Extreme Science: Lucky Strike Extreme Science: Lucky Strike

By Mary Beth Griggs

An Animation Of Every Recorded Meteorite Blast In History

Science

An Animation Of Every Recorded Meteorite Blast In History An Animation Of Every Recorded Meteorite Blast In History

By Rebecca Boyle

A furry looking, ground-hog like creature climbs onto a rock from the forest floor surrounded by leaf litter and tree saplings at night.

Science

Elephants can add a cuddly new cousin to their family tree Elephants can add a cuddly new cousin to their family tree

By Lauren Leffer

A side by side comparison of the star Betelgeuse in January and December of 2019. The star is was dimmer in December 2019.

Science

We finally know why the Betelgeuse star dimmed—and it’s not what you think We finally know why the Betelgeuse star dimmed—and it’s not what you think

By Charlie Wood

A man looks through the cooling mechanism of a quantum computer.

Science

What the heck is a quantum network? What the heck is a quantum network?

Meteors May Have Brought Vitamin B To Earth

Science

Meteors May Have Brought Vitamin B To Earth Meteors May Have Brought Vitamin B To Earth

Neutron Radiograph

Science

Confirmed: Ancient Egyptian Jewelry Was Made From Meteorites Confirmed: Ancient Egyptian Jewelry Was Made From Meteorites

By Colin Lecher

Science

Gravitational Waves: Einstein Was Right, Again, Maybe Gravitational Waves: Einstein Was Right, Again, Maybe

New Map Shows The Oldest Light In Our Universe

Science

New Map Shows The Oldest Light In Our Universe New Map Shows The Oldest Light In Our Universe

By Rebecca Boyle

What We Now Know About The Chelyabinsk Meteor

Science

What We Now Know About The Chelyabinsk Meteor What We Now Know About The Chelyabinsk Meteor

By Shaunacy Ferro

Player in pinstripes holding two baseballs

Science

How sticky balls give major league pitchers an advantage How sticky balls give major league pitchers an advantage

By John Eric Goff / The Conversation

A human hand holds a common weed called a thale cress plant.

Science

One of the most studied plants in the world can grow an extra organ One of the most studied plants in the world can grow an extra organ

Drones revealed the intricate social lives of these killer whales

Environment

Drones revealed the intricate social lives of these killer whales Drones revealed the intricate social lives of these killer whales

By Ellie Shechet

Inside The Largest Simulation Of The Universe Ever Created

Science

Inside The Largest Simulation Of The Universe Ever Created Inside The Largest Simulation Of The Universe Ever Created

Science Has Discovered the ‘Pigtail’ Molecular Cloud and it is Beautiful

Science

Science Has Discovered the ‘Pigtail’ Molecular Cloud and it is Beautiful Science Has Discovered the ‘Pigtail’ Molecular Cloud and it is Beautiful

“There Is No Such Thing As Time”

Science

“There Is No Such Thing As Time” “There Is No Such Thing As Time”

A snoozing little puppy.

Environment

Puppies are born ready to communicate with people Puppies are born ready to communicate with people

This fossil isn’t a hummingbird-sized dinosaur, but an unusual lizard

Science

This fossil isn’t a hummingbird-sized dinosaur, but an unusual lizard This fossil isn’t a hummingbird-sized dinosaur, but an unusual lizard

brain exercises

Science

Can exercising the mind improve our abilities, or is it just another self-improvement fantasy? Can exercising the mind improve our abilities, or is it just another self-improvement fantasy?

By Andrew Zaleski

Starry night sky

Science

This weekend’s comet will be the brightest of the year This weekend’s comet will be the brightest of the year

By Jillian Mock

Exclusive: Listen To ‘Alchemy,’ Simonne Jones’ Song Made From Physics Data

Science

Exclusive: Listen To ‘Alchemy,’ Simonne Jones’ Song Made From Physics Data Exclusive: Listen To ‘Alchemy,’ Simonne Jones’ Song Made From Physics Data

By Ryan F. Mandelbaum

ALMA Probes The Sky

Science

Seeking The Black Hole At The Center Of Our Galaxy Seeking The Black Hole At The Center Of Our Galaxy

By Alexandra Ossola

A close-up of Jupiter's moon Ganymede.

Science

NASA’s Juno orbiter captured striking close-ups of Jupiter’s biggest moon NASA’s Juno orbiter captured striking close-ups of Jupiter’s biggest moon

By Leto Sapunar

Two scientists dig with a shovel.

Science

These 142-year-old seeds sprouted after spending more than a century underground These 142-year-old seeds sprouted after spending more than a century underground

China’s New Spaceship Looks Like SpaceX’s — Here’s Why

Science

China’s New Spaceship Looks Like SpaceX’s — Here’s Why China’s New Spaceship Looks Like SpaceX’s — Here’s Why

10 incredible space photos from astronaut Don Pettit’s new book

Science

10 incredible space photos from astronaut Don Pettit’s new book 10 incredible space photos from astronaut Don Pettit’s new book

A mockup of the DAVINCI+ which will release a metal probe to fall through Venus’s atmosphere and measure its makeup.

Science

NASA is finally going back to Venus. Here’s what its twin missions hope to uncover. NASA is finally going back to Venus. Here’s what its twin missions hope to uncover.

By Charlie Wood