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

Neptune and Triton

Science

The outer solar system awaits—but getting there may not be as easy as we’d like The outer solar system awaits—but getting there may not be as easy as we’d like

A frozen super-Earth is just six light years away

Science

A frozen super-Earth is just six light years away A frozen super-Earth is just six light years away

By Neel V. Patel

That time a bunch of underwater mines exploded and the sun was the only suspect

Science

That time a bunch of underwater mines exploded and the sun was the only suspect That time a bunch of underwater mines exploded and the sun was the only suspect

By Neel V. Patel

Gravitational waves could solve a cosmological crisis within five years—or shake physics to its core

Science

Gravitational waves could solve a cosmological crisis within five years—or shake physics to its core Gravitational waves could solve a cosmological crisis within five years—or shake physics to its core

By Charlie Wood

Charles Minard is known for the ‘best graphic ever,’ but he may have topped it with these maps

Science

Charles Minard is known for the ‘best graphic ever,’ but he may have topped it with these maps Charles Minard is known for the ‘best graphic ever,’ but he may have topped it with these maps

By Sara Chodosh

The origins of Earth’s water are a big mystery—but we may have one more piece of the puzzle

Science

The origins of Earth’s water are a big mystery—but we may have one more piece of the puzzle The origins of Earth’s water are a big mystery—but we may have one more piece of the puzzle

By Neel V. Patel

A science-loving lady could head the next House Science Committee

Science

A science-loving lady could head the next House Science Committee A science-loving lady could head the next House Science Committee

By Jillian Mock

Naturally 7 at the Bell Ice Cube in Vancouver BC– Stock Editorial Photography

Science

Watch people beatbox in an MRI Watch people beatbox in an MRI

By Charlie Wood

Many circular lines on a black background

Science

The 8 best science images, videos, and visualizations of the year The 8 best science images, videos, and visualizations of the year

By Kate Baggaley

andy weir answers tweets for popular science

Science

‘The Martian’ author Andy Weir answers your questions about Mars ‘The Martian’ author Andy Weir answers your questions about Mars

By Tom McNamara

Science

‘Oumuamua is not the alien probe you’re looking for ‘Oumuamua is not the alien probe you’re looking for

By Neel V. Patel

Why are planets all the same shape?

Science

Why are planets all the same shape? Why are planets all the same shape?

By Kate Baggaley

Two NASA spacecraft died in one week—and there’s a connection

Science

Two NASA spacecraft died in one week—and there’s a connection Two NASA spacecraft died in one week—and there’s a connection

By Charlie Wood

How to spot misleading statistics in the news

Science

How to spot misleading statistics in the news How to spot misleading statistics in the news

By Liberty Vittert/The Conversation

Don’t worry, those weird patterns you see with your eyes closed are real

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Don’t worry, those weird patterns you see with your eyes closed are real Don’t worry, those weird patterns you see with your eyes closed are real

By Nicolás Rivero

Whoa, dinosaur eggs looked more dope than we thought

Science

Whoa, dinosaur eggs looked more dope than we thought Whoa, dinosaur eggs looked more dope than we thought

By Jillian Mock

Kepler finally ran out of gas, but it will always fuel our planet-hunting ambitions

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Kepler finally ran out of gas, but it will always fuel our planet-hunting ambitions Kepler finally ran out of gas, but it will always fuel our planet-hunting ambitions

By Jason Steffen/The Conversation

Frankenstein was based on some very real (and very creepy) experiments

Science

Frankenstein was based on some very real (and very creepy) experiments Frankenstein was based on some very real (and very creepy) experiments

By Iwan Morus/The Conversation

Scientists set up a haunted lab to figure out why we like being scared

Science

Scientists set up a haunted lab to figure out why we like being scared Scientists set up a haunted lab to figure out why we like being scared

The swamp science that lured travelers to their doom—and inspired the jack-o’-lantern

Science

The swamp science that lured travelers to their doom—and inspired the jack-o’-lantern The swamp science that lured travelers to their doom—and inspired the jack-o’-lantern

ultimate fear factory illustration

Science

We created a frankenhouse of the most common phobias We created a frankenhouse of the most common phobias

By Eleanor Cummins

Behold the mighty elephant bird, blindly crashing through the Madagascan forest

Science

Behold the mighty elephant bird, blindly crashing through the Madagascan forest Behold the mighty elephant bird, blindly crashing through the Madagascan forest

By Sara Chodosh

an illustration of a man pretending to read someone's mind in front of a crowd

Science

The spookiest things we learned this week The spookiest things we learned this week

By Rachel Feltman

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just smashed two all-time records on its way to the sun

Science

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just smashed two all-time records on its way to the sun NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just smashed two all-time records on its way to the sun

By Charlie Wood

dinosaur eats dinosaur

Science

What did dinosaurs eat? What did dinosaurs eat?

voting at the polls

Science

Eight science policies at stake this Election Day Eight science policies at stake this Election Day

By Emily Mullin

Did a gigantic bird really eat a Neanderthal child?

Science

Did a gigantic bird really eat a Neanderthal child? Did a gigantic bird really eat a Neanderthal child?

By Jillian Mock

The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech

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The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech The oldest weapons in North America offer a new view of prehistoric tech

By Neel V. Patel

a tiny house wrapped in bubble wrap

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: glowing Civil War soldiers and historic font battles The weirdest things we learned this week: glowing Civil War soldiers and historic font battles

By Eleanor Cummins

How many stars are there in the whole galaxy?

Science

How many stars are there in the whole galaxy? How many stars are there in the whole galaxy?

By Kate Baggaley

Watch NASA dump 450,000 gallons of water in less than a minute

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Watch NASA dump 450,000 gallons of water in less than a minute Watch NASA dump 450,000 gallons of water in less than a minute

By Rachel Feltman

Peter Jackson made Hobbits look so tiny with this mind trick

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Peter Jackson made Hobbits look so tiny with this mind trick Peter Jackson made Hobbits look so tiny with this mind trick

By Sara Kiley Watson

Why do we get goosebumps?

Science

Why do we get goosebumps? Why do we get goosebumps?

By Elaina Hancock

Modern birds might have dinosaur lungs to thank for their existence

Science

Modern birds might have dinosaur lungs to thank for their existence Modern birds might have dinosaur lungs to thank for their existence

Here’s why NASA is working on a concept crewed mission to Venus

Science

Here’s why NASA is working on a concept crewed mission to Venus Here’s why NASA is working on a concept crewed mission to Venus

By Gareth Dorrian and Ian Whittaker/The Conversation

Squirrel Census Central Park

Environment

Why counting Central Park’s squirrels isn’t nuts Why counting Central Park’s squirrels isn’t nuts

By Eleanor Cummins

Why do I feel dizzy after spinning?

Health

Why do I feel dizzy after spinning? Why do I feel dizzy after spinning?

By Claire Maldarelli

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: birthing rabbits, gruesome taxidermy, and the Parthenon’s best-kept secret The weirdest things we learned this week: birthing rabbits, gruesome taxidermy, and the Parthenon’s best-kept secret

By Eleanor Cummins

A bee lands on a yellow flower.

Environment

Bees deal with darkness the same way humans do Bees deal with darkness the same way humans do

By Charlie Wood

Recent intergalactic flashes might help solve this great astronomical mystery

Science

Recent intergalactic flashes might help solve this great astronomical mystery Recent intergalactic flashes might help solve this great astronomical mystery

By Charlie Wood

ryan gosling sitting in orange NASA uniform

Science

‘First Man’ is astonishingly accurate—here’s how NASA helped ‘First Man’ is astonishingly accurate—here’s how NASA helped

By Stefanie Waldek

What’s the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Science

What’s the difference between a comet and an asteroid? What’s the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

By Mary Beth Griggs

Russia’s rocket failure could leave the ISS without a crew

Science

Russia’s rocket failure could leave the ISS without a crew Russia’s rocket failure could leave the ISS without a crew

By Mary Beth Griggs

Adult mouse with two mothers

Health

Scientists just created healthy mice with same-sex parents Scientists just created healthy mice with same-sex parents

two astronauts posing together

Science

Two astronauts just survived a ‘ballistic descent’ in a Russian rocket. Here’s everything we know. Two astronauts just survived a ‘ballistic descent’ in a Russian rocket. Here’s everything we know.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Miranda to Europa: You think you’ve got treacherous landing zones? Hold my beer

Science

Miranda to Europa: You think you’ve got treacherous landing zones? Hold my beer Miranda to Europa: You think you’ve got treacherous landing zones? Hold my beer

two babies on a green background

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: eating your own twin, embalmed milk, and levitating frogs The weirdest things we learned this week: eating your own twin, embalmed milk, and levitating frogs

By Rachel Feltman

Hiral Tipirneni

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These scientists may be your next members of Congress These scientists may be your next members of Congress

Voyager 2 is almost outside the sun’s protective bubble

Science

Voyager 2 is almost outside the sun’s protective bubble Voyager 2 is almost outside the sun’s protective bubble

By Charlie Wood

blades of snow and ice under a dark sky

Science

Fifty-foot-tall ice spikes might make it hard to land on Europa Fifty-foot-tall ice spikes might make it hard to land on Europa

By Charles Q. Choi

In the hunt for aliens, satellites may light the way

Science

In the hunt for aliens, satellites may light the way In the hunt for aliens, satellites may light the way

By Charlie Wood

Science

This toaster-sized asteroid rover accomplished more in 17 hours than you will in your life This toaster-sized asteroid rover accomplished more in 17 hours than you will in your life

By Mary Beth Griggs

Do I have a cold or the flu?

Science

Do I have a cold or the flu? Do I have a cold or the flu?

By Nicole Wetsman

Why NASA needs to flip Curiosity’s ‘brain’ over

Science

Why NASA needs to flip Curiosity’s ‘brain’ over Why NASA needs to flip Curiosity’s ‘brain’ over

By Mary Beth Griggs

Science

The physics of throwing a perfect baseball pitch The physics of throwing a perfect baseball pitch

There’s a goblin lurking on the outskirts of our solar system

Science

There’s a goblin lurking on the outskirts of our solar system There’s a goblin lurking on the outskirts of our solar system

two women holding a block of ice

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: Sheep on meth, hopping space robots, and the economy of “Frozen” The weirdest things we learned this week: Sheep on meth, hopping space robots, and the economy of “Frozen”

By Rachel Feltman

Astronomers think they’ve found a moon the size of Neptune in a distant star system

Science

Astronomers think they’ve found a moon the size of Neptune in a distant star system Astronomers think they’ve found a moon the size of Neptune in a distant star system

By Charles Q. Choi

This year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry ‘rewards a revolution based on evolution’

Science

This year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry ‘rewards a revolution based on evolution’ This year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry ‘rewards a revolution based on evolution’

By Jillian Mock

illustrations of two men and a woman

Science

The physics Nobel Prize goes to high-tech lasers and honors the first woman in 55 years The physics Nobel Prize goes to high-tech lasers and honors the first woman in 55 years

By Charlie Wood

Science

On NASA’s 60th birthday, our readers say it’s still looking good On NASA’s 60th birthday, our readers say it’s still looking good

By Mary Beth Griggs

Science

Oodles of virtual planets could help Google and NASA find actual aliens Oodles of virtual planets could help Google and NASA find actual aliens

By Mary Beth Griggs

A rocky surface

Science

Watch a movie made by a robot—on the surface of an asteroid Watch a movie made by a robot—on the surface of an asteroid

By Mary Beth Griggs

Epsilon Iridani

Science

Being a heavyweight isn’t enough to turn a brown dwarf into a star Being a heavyweight isn’t enough to turn a brown dwarf into a star