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

NASA

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

a cow sticking its tongue in its nose

Health

The weirdest things we learned this week: holes in people (and cows), illegal cheese, and the world’s worst dairy disaster The weirdest things we learned this week: holes in people (and cows), illegal cheese, and the world’s worst dairy disaster

By Rachel Feltman

Navigating our obsession with one-sided objects

Science

Navigating our obsession with one-sided objects Navigating our obsession with one-sided objects

By David Gunderman and Richard Gunderman/The Conversation

This ocean ‘invisibility cloak’ makes waves bigger and better

Physics

This ocean ‘invisibility cloak’ makes waves bigger and better This ocean ‘invisibility cloak’ makes waves bigger and better

By Charlie Wood

A British mathematician thinks he’s cracked a secret worth a million bucks

Science

A British mathematician thinks he’s cracked a secret worth a million bucks A British mathematician thinks he’s cracked a secret worth a million bucks

By Neel V. Patel

The ExoMars spacecraft measured radiation in deep space to help keep future astronauts safe

Mars

The ExoMars spacecraft measured radiation in deep space to help keep future astronauts safe The ExoMars spacecraft measured radiation in deep space to help keep future astronauts safe

By Charlie Wood

Megapixels: A rover snaps a pic as it hops along the surface of an asteroid

Science

Megapixels: A rover snaps a pic as it hops along the surface of an asteroid Megapixels: A rover snaps a pic as it hops along the surface of an asteroid

By Mary Beth Griggs

Deep Space

NASA’s newest planet hunter has already found two potential exoplanets NASA’s newest planet hunter has already found two potential exoplanets

By Mary Beth Griggs

Octopuses trip on ecstasy the same way we do

Animals

Octopuses trip on ecstasy the same way we do Octopuses trip on ecstasy the same way we do

By Charlie Wood

There’s a planet exactly where Star Trek said Vulcan should be

Deep Space

There’s a planet exactly where Star Trek said Vulcan should be There’s a planet exactly where Star Trek said Vulcan should be

By Mary Beth Griggs

Polygraph tests don’t work as lie detectors and they never have

Science

Polygraph tests don’t work as lie detectors and they never have Polygraph tests don’t work as lie detectors and they never have

By Eleanor Cummins

A tiny galaxy almost collided with the Milky Way and astronomers can see the effects

Science

A tiny galaxy almost collided with the Milky Way and astronomers can see the effects A tiny galaxy almost collided with the Milky Way and astronomers can see the effects

By Charles Q. Choi

Science

What does math look like to mathematicians? What does math look like to mathematicians?

Private Space Flight

Meet SpaceX’s first moon tourist, Yusaku Maezawa Meet SpaceX’s first moon tourist, Yusaku Maezawa

By Mary Beth Griggs

SpaceX wants to send private citizens to the moon (again)

Private Space Flight

SpaceX wants to send private citizens to the moon (again) SpaceX wants to send private citizens to the moon (again)

By Mary Beth Griggs

Human spit is actually a great cleaning solution (and other award-winning scientific finds)

Science

Human spit is actually a great cleaning solution (and other award-winning scientific finds) Human spit is actually a great cleaning solution (and other award-winning scientific finds)

By Sara Chodosh

Humans are natural runners—and this ancient gene mutation might have helped

Biology

Humans are natural runners—and this ancient gene mutation might have helped Humans are natural runners—and this ancient gene mutation might have helped

By Jillian Mock

Franck Marchis is connecting amateur astronomers to extraterrestrial researchers

Science

Franck Marchis is connecting amateur astronomers to extraterrestrial researchers Franck Marchis is connecting amateur astronomers to extraterrestrial researchers

By Sarah Scoles

the statue of liberty

Fitness & Exercise

The weirdest things we learned this week: Lady Liberty’s big secret, the ultimate exercise hack, and a penis in a bottle The weirdest things we learned this week: Lady Liberty’s big secret, the ultimate exercise hack, and a penis in a bottle

By Rachel Feltman

book cover accessory to war

Mars

The double-hinged door between astrophysics and the military The double-hinged door between astrophysics and the military

By Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang

blue flame emerging from machinery

NASA

After 11 years, NASA’s asteroid-hopping spacecraft is running out of fuel After 11 years, NASA’s asteroid-hopping spacecraft is running out of fuel

By Shannon Stirone

School is starting—get back to STEM with these 17 books

Science

School is starting—get back to STEM with these 17 books School is starting—get back to STEM with these 17 books

By Mary Beth Griggs

a hexagon-shaped cloud system on saturn

Science

Megapixels: Watch Saturn’s hexagonal clouds swirl Megapixels: Watch Saturn’s hexagonal clouds swirl

By Rachel Feltman

Decades after a Nobel Prize snub, Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s just won $3 million for her work

Science

Decades after a Nobel Prize snub, Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s just won $3 million for her work Decades after a Nobel Prize snub, Jocelyn Bell Burnell’s just won $3 million for her work

By Rachel Feltman

Archaeology

Bogs are beautiful, swampy records of human history Bogs are beautiful, swampy records of human history

By Henry Chapman, Ben Gearey, Jane Bunting, Kimberley Davies, Nicola Whitehouse/The Conversation

The devastating fire at Brazil’s National Museum illuminates a global problem

Science

The devastating fire at Brazil’s National Museum illuminates a global problem The devastating fire at Brazil’s National Museum illuminates a global problem

By Eleanor Cummins

Voyager 1 flying past Saturn, with Jupiter and the inner solar system visible in the background

Science

Here’s what we had to say about Voyager 1 when it launched 41 years ago Here’s what we had to say about Voyager 1 when it launched 41 years ago

By Popular Science, August 1977, by Jim Schefter

a many trying to sleep

Animals

The weirdest things we learned this week: deadly insomnia, the prettiest poop, and emergency beekeepers The weirdest things we learned this week: deadly insomnia, the prettiest poop, and emergency beekeepers

By Rachel Feltman

Science

Jupiter’s magnetic field has two ‘south poles’ Jupiter’s magnetic field has two ‘south poles’

By Charles Q. Choi

a girl blowing bubbles outside

Physics

Mathematicians finally found the perfect bubble blowing formula Mathematicians finally found the perfect bubble blowing formula

By Neel V. Patel

Space debris or sabotage? Conflicting theories about the recent ISS leak

International Space Station

Space debris or sabotage? Conflicting theories about the recent ISS leak Space debris or sabotage? Conflicting theories about the recent ISS leak

By Mary Beth Griggs

Illustration of mice astronauts in a spaceship.

Mars

Mouse poop might get humans to Mars Mouse poop might get humans to Mars

By Erin Blakemore

Something called ‘squeezed light’ is about to give us a closer look at cosmic goldmines

Physics

Something called ‘squeezed light’ is about to give us a closer look at cosmic goldmines Something called ‘squeezed light’ is about to give us a closer look at cosmic goldmines

By Matthew R. Francis

Cheese played a surprisingly important role in human evolution

Archaeology

Cheese played a surprisingly important role in human evolution Cheese played a surprisingly important role in human evolution

By Penny Bickle/The Conversation

Meet STEVE, and 7 other mysterious glowing things you’ll find in the night sky

Science

Meet STEVE, and 7 other mysterious glowing things you’ll find in the night sky Meet STEVE, and 7 other mysterious glowing things you’ll find in the night sky

By Aparna Nathan

Could you qualify to be an astronaut?

NASA

Could you qualify to be an astronaut? Could you qualify to be an astronaut?

By Sara Chodosh

The weirdest things we learned this week: baby skeleton art, zombie presidents, and solar-powered telegraphs

Health

The weirdest things we learned this week: baby skeleton art, zombie presidents, and solar-powered telegraphs The weirdest things we learned this week: baby skeleton art, zombie presidents, and solar-powered telegraphs

By Rachel Feltman

A new type of neuron lurks in the human brain, and we have no idea what it does

Science

A new type of neuron lurks in the human brain, and we have no idea what it does A new type of neuron lurks in the human brain, and we have no idea what it does

By Neel V. Patel

This beautiful map of Earth’s atmosphere shows a world on fire

Health

This beautiful map of Earth’s atmosphere shows a world on fire This beautiful map of Earth’s atmosphere shows a world on fire

By Mary Beth Griggs

Before Jupiter got huge, it had a pretty messed up childhood

Science

Before Jupiter got huge, it had a pretty messed up childhood Before Jupiter got huge, it had a pretty messed up childhood

By Charles Q. Choi

Why do we think tiny things are cute?

Biology

Why do we think tiny things are cute? Why do we think tiny things are cute?

By Dana G. Smith

vents of white bubbles rising up from ocean floor

Conservation

NASA is preparing for future space missions by exploring underwater volcanoes off Hawaii NASA is preparing for future space missions by exploring underwater volcanoes off Hawaii

By Shannon Stirone

Researchers found proof of Neanderthals reproducing with other species

Biology

Researchers found proof of Neanderthals reproducing with other species Researchers found proof of Neanderthals reproducing with other species

By Neel V. Patel

Don’t buy stolen artifacts—here’s how to ethically collect science memorabilia

DIY

Don’t buy stolen artifacts—here’s how to ethically collect science memorabilia Don’t buy stolen artifacts—here’s how to ethically collect science memorabilia

By Whitson Gordon

“Survival of the laziest” may help some species avoid extinction

Biology

“Survival of the laziest” may help some species avoid extinction “Survival of the laziest” may help some species avoid extinction

By Luke Strotz/The Conversation

human body sweat

Animals

The weirdest things we learned this week: eating organs, celebrating sweat, and banning dogs The weirdest things we learned this week: eating organs, celebrating sweat, and banning dogs

By Sara Chodosh

Wasps, oak trees, and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle

Animals

Wasps, oak trees, and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle Wasps, oak trees, and a creepy vine are involved in a parasitic Florida love triangle

By Sara Chodosh

Reports of Homo erectus’ laziness are ‘moronic’

Archaeology

Reports of Homo erectus’ laziness are ‘moronic’ Reports of Homo erectus’ laziness are ‘moronic’

Mars’ skies are clearing up, but the Opportunity rover is still fast asleep

Mars

Mars’ skies are clearing up, but the Opportunity rover is still fast asleep Mars’ skies are clearing up, but the Opportunity rover is still fast asleep

By Mary Beth Griggs

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution owes more to his garden than the Galápagos

Biology

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution owes more to his garden than the Galápagos Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution owes more to his garden than the Galápagos

By Ben Garrod/The Conversation

A massive, murky void in space has surprisingly few galaxies

Science

A massive, murky void in space has surprisingly few galaxies A massive, murky void in space has surprisingly few galaxies

By Mary Beth Griggs

aerial photo of venice italy

Science

What it’s like to photograph Earth from space What it’s like to photograph Earth from space

By Jeanette D. Moses

This giant exoplanet’s atmosphere teems with glowing hot atoms of titanium and iron

Deep Space

This giant exoplanet’s atmosphere teems with glowing hot atoms of titanium and iron This giant exoplanet’s atmosphere teems with glowing hot atoms of titanium and iron

By Charles Choi

walter rothschild zebra carriage

Animals

The weirdest things we learned this week: bone flutes, zebra carriages, and laughing gas parties The weirdest things we learned this week: bone flutes, zebra carriages, and laughing gas parties

By Rachel Feltman

Check out these new flying pterosaur bones

Dinosaurs

Check out these new flying pterosaur bones Check out these new flying pterosaur bones

By Neel V. Patel

Bananas: your cousin, maybe?

Science

Bananas: your cousin, maybe? Bananas: your cousin, maybe?

By Eleanor Cummins

NASA’s sun-kissing spacecraft will go 250 times faster than a bullet when it hits its stride

NASA

NASA’s sun-kissing spacecraft will go 250 times faster than a bullet when it hits its stride NASA’s sun-kissing spacecraft will go 250 times faster than a bullet when it hits its stride

By Mary Beth Griggs

Military

Professional designers explain why the Space Force logos are no good Professional designers explain why the Space Force logos are no good

By Eleanor Cummins

A car-sized spacecraft just blasted off toward the Sun

Science

A car-sized spacecraft just blasted off toward the Sun A car-sized spacecraft just blasted off toward the Sun

By Stefanie Waldek

rocket launch at night

Military

Trump’s Space Force aims to create ‘American dominance in space’ by 2020 Trump’s Space Force aims to create ‘American dominance in space’ by 2020

By Mary Beth Griggs

two kids stare down into a pool

Health

The weirdest things we learned this week: skin-peeling soup, secret drug toilets, and a chlorinated ocean The weirdest things we learned this week: skin-peeling soup, secret drug toilets, and a chlorinated ocean

By Rachel Feltman

three domesticated foxes

Animals

The genes that turn wild animals into pets The genes that turn wild animals into pets

By Neel V. Patel