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

Inside The ‘Europa Clipper’ Mission That NASA Is Planning To Send Past Jupiter

Science

Inside The ‘Europa Clipper’ Mission That NASA Is Planning To Send Past Jupiter Inside The ‘Europa Clipper’ Mission That NASA Is Planning To Send Past Jupiter

Ask Us Anything: Can Body Fat Protect You Like A Built-In Cushion?

Science

Ask Us Anything: Can Body Fat Protect You Like A Built-In Cushion? Ask Us Anything: Can Body Fat Protect You Like A Built-In Cushion?

By Daniel Engber

The Top 10 Worst Jobs In Science

Science

The Top 10 Worst Jobs In Science The Top 10 Worst Jobs In Science

A Modest Proposal

Science

A Modest Proposal A Modest Proposal

New Horizons Spacecraft, En Route To Pluto, Sends Back First Images Of The Dwarf Planet

Science

New Horizons Spacecraft, En Route To Pluto, Sends Back First Images Of The Dwarf Planet New Horizons Spacecraft, En Route To Pluto, Sends Back First Images Of The Dwarf Planet

New Fungal Species Found In Salami Delightfully Named ‘Penicillium Salamii’

Science

New Fungal Species Found In Salami Delightfully Named ‘Penicillium Salamii’ New Fungal Species Found In Salami Delightfully Named ‘Penicillium Salamii’

By Lydia Ramsey

Next Year, NASA Could Get An Extra $500 Million And A Mission To Europa

Science

Next Year, NASA Could Get An Extra $500 Million And A Mission To Europa Next Year, NASA Could Get An Extra $500 Million And A Mission To Europa

Science Is Beautiful: The Human Body Under The Microscope

Science

Science Is Beautiful: The Human Body Under The Microscope Science Is Beautiful: The Human Body Under The Microscope

By Lydia Ramsey

A Unified Theory Of How Soft, Curved Things Wrinkle

Science

A Unified Theory Of How Soft, Curved Things Wrinkle A Unified Theory Of How Soft, Curved Things Wrinkle

By Francie Diep

Language Evolution May Depend On Population Size

Science

Language Evolution May Depend On Population Size Language Evolution May Depend On Population Size

By Lydia Ramsey

The Science Of Decriminalizing Drugs

Health

The Science Of Decriminalizing Drugs The Science Of Decriminalizing Drugs

By Francie Diep

Science

Evidence Of Expanding Universe May Have Been Just Dirt Evidence Of Expanding Universe May Have Been Just Dirt

Survey Says Scientists And Public Disagree On Climate Change, GMOs, And More

Science

Survey Says Scientists And Public Disagree On Climate Change, GMOs, And More Survey Says Scientists And Public Disagree On Climate Change, GMOs, And More

By

To Keep Airplanes On The Map, Track Them From Space

Technology

To Keep Airplanes On The Map, Track Them From Space To Keep Airplanes On The Map, Track Them From Space

image showing two views of an illustrated face estimate, plus the real person

Science

Modeling Suspects’ Faces Using DNA From Crime Scenes Modeling Suspects’ Faces Using DNA From Crime Scenes

By Francie Diep

‘Super Saturn’ Exoplanet Has Massive Rings

Science

‘Super Saturn’ Exoplanet Has Massive Rings ‘Super Saturn’ Exoplanet Has Massive Rings

By Mary Beth Griggs

Charles Townes, One Of The Fathers Of The Laser, Dies

Science

Charles Townes, One Of The Fathers Of The Laser, Dies Charles Townes, One Of The Fathers Of The Laser, Dies

By Francie Diep

Animation Shows How SpaceX Will Reuse Its Rockets [Video]

Science

Animation Shows How SpaceX Will Reuse Its Rockets [Video] Animation Shows How SpaceX Will Reuse Its Rockets [Video]

What Happened In The Apollo 1 Fire?

Science

What Happened In The Apollo 1 Fire? What Happened In The Apollo 1 Fire?

By Amy Shira Teitel

Researchers Discover An Ancient Replica Of Our Solar System

Science

Researchers Discover An Ancient Replica Of Our Solar System Researchers Discover An Ancient Replica Of Our Solar System

The Coldest, Snowiest, Iciest Places In Our Solar System

Science

The Coldest, Snowiest, Iciest Places In Our Solar System The Coldest, Snowiest, Iciest Places In Our Solar System

Questions Raised Over Whether Vesta Once Had Flowing Water

Science

Questions Raised Over Whether Vesta Once Had Flowing Water Questions Raised Over Whether Vesta Once Had Flowing Water

Science

This Is What Happens When You Put Magnetic Buckyballs In A Blender [Video] This Is What Happens When You Put Magnetic Buckyballs In A Blender [Video]

By Mary Beth Griggs

Ion Thrusters In NASA Mission Redraw The Boundaries Of Space Exploration

Science

Ion Thrusters In NASA Mission Redraw The Boundaries Of Space Exploration Ion Thrusters In NASA Mission Redraw The Boundaries Of Space Exploration

Science

Scientists Figure Out How To Unboil Eggs Scientists Figure Out How To Unboil Eggs

By Mary Beth Griggs

Should We Put A Drone On Mars?

Science

Should We Put A Drone On Mars? Should We Put A Drone On Mars?

By Kelsey D. Atherton

Photon race rendering

Science

Scientists Slow Down The Speed Of Light As It Travels Through Air Scientists Slow Down The Speed Of Light As It Travels Through Air

By Lydia Ramsey

Football Physics And The Science Of Deflategate

Science

Football Physics And The Science Of Deflategate Football Physics And The Science Of Deflategate

dawn arrives at Ceres

Science

We’re About To Visit A Tiny Planet In The Asteroid Belt For The First Time We’re About To Visit A Tiny Planet In The Asteroid Belt For The First Time

5 Cool Things We Just Learned About Rosetta’s Rubber Ducky Comet

Science

5 Cool Things We Just Learned About Rosetta’s Rubber Ducky Comet 5 Cool Things We Just Learned About Rosetta’s Rubber Ducky Comet

Redesigned E. Coli Resists Viruses And Might Make GMOs Safer

Technology

Redesigned E. Coli Resists Viruses And Might Make GMOs Safer Redesigned E. Coli Resists Viruses And Might Make GMOs Safer

By Francie Diep

Have We Found Alien Life?

Science

Have We Found Alien Life? Have We Found Alien Life?

By Corey S. Powell

X-Ray Technique Helps Archaeologists Read Scrolls Preserved By Vesuvius Eruption

Science

X-Ray Technique Helps Archaeologists Read Scrolls Preserved By Vesuvius Eruption X-Ray Technique Helps Archaeologists Read Scrolls Preserved By Vesuvius Eruption

By Mary Beth Griggs

a rapid unscheduled disassembly even

Science

Watch SpaceX’s Autonomous Rocket Blow Up During Landing [Video] Watch SpaceX’s Autonomous Rocket Blow Up During Landing [Video]

In a Fight Between a Pilot and his Aircraft, Sometimes the Rocket Plane Wins

Science

In a Fight Between a Pilot and his Aircraft, Sometimes the Rocket Plane Wins In a Fight Between a Pilot and his Aircraft, Sometimes the Rocket Plane Wins

By Amy Shira Teitel

NASA is About To Blast Some Rockets Through Alaska’s Northern Lights

Science

NASA is About To Blast Some Rockets Through Alaska’s Northern Lights NASA is About To Blast Some Rockets Through Alaska’s Northern Lights

Long Lost Beagle-2 Mars Lander Spotted By NASA Probe

Science

Long Lost Beagle-2 Mars Lander Spotted By NASA Probe Long Lost Beagle-2 Mars Lander Spotted By NASA Probe

Elon Musk Wants To Build And Launch Satellites To Fund A Mars Colony

Science

Elon Musk Wants To Build And Launch Satellites To Fund A Mars Colony Elon Musk Wants To Build And Launch Satellites To Fund A Mars Colony

Walk Under The Aurora On Google Maps

Science

Walk Under The Aurora On Google Maps Walk Under The Aurora On Google Maps

By Mary Beth Griggs

Watch A Power Saw Made With Shark Teeth Slice Through Salmon

Environment

Watch A Power Saw Made With Shark Teeth Slice Through Salmon Watch A Power Saw Made With Shark Teeth Slice Through Salmon

By Francie Diep

How Bread, Beer, And Soy Sauce Changed The Human Microbiome

Science

How Bread, Beer, And Soy Sauce Changed The Human Microbiome How Bread, Beer, And Soy Sauce Changed The Human Microbiome

By Francie Diep

Aliens Among Us: Letter From The Editor-In-Chief

Science

Aliens Among Us: Letter From The Editor-In-Chief Aliens Among Us: Letter From The Editor-In-Chief

By Cliff Ransom

NASA Robot Will Explore Deep Inside Volcanoes

Science

NASA Robot Will Explore Deep Inside Volcanoes NASA Robot Will Explore Deep Inside Volcanoes

By Mary Beth Griggs

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Slams Into Autonomous Drone Ship

Science

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Slams Into Autonomous Drone Ship SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Slams Into Autonomous Drone Ship

A Star Just Got Swallowed By A Warp In Space-Time

Science

A Star Just Got Swallowed By A Warp In Space-Time A Star Just Got Swallowed By A Warp In Space-Time

By Lydia Ramsey

How do Planetary Flybys Work?

Science

How do Planetary Flybys Work? How do Planetary Flybys Work?

By Amy Shira Teitel

photo showing an acoustic levitator levitating seven Styrofoam bits in a column

Science

New Levitator Lofts Styrofoam Bits And Moves Them Around New Levitator Lofts Styrofoam Bits And Moves Them Around

By Francie Diep

The U.S. Looks Absurdly Bright From Space

Science

The U.S. Looks Absurdly Bright From Space The U.S. Looks Absurdly Bright From Space

By Francie Diep

These Next-Gen Telescopes Will Peer Into The Deep History Of The Universe

Science

These Next-Gen Telescopes Will Peer Into The Deep History Of The Universe These Next-Gen Telescopes Will Peer Into The Deep History Of The Universe

By Alexandra Ossola

Science

Balloons And Airships Aren’t Just Steampunk, They’re Doing Cutting-Edge Science Balloons And Airships Aren’t Just Steampunk, They’re Doing Cutting-Edge Science

By Mary Beth Griggs

For The First Time, SpaceX Will Land A Rocket After Launch

Science

For The First Time, SpaceX Will Land A Rocket After Launch For The First Time, SpaceX Will Land A Rocket After Launch

Should We Send Men to Venus Instead of Mars?

Science

Should We Send Men to Venus Instead of Mars? Should We Send Men to Venus Instead of Mars?

By Amy Shira Teitel

Ask Anything: Can Plants Get STDs?

Science

Ask Anything: Can Plants Get STDs? Ask Anything: Can Plants Get STDs?

By Daniel Engber

Four Ways Spacefaring Microbes Could Muck Up the Solar System

Science

Four Ways Spacefaring Microbes Could Muck Up the Solar System Four Ways Spacefaring Microbes Could Muck Up the Solar System

By Sarah Scoles

Why was the Saturn V Black and White?

Science

Why was the Saturn V Black and White? Why was the Saturn V Black and White?

By Amy Shira Teitel

Watch Raindrops Make Asteroid-Like Collisions [Slo-Mo Video]

Environment

Watch Raindrops Make Asteroid-Like Collisions [Slo-Mo Video] Watch Raindrops Make Asteroid-Like Collisions [Slo-Mo Video]

Genetically Modified Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire

Technology

Genetically Modified Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire Genetically Modified Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire

Earth's most remote locations enlarged on a world map

Science

Earth’s Most Remote Locations Revealed In ‘Lonely Planet’ Cartogram Earth’s Most Remote Locations Revealed In ‘Lonely Planet’ Cartogram

Mathematician Suggests New Way Get To Mars On A Budget

Science

Mathematician Suggests New Way Get To Mars On A Budget Mathematician Suggests New Way Get To Mars On A Budget

By Francie Diep

Release the Hounds… On Pathogens!

Science

Release the Hounds… On Pathogens! Release the Hounds… On Pathogens!

Here’s What Christmas Looks Like on the Moon

Science

Here’s What Christmas Looks Like on the Moon Here’s What Christmas Looks Like on the Moon

By Amy Shira Teitel

blimps above clouds

Science

NASA Envisions A Cloud City Above Hellish Surface Of Venus NASA Envisions A Cloud City Above Hellish Surface Of Venus

Bored Gemini V Astronauts Took These Amazing Images Of Earth From Space

Science

Bored Gemini V Astronauts Took These Amazing Images Of Earth From Space Bored Gemini V Astronauts Took These Amazing Images Of Earth From Space

By Amy Shira Teitel

6 Amazing Videos From The Olympus Microscopy Competition

Science

6 Amazing Videos From The Olympus Microscopy Competition 6 Amazing Videos From The Olympus Microscopy Competition