Science

For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology.

Solar Wind
What Is the Ionosphere? (And Who Is Steve?)
Live Science - Nicoletta Lanese
A dense layer of molecules and electrically charged particles, called the ionosphere, hangs in the Earth's upper atmosphere starting at about 35 …
Archaeology
Egypt's 'Bent Pyramid' Opens for First Time in More Than 50 Years
Live Science - Laura Geggel
For the first time since 1965, two pyramids built by the ancient Egyptians, including the unique "Bent Pyramid," are being opened to the public, …
Archaeology
Were the Vikings Smoking Pot While Exploring Newfoundland?
Live Science - Owen Jarus
The discovery of cannabis pollen near a Viking settlement in Newfoundland raises the question of whether the Vikings were smoking or eating pot while …
Alan Turing
Legendary, Persecuted Code-Breaker Alan Turing Finally Recognized for His Achievements
Live Science - Isobel Whitcomb
If it weren't for the legendary World War II code-breaker Alan Turing, the outcome for the Allied forces might have looked very different. The …
The Last Lunar Eclipse of 2019 Occurs Tuesday, Just in Time for Apollo 11 Celebrations
space.com - Joe Rao
Tomorrow (July 16), the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11 to land astronauts on the moon and two weeks after the moon totally eclipsed the …
Biology
What Is Homeostasis?
Live Science - Nicoletta Lanese
Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a relatively stable internal state that persists despite changes in the world outside. All living organisms, …
Mapping the Moon for Apollo
theconversation.com - Timothy Swindle
At an International Astronomical Union meeting in 1955, noted astronomer Gerard Kuiper asked for suggestions and collaborators on a project to make a …
U.S. National Parks
This Eagle-Nosed, Shovel-Chinned Dinosaur May Be the Weirdest Thing You See Today
Live Science - Mindy Weisberger
A newfound duck-billed dinosaur species that lived about 80 million years ago had a face so bizarre that scientists named the animal "eagle-nose …
Greenland
Greenland’s Superfast ‘Ice Slides’ Could Be Bad News for Climate Change
Live Science - Yasemin Saplakoglu
Greenland's ice sheet is sliding way more than previously thought, according to a new study. This means that the ice sheet can change faster in a …
Norwegian Sea
A Sunken Soviet Sub Is Raising the Radioactivity of the Norwegian Sea 800,000-Fold. But Don't Worry.
Live Science - Laura Geggel
A Cold War Soviet nuclear submarine met disaster 30 years ago when it sank in the Norwegian Sea, leading to the deaths of 42 sailors. But instead of …
Living with rats involves understanding the city as an ecosystem
theconversation.com - Chelsea Himsworth
Rats! They eat our food, chew through our property and spread all sorts of nasty diseases. And they are gross (right?), with those naked tails and …
Fossils
Wee Lizard Found in Dinosaur's Belly from 120 Million Years Ago
Live Science - Mindy Weisberger
About 120 million years ago, a small dinosaur gulped down a lizard, swallowing the reptile whole. The wee lizard's story might have ended there, but …
Pasta
Don't Be Confused If This Starfish Makes Your Mouth Water
Live Science - Isobel Whitcomb
If this starfish is making your mouth water, you're not alone. When a photo of Plinthaster dentatus went viral on Twitter last week, pasta-lovers did …
Louisiana
Barry Becomes a Hurricane, Barrels Toward Louisiana Coast
Live Science - Jeanna Bryner
Hurricane Barry is barreling northwest toward Louisiana, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), with heavy rain, storm surges and …
Earth
Has the Earth Ever Been This Hot Before?
Live Science - Isobel Whitcomb
Would you ever go on vacation to the North Pole? Unless you like subzero temperatures and Nordic-ski treks, probably not. But if you lived 56 million …
Galaxies
New Dark Energy Data Emerges from Misshapen, Distorted, Ancient Voids
Live Science - Rafi Letzter
There are voids in the universe, and we can't see them properly. And that's a good thing. These voids — giant, irregular gaps in space that are empty …
Atlantic Ocean
The World's Largest Iceberg Is 2 Years Old Today, and Already Drifting Toward Its Doom
Live Science - Brandon Specktor
They grow up so fast. The iceberg called A68 — currently the largest iceberg in the world, weighing about 1.1 trillion tons (1 trillion metric tons) …
Animals
Feeding Frenzy of 11 Sharks Ends in Surprising Twist … And a Mouthful of Shark for 1 Grouper
Live Science - Isobel Whitcomb
Catching a glimpse of an underwater feeding frenzy involving 11 sharks was enough to startle and exhilarate a group of scientists off the coast of …
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Woman Dies After Being Impaled by Reusable Metal Straw
Live Science - Rachael Rettner
A woman in England died after falling onto a reusable metal straw, which pierced her head, and the tragic accident has renewed debate over bans on …
Technology
Space Archaeology Is a Thing. And It Involves Lasers and Spy Satellites
Live Science - Mindy Weisberger
What does it take to be a space archaeologist? No, you don't need a rocket or a spacesuit. However, lasers are sometimes involved. And infrared …
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Braces for Intense Floods As Tropical Storm Barry Rolls In
Live Science - Yasemin Saplakoglu
New Orleans is bracing for a tropical storm that is expected to hit tonight or tomorrow, bringing with it chances of severe flooding. Tropical Storm …
Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones Meets 'Star Wars' in 'Archaeology From Space.' Enter to Win a Copy!
Live Science - Mindy Weisberger
What is it like to uncover the mysteries of ancient civilizations ... from space? Archaeologist Sarah Parcak is a pioneer in the field of space …
Dark Energy
'Chameleon Theory' Could Explain Why the Universe Is Blowing Up
Live Science - Adam Mann
Can a chameleon build a galaxy? According to new computer models, yes. This isn't a surrealist joke but rather the implication of recent simulations …
Napoleon Bonaparte
Remains of Napoleon's One-Legged General Found Under Russian Dance Floor
Live Science - Laura Geggel
An excavation in a peculiar place — under the foundation of a dance floor in Russia — has uncovered the remains of one of Napoleon Bonaparte's …
Fungi
Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells: What's the Difference?
Live Science - Traci Pedersen
Prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells are the two types of cells that exist on Earth. There are several differences between the two, but the biggest …
FDA
This Common Sugar Substitute Can Be Deadly for Dogs, FDA Warns
Live Science - Rachael Rettner
You should always be careful about what you let your dog eat — case in point, a common sugar substitute found in everything from chewing gum to …
Man Goes Blind After Wearing Contact Lenses in the Shower
Live Science - Rachael Rettner
Our fantastic Fight for Sight supporter, Nick Humphreys, is raising awareness of the need for correct contact lens care and clearer information on …
Monkeys
After This Young Monkey Got Hit by a Car, Monkey Strangers Comforted Him
Live Science - Rafi Letzter
Even monkeys know it's right to care for strangers in need. (Or maybe their parents just didn't teach the helpers about "stranger danger.") In a new …
Cats
Cats in Australia Kill Over 2 Billion Wild Animals Each Year
Live Science - Mindy Weisberger
When cats roam free, small wild animals die. And the body count in Australia exceeds 2 billion native animals per year. Environmental researchers in …