Science News
How a year of extreme weather and a ‘Super El Niño’ will affect fall foliage
Leaf-peeping season is ramping up—here’s what to expect
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Latest science news, discoveries and scientific developments.
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Chinese pottery discovered in Great Zimbabwe reveals medieval African empire's vast connections spanning thousands of miles
Archaeologists digging in the medieval city of Great Zimbabwe have discovered pieces of jade-green Chinese pottery, suggesting that the enigmatic empire had long-distance connections with East Asia more than 1,000 years ago. Great Zimbabwe, located in the southeastern part of modern-day Zimbabwe, was the capital of an ancient empire that arose in southeastern Africa in around A.D. 1000. Little is known about this precolonial empire because its people did not leave a written history, but new archaeological excavations are shining a light on the enormous scale of the centuries-old civilization known for its intricate metalworking and ritual stone carvings.In the new PBS documentary "Secrets of...
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Best wildlife cameras 2026: The ultimate buying guide to every major camera brand
Wildlife photographers need a camera that is reliable and built to capture fast-moving action at a moment's notice. A fast burst rate, accurate autofocus and robust handling are vital when it comes to wildlife cameras, or you'll end up with sad, blurry photos of an empty tree stump.We've curated a list of the best models from each of the top camera brands, so no matter which system you want to invest in, there will be something for you here.Best Canon cameras for wildlife photography Best for detail Canon EOS R5 II Canon's highest-resolution mirrorless camera with a 45MP stacked sensor, the R5 II is for wildlife photographers who want a professional workflow and need to crop aggressively. It...
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Tiny implants can use the body itself to talk to each other
Researchers made a rat’s front-leg movement trigger its back leg. The experiment could point to a new kind of body-based network to connect implants.
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Flightless Jurassic bird was like a carnivorous pheasant with killer claws
Illustration of the flightless Jurassic bird Yuezhuornis yangyuanensis, which had features of both birds and dinosaurs. (Image credit: Mr. Chung-Tat Cheung)Paleontologists in China have discovered a small Jurassic bird that was likely a land-based predator — like a carnivorous pheasant with killer claws. It had some features of birds and others of dinosaurs, suggesting that the earliest birds had a greater diversity of lifestyles than previously recognized.Jurassic birds first emerged 150 million to 148 million years ago, and fossils of them are rare, so experts are just starting to understand how early birds diversified and evolved the ability to fly. The researchers discovered the newly id...
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An ancient Chinese math puzzle shows how to win at cards, horse races and gerrymandering
A stratagem that dates back two millennia leads to a math puzzle that took 30 years to solve
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Climate scientists issue a sobering diagnosis about Earth's 'vital signs'
“The climate emergency is already here”
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One of America's biggest meteor craters is 100 million years younger than we thought — and coincided with a global extinction event
One of America's largest meteor craters is around 100 million years younger than scientists thought, which means the ancient impact coincided with — and potentially contributed to — one of the biggest global extinction events in Earth's history, according to a new study.The underground impact structure, known as Ames crater, is located in northern Oklahoma and is named after a small town that sits above the submerged crater. At around 10 miles (16 kilometers) wide, it is the fourth-largest impact structure in the U.S.Ames crater was created when an Eiffel Tower-size space rock slammed into our planet at more than 70,000 mph (110,000 km/h). At the time, the region was covered in a shallow oce...
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Voyager 1 is nearly one light-day from Earth. What’s out there?
On November 18, Voyager 1 will reach one light-day from Earth. It’s still finding surprises in interstellar space.
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Scientists reveal why some workout recovery tricks can backfire
Ice baths, massages, compression garments, and recovery supplements promise faster muscle recovery, but research suggests their benefits are often overstated, and some techniques may even undermine long-term gains. Scientists say the most effective recovery methods are far simpler and cheaper: getting enough sleep, eating well, and giving muscles time to rebuild.
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Cornell scientists identify rare human genetic disorder in two unusually long-legged cats
Two unusually long-legged cats have helped scientists uncover the first genetically confirmed cases of Marfan syndrome in domestic felines. Researchers at Cornell University discovered that the brothers carried two altered copies of a gene linked to the rare connective tissue disorder, which can affect the eyes, heart, and blood vessels. Surprisingly, the cats survived into adulthood because their genetic mutation still allowed some normal function.
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Why the AI shopping revolution could backfire on retailers
Retailers have every reason to be interested in AI. A shopping assistant that answers questions at any hour, compares products instantly and offers personalized recommendations sounds like a win for customers and businesses alike.
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The secret to easier exercise as an adult may start in childhood
Exercise during childhood could have a surprising lifelong benefit, potentially making physical activity less exhausting in adulthood. In a study involving guinea fowl, researchers discovered that birds accustomed to carrying weights while growing up could carry those weights as adults without using extra energy, while untrained birds burned 23% more.
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Children's mental health struggles may expose parents to stigma tied to parenting ideals
Parents of children with mental health problems may experience stigma when the ideals that matter most to being considered a "good parent" are perceived as not being met, according to preliminary research led by Weill Cornell Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.
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Scientists may have overlooked a hidden Alzheimer's culprit for decades
For decades, scientists have focused on amyloid beta as a major culprit behind Alzheimer’s disease, spending billions of dollars developing treatments that have often delivered disappointing results. Now, researchers at UC Santa Cruz are drawing attention to a largely overlooked peptide called P3 that could also play a role in the disease. Previously believed to be harmless, P3 can form harmful-looking protein clumps even faster than amyloid beta and may also damage brain cells.
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Study finds overlooked 'forever chemicals' widespread in New Jersey tap water and bottled beverages
Researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have found that a largely overlooked class of "forever chemicals" is widespread in New Jersey drinking water and commercially available bottled beverages, raising new questions about how these persistent contaminants are monitored and potentially introduced into everyday products.
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Quantum network test checks entanglement without having to trust detectors
Quantum networks are systems that connect different users or devices using principles of quantum mechanics. In the future, these networks could help improve the security of communications.
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Amateur astronomer harnesses AI to find a possible hidden exoplanet
Evidence for this possible super-Earth has been lurking for years in NASA data. Pavel Rabtsevich found it—with a little help from AI
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Scientists may have finally solved the mystery of the Moon’s two faces
Scientists may have solved a long-standing mystery about why the Moon’s two sides are so different, using samples collected from its farside for the first time. Their findings suggest that uneven heating from Earth's gravitational pull drove enormous flows of ancient magma, creating the dramatically different lunar landscapes we see today.
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Scientists discover how harmful “zombie cells” hide from the immune system
Scientists have discovered a protein that may help harmful aging cells hide from the immune system, allowing them to accumulate and fuel age-related health problems. Blocking the protein in mice reduced these cells and inflammation while improving blood sugar regulation and strength, offering a promising new direction for anti-aging research.