Computers Plus Crowds Could Tackle World's Toughest Problems

The world's most dire problems, such as climate change and global conflicts, could be solved using a combination of human and computer intelligence, researchers say.

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Do Pot Smokers Drink More or Less? Results Are Mixed

Do people who use legal marijuana drink less or more alcohol? The answer, it turns out, is complicated, a new study finds.

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Digging Dinosaurs: 5 Trends That Will Be Bigger Than T. Rex

This year, paleontologists made headlines with news of incredible dinosaur findings the world over, and they expect 2016 will hold just as many surprises, scientists told Live Science.

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Two Charts Show December’s Crazy Warmth

December has been crazy warm across the East, leading to 10,000 daily heat records compared to 500 cold ones.

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Space Bots & Android Waste Collectors: What's Ahead for Robotics

In 2015, it was a good year to be a robot. But next year might be even better.

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Tip for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions: Turn Them into Questions

If you want to stick to your New Year's resolutions, psychologists find that questioning your behavior, not stating your intentions, will help you out.

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Digging up the Past in 2016: What Archaeologists Expect to Find

Though archaeology digs into humans' past, Live Science looks at what historical mysteries and bones may be revealed in 2016. From pyramids in Sudan to revelations about the Gospel of Jesus's Wife, here are six discoveries to watch for.

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Many Signs Suggest Americans Will Be Healthier in 2016

A lot of health indicators suggest that Americans are on the road to better health.

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5 Facts to Know About the California Methane Leak

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is dangerous to humans, is spewing from an underground storage facility in Southern California.

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James Bond Villain Gets 'A' for Evil, But 'F' for Brain Surgery

The latest James Bond villain in the new movie "Spectre" may get an "A" for his evil schemes, but he failed spectacularly at neuroanatomy, according to a new report.

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Disney's New Robot Scales Walls…Like Spidey

If Spider-Man had a robot sidekick, this would be it.

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Gorgeous Images Reveal Parasitic Plant in 3-Way Symbiotic Relationship

An ant, a caterpillar, and a parasitic plant all interact in a strange web of mutual benefit in the Amazon jungle, new research suggests.

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Photos: A Strange Parasitic Plant in the Amazon

An ant, a caterpillar, and a parasitic plant all interact in a strange web of mutual benefit in the Amazon jungle, new research suggests.

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Want to Lose Weight? Fewer Americans Say Yes

The numbers on the scale aren't going down, but the number of Americans who say they want to lose weight is.

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Suspect Science: The Top 5 Retracted Papers of 2015

Here is our annual countdown of the "top five" scientific retractions in the last year, some serious, most comical.

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Space Fuel: Plutonium-238 Created After 30-Year Wait

Scientists have produced a powder of plutonium-238 for the first time in nearly 30 years in the United States, a milestone that they say sets the country on a path toward powering NASA's deep-space exploration and other missions.

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Everybody Freeze! The Science of the Polar Bear Club

On New Year's Day on Brooklyn, New York's Coney Island beach, the sound of chattering teeth will fill the air, as thousands of people gather for a ceremonial wintry dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Ingredients of Plague Risk in Western US Identified

Small outbreaks of the plague still occur in the western United States, and now new research shows these clusters don't happen at random. Instead, they tend to pop up in areas that have certain mix of climates, animals and elevation, a new study finds.

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Google Glass Redux: High-Tech Wearable Gets Ready for Business

Google Glass is alive, and it could be coming to a workplace near you.

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Tasmanian Devils' Mysterious Cancer May Come in Two Varieties

Tasmanian devils are plagued by at least two kinds of cancer that can be spread from animal to animal, new research shows.

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Missing Electrons in the Atmosphere Possibly Found

The mysterious disappearance of electrons in the atmosphere could be caused by meteors burning up in the sky, new research suggests.

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Baghdad Blasts: Earthquake Detectors Map Sounds of War

Seismic equipment installed in Iraq to detect earthquakes recorded plenty of other big bangs — explosions from nearby mortars and car bombs.

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Pot Science: Top Marijuana Findings of 2015

Here is a roundup of what scientists learned about marijuana during 2015.

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Forget the Flashlight: New Ninja Shark Species Lights up the Sea

The ocean can be a deep and dark place, but the so-called "ninja" shark can light up its surroundings with a dimly glowing head, a new report says.

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Holiday Horrors Unwrapped: 5 Weird Gifts in the Animal Kingdom

This year, when your family gathers around the tree on Christmas morning, be glad you aren't a cricket. The best gifts they ever get are gelatinous balls of protein. Here are five of the strangest, and most horrifying, presents exchanged by animals.

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The 8 Biggest Climate Storylines of the Year

From record heat to the Pope's climate push to Paris, these are the climate stories that shaped 2015.

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Trail from Ship Exhaust Leaves 'A' in the Sky

In July there was a large "A" written in the sky over the ocean near the Kamchatka Peninsula, in eastern Russia. In an image of this "A" snapped from space, the letter looks like it could have been made by an airplane that was using standard skywriting.

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Mattel Goes High-Tech with Virtual Reality View-Master Toy

One of your favorite childhood playthings just got a modern makeover.

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Ram Statue Unearthed on Christmas Eve May Represent Jesus

A hand-carved marble statue of a ram that was uncovered last week along Israel's Mediterranean coast has archaeologists guessing about who carved the creation.

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Volcanoes Sparked an Explosion in Human Intelligence, Researcher Argues

Ancient hominins may have harnessed fire from nearby lava flows to cook food, keep warm and evolve bigger and smarter brains, new research proposes.

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New Kind of Hydrothermal Vent Forms Ghostly Chimneys

Deep in the Caribbean Sea, researchers have discovered a new type of hydrothermal vent unlike any seen before, with huge, ghostly mounds formed from an ingredient common in baby powder.

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Turtles' Wayward Travels May Mean BP Oil Spill's Impact Was Global

More than 300,000 sea turtles were likely in the the Gulf of Mexico area affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The turtles' far-flung journeys suggest the spill's impact reaches far and wide.

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Son of Hercules vs. Hydra: Altar Showing Mythical Battle Discovered

An ancient marble altar dating to the second century and showing a nude warrior battling a serpent monster has been discovered by villagers near the Akçay River in Turkey.

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Smartphone-Powered Microscope? Developers Start Kickstarter Campaign | Video

The product is called "μpeek", and uses 3D inkjet nano scale technology to turn a smartphone into a microscope. The developers explain how it works.

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Wear Your Genes: Scarves Turn Your DNA Into Unique Pattern

You can now buy scarves featuring designs based on your unique DNA sequence, making these items among the most personalized gifts ever made.

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Micro Porcupines to Snow Leopards: WCS's Favorite Wildlife Photos of 2015

Baby porcupines look deceptively cuddly.

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From Blood Rain to Green Poo: 10 Weirdest Science Stories of 2015

Things got pretty weird this year.

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Animal Sex: How Santa's Reindeer Do It

In the months preceding Christmas, Santa's sleigh-pulling ungulates are engaged in a very different activity — mating. Reindeer sex involves herding, defending harems and ignoring lovers.

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Pocket-Size Device Turns Smartphone into a High-Powered Microscope

A new pocket-size microscope could give you a closer look at the world around you.

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Will Concussions Keep Kids from Football? (Op-Ed)

Youth sports are not the biggest risk kids face, so should those activities be banned?

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Can Games Be a Game-Changer for Climate? (Op-Ed)

Global warming isn't a game, but gameplay might giving people a firm grasp of the risks.

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The 10 Strangest Animal Discoveries of 2015

Every year, scientists wade into jungles, deserts and museum collections to examine animals and, if they're lucky, discover a new species.

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Big 'Schrödinger's Cats' Created

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated over macroscopic scales the phenomenon exemplified by imaginary feline Schrödinger's cat, which can be alive and dead at the same time.

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Curbing Premature Birth May Hinge on a Single Molecule

Blocking a molecule in the uterus could delay or even halt premature birth, the leading cause of death and disability of newborns worldwide, according to a new study in rodents.

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Will an Asteroid Threaten Earth on Christmas Eve? Not a Chance, NASA Says

There is no substance to multiple media reports that an asteroid passing by Earth will cause earthquakes on our own planet, according to asteroid experts at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Nicolas Cage to Return Dino Skull to Mongolia

A long, strange journey for the skull of a predatory dinosaur that lived 70 million years ago in Asia comes full circle, as the stolen fossil finally returns to Mongolia.

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'Writable' Circuits Could Let Scientists Draw Electronics into Existence

Scientists have developed a way to produce soft, flexible and stretchy electronic circuits and radio antennas by hand, simply by writing on specially designed sheets of material.

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Hop to It! Cocooned Wasp Larvae Jump to Survive

Tiny, cocooned parasitic wasp larvae hop their way to safety, jumping to get away from predators and to find cooler, shady areas, a new study finds.

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US Twin Birthrate Hits All-Time High

The number of twin births is on the rise in the U.S.

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Stem Cells May Save Northern White Rhinos

Giving up on traditional breeding efforts, scientists turn to still-developing reproductive technology to save a vanishing subspecies of rhinoceros.

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Dogs Mimic Their Pals' Playful Behaviors

Fido may have empathy for his pals, according to research in a dog park that revealed pups rapidly mimic the playful behaviors of their friends more than they copy strangers.

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Dogs Copy Playful Behavior Of Their Canine Buddies | Video

Dogs are more likely to rapidly mimic playful behaviors of their canine pals than “stranger” dogs.

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Do Girls Have 'Protection' from Autism? (Op-Ed)

Why are girls less likely to be diagnosed with autism?

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Oh, Rats! Pet Rodent's Bite Gives Teen Rare Fever

A pet rat leads to a hospital stay.

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Skin-to-Skin 'Kangaroo-Style' Care May Benefit Newborns' Health

Babies born with a low birth weight who are regularly held by their mothers skin-to-skin — or "kangaroo style" — may have a lower risk of dying prematurely, according to a new analysis of previous research.

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2 'Extinct' Sea Snakes Discovered Off Australian Coast

Two species of venomous sea snakes that were thought to be extinct have been discovered slithering off the coast of western Australia.

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Flower Aroma Is a Honeybee's Chill Pill

Music has charms to soothe a savage breast. And, it seems, flowers can calm an aggressive honeybee.

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Honeybees React Fast To 'Sting Alarm Pheromone" | Video

Pairs of bees waste no time helping each other sting a 'moving dummy.' After one attacks and releases the pheromone, the second is quick to follow.

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This Self-Drying Jacket Is Straight Out of 'Back to the Future'

"Back to the Future" fans may still be waiting for time machines and (true) hoverboards to be invented, but a self-drying jacket akin to the one Marty McFly wore in "Back to the Future Part II" could soon make a futuristic addition to your wardrobe.

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Rare Sighting! Orcas On The Hunt | Video

A pod of perhaps a dozen orcas was sighted in Hero Inlet near the National Science Foundation’s Palmer Station, Antarctica. A behavior called “spy-hopping,” is seen in the video, where the orca treads water with its head to observe its prey.

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Cocooned Wasps Jump To Shaded Areas To Survive | Video

A 3-mm B. anurus wasp lays its eggs in weevil larvae. The baby wasps hatch and consume the weevil larvae from the inside. Then, inside the empty weevil husk, they build a second ‘shell’, cocooning themselves inside the corpse.

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Venomous Sea Snake Washes Up on California Beach, Surprising Scientists

Two venomous sea snakes have washed up on Southern California beaches in 2015.

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'Red Tide' Turns Gulf of Mexico Rust-Colored

The Gulf of Mexico got a taste of the "red tide" earlier this month, and beaches all along the Gulf Coast were closed to keep people safe from potential health risks.

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Where Is the World's Deepest Cave?

Some undiscovered ones may extend far deeper into the Earth than the record of 1.36 miles.

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Hail the Hydra, an Animal That May Be Immortal

Freshwater hydra don't lose fertility or become any more likely to die as they age. In perfect conditions, they may live forever.

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'Forgotten' 19th-Century Images of Eclipses, Stars & Planets Found

A Danish astronomer recently made an unexpected discovery — cartons holding hundreds of glass plates imprinted with images of telescope observations, some of which were 120 years old.

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Photos: 'Lost' Astronomy Plates Show Historic Eclipse and More

Photographic glass plates imprinted with astronomy observations offer a unique view of the sky from decades long past.

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Register Your Drones Online: FAA Site Launches Today

It just got easier to register your recreational drone, as the Federal Aviation Administration's online registry launched today (Dec. 21).

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Toddler Tech Pros? 2-Year-Olds Adept at Touch Screens

When are tots old enough for tech?

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Flu Season Will Likely Peak in February, Forecast Suggests

This flu season will likely not peak until February, and could be a mild one, according to a new model that aims to forecast flu in the United States this winter.

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Lions Gain New Endangered Species Protections

African lions will be protected by the Endangered Species Act, according to an announcement made Dec. 21, 2015, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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King Tut's Half Sister May Have Nursed Him, Carving Suggests

Egypt's famous "boy king," the pharaoh Tutankhamun, may have suckled at the breast of his half sister during his infancy, new research finds.

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Ancient Mom: Oldest Brood of Preserved Embryos Found

A tiny, shrimplike creature that lived 508 million years ago has been discovered carrying about two-dozen fossilized eggs with preserved embryos in its body, making it the earliest example of brood care with preserved embryos on record, a new study finds.

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Two New TV Breakthroughs That Will Blow Your Mind (Op-Ed)

4K is just getting started — wait until the next-gen color pops.

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Take a Gander: Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count Begins

If you've ever wanted to go birding, the Christmas Bird Count is the perfect time to get a look at some rare and local birds.

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Lead Poisoning Threatens Michigan Kids: What Are the Risks?

The mayor of Flint, Michigan, declared a state of emergency last week after elevated levels of lead were detected in the city's drinking water. Here's a look at what lead does to the body.

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Evil-Thwarting 'Rattles' Found in Prehistoric Infant's Grave

Tiny figurines that may have been used as rattling toys or charms to ward off evil spirits were discovered in the grave of an infant who died 4,500 years ago.

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San Andreas May Be A 'Zipper' Fault

The San Andreas and Garlock faults, as well as other well-known and confounding faults around the world, may in fact be "zipper" faults, new research suggests.

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Animal Sex: How Manatees Do It

Manatee sex involves rendezvous points, large mating herds and aggressive shoving.

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Sacred Datura: Photos of a Beautiful (But Poisonous) Plant

Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) is a night-blooming herbaceous perennial that is common in the arid regions of the United States, Baja and northern Mexico.

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Futuristic Kicks: 3D-Printed Sneakers Are Tailor-Made to Your Feet

Adidas' new shoes will meet your "cushioning needs."

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Holiday Hazard: Installing Christmas Lights Can Lead to Falls

Putting up Christmas lights is part of the holiday tradition for many people, but it turns out that falls during installation can sometimes lead to serious or even deadly injuries, a recent study suggests.

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Santa Watch! How to Track Saint Nick This Christmas

There are many ways to keep tabs on the big guy in red.

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The Beard Is Back: Beeswax Fixes King Tut's Broken Goatee

The imperial goatee on King Tutankhamun's golden burial mask is back in business after scientists reattached it with beeswax, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.

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Fighting Skin Cancer: FDA Acts to Ban Tanning Beds for Minors

It's time for teens to stop tanning.

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Climate Change Eduction With New Card Game | Video

Arctic scientist Stephanie Pfirman helped to develop a game to teach kids about our changing planet. She explains how it's played.

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The Key to Making Baby Pandas? Love

When pandas get to pick a partner they want to mate with, they're more likely to make panda babies.

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Living to 100: New Genes for Longevity Found

Several new genes linked to an exceptionally long life have been discovered, according to a new study that examined the genomes of people living into their 100s, known as centenarians.

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Microwavable Mantle: Scientists Nuke Mock Earth Layer, for Science

Scientists trying to determine where the missing heat from the Earth comes from have turned to an unlikely source: a microwave oven.

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Pandas Given Choice Of Mates In New Study | Video

In this video, Giant Pandas interact with each other through a barrier prior to "breeding introductions." The study at the Bifengxia Chinese Conservation and Research Center in Sichuan, China studied mating behaviors by introducing individuals...

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Here’s How To Extend Your iPhone’s Battery Life

Cellphone batteries: Few things in the tech world are as derided as these small, but oh-so-necessary, components.

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Huh? Could Cleaner Air Be Worsening Global Warming?

Global warming may be exacerbated by an unintentional source: anti-air pollution laws that are making the skies clearer, new research suggests.

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Ancient Marine Reptiles Flew Through the Water

The ancient, four-flippered plesiosaur didn't swim like a turtle, whale or even an otter — but instead like a penguin, a new study finds.

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Strange Four-Flippered Plesiosaur - How It Swam | Computer Simulation

Thousands of swimming motions were simulated to try to resolve the almost 200-year-old question. It was concluded that the front limbs provided a bulk of the propulsion.

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12 Flavors of Rainbows Identified

You can thank a complex interplay of environmental factors for the stunning array of rainbows that appear in the sky, new research suggests.

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Sickle-Wearing Skeletons Reveal Ancient Fear of Demons

A few skeletons unearthed in a 400-year-old Polish cemetery have been discovered with sickles placed around their necks. Archaeologists believe this strange burial practice is evidence of a belief in magic and a fear of demons.

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In Photos: 'Demon Burials' Discovered in Poland Cemetery

In the Drawsko cemetery in Poland, archaeologists have discovered five skeletons with sickles placed at the throat or hips. This burial practice may have been meant to protect the dead from demons.

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What Is Dietary Fat?

Fat gets a bad rap, but including it in your diet is important for good health.

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What Is Electric Charge?

Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter and the foundation for electricity.

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November Burns Through Temperature Records

November 2015 was the warmest November on record, and the seventh month in a row to average global temperatures that broke records set during previous years.

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Cocoa Helps Kidney Patients Stave Off Heart Failure

Nutrients found in cocoa may improve the heart health, a new study of patients with advanced kidney disease finds.

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MERS Vaccine Protects Camels, Which Is Good for People

Could treating camels help humans?

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Cosmic Lightsaber Slices Through Clouds in Awesome New Image

A cosmic lightsaber, trillions of miles long, slices through the dark clouds of dust and gas that surround it in a new image captured by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

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Move Over, R2-D2! NASA Already Has Plenty of Robots in Space

Robots are already in space and benefiting humans, NASA says, even though (so far) we don't have trusty R2-D2s by our side bleeping comments and questions.

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Targeting Gut Microbes Could Lower Risk of Heart Disease

For the first time, researchers find that a compound in some red wines and olive oils can interfere with gut microbes in ways that could potentially help to prevent heart disease in humans.

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Adorable 'Star Wars' BB-8 Droid Brought to Life with 3D Printing

The force is strong with this one.

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'Hoverboard' Scooter Fires: Faulty Batteries May Be to Blame

It's likely not the hoverboards themselves that are causing fires and explosions, but rather their energy sources: shoddily made lithium-ion batteries, experts say.

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Elephant Daughters Step into Murdered Matriarchs' Roles

Younger female elephants take up new social positions when an older matriarch dies, forging links with other elephant daughters that mirror mothers' connections.

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Paris Climate Deal Could Stave Off Disaster, Al Gore Says

The Paris agreement, which 195 nations signed over the weekend, could be the breakthrough that lets humanity avoid a looming climate catastrophe, Gore said Wednesday (Dec. 16) at the annual fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

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Using the Force? Lightsaber Fitness Classes Arrive

Young padawans learn to use the force in lightsaber fitness classes.

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Should We Create Superhumans? Q&A with Author James Rollins

Rollins, whose novel "The Bone Labyrinth" was just released, took some time to talk to Live Science about genetic engineering, the future of humanity and the ethical limits of science.

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Concussion? Soon A Blood Test Will Know For Sure | Video

Traumatic brain injuries have been detected in 94 percent of subjects though a blood test developed by Orlando Health. According to NIH-funded research, the sensitive test potted signs of trauma not seen on CT scans.

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Glimpse of Possible New Particle Intrigues Physicists

The biggest particle accelerator in the world might have found a hint of an entirely new fundamental particle — or it might be seeing ghosts.

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Bigger Earthquakes May Be Coming to Nepal

Though the Nepal earthquake had some terrifying consequences, a much bigger one could be on the way, new and historical data suggest.

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Spoilers Really Can Ruin Your Movie Experience

A new study finds that spoilers really do reduce suspense and decrease overall enjoyment.

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'Heavy Metal' Bee Is a Headbanging Pollinator

Scientists recently discovered that a species of Australian blue-banded bee is a successful pollinator because it uses its head — literally.

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The Art of Science: Why Researchers Should Think Like Designers (Op-Ed)

Sometimes thinking through a problem means thinking like someone else.

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Hairy Situation: More Mustaches, Fewer Women in Top Medical Spots

Why are there more mustaches in top medicine jobs than women?

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US Ebola Survivors Suffering Health Problems, Report Finds

The small number of people in the U.S. who contracted Ebola have all experienced complications from the disease after they recovered, including hair loss, joint pain and eye problems, according to a new report.

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Penguin Candid Camera: Little Birds Reveal Hunting Secrets

Wearing video cameras, the world's smallest penguins have revealed their hunting secrets: The little blue birds swim together to stalk groups of prey, but when it comes to catching and killing their meals, it's every penguin for itself.

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Penguins On The Hunt - Attached Camera Captures Pursuit | Video

Researchers fastened a camera to a little penguin in order to study its foraging behavior. The study found that the penguins tend work together to capture 'schooling prey' and are likely to work alone for 'solitary prey'.

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Dinosaur's Curious Back Sail May Have Aided Migration

The bizarre rigid "sail" on the back of a newfound species of herbivorous dinosaur may have helped the paleo-beast survive in a variety of climates, a new study finds.

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Zombie Alert! Medical Journal 'Warns' of Walking Dead

A tongue-in-cheek medical journal article takes a spooky tone with its metaphor for infectious disease.

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Historic Photos Paint Picture of Greenland Ice Loss

A picture is worth a thousand words, or, in Greenland, a thousand scientific measurements.

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Expert Voices - Robert Lawrence Kuhn

Author and PBS host Robert Lawrence Kuhn brings his unique, mind-bending questions to the Expert Voices platform.

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'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' - Review

An early look at what to expect from Episode VII.

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Fad Diet? Experts Take New View on Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting, or fasting just a few days a week, was initially decried by health experts as unhealthy. But new studies show it might not be so bad.

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Is a Real Lightsaber Possible? Science Offers a New Hope

Are real lightsabers possible?

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'Star Wars' Tech: 8 Sci-Fi Inventions and Their Real-Life Counterparts

While the tech behind the “Star Wars” is firmly rooted in fantasy, the franchise has served as inspiration for many real-life scientists and engineers. Here are some of the most notable attempts to turn "Star Wars'" science fiction into science fact.

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These Are the Species You're Looking for: 7 Animals with 'Star Wars'-Inspired Names

Some devoted "Star Wars" fans who also happen to be scientists share their appreciation for the iconic movie series by giving its characters' names to newly discovered species.

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The World Needs a Carbon Tax, Elon Musk Says

The lack of a carbon tax amounts to a hidden subsidy that incentivizes "bad behavior," Musk said Tuesday (Dec. 15) at the annual fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, in San Francisco.

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Head-Banging Bee Puts Metal Heads To Shame | Video

With 350 head-bangs each second, the Australian Blue-Banded Bee takes a unique, 'heavy metal' approach to pollination. High-speed speed video of the little buzz-fueled ‘rocker' shows pollen flung around similar to the action of a salt shaker.

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Head-Banging Bee Puts Metal Heads To Shame | Video

With 350 head-bangs each second, the Australian Blue-Banded Bee takes a unique, 'heavy metal' approach to pollination. High-speed speed video of the little buzz-fueled ‘rocker' shows pollen flung around similar to the action of a salt shaker.

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The Arctic Is Warming at an Unprecedented Rate

The Arctic experienced its warmest average temperatures and lowest levels of sea ice on record, as well as other changes associated with global warming.

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Ancient Mouse-Size Creature Uproots Mammal Family Tree

A high-tech analysis of the fossils of a mouse-size creature that lived in Greenland suggests that mammals originated more than 30 million years more recently than thought, the researchers say. And the first mammals were plant eaters.

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Got Calcium? Wild Parrots Use Tools During Snack Time

The black-feathered greater vasa parrot has a new skill to add to its resume — the use of tools to grind shells to create calcium powder, which it then proceeds to lick up with its pink tongue, a new study finds.

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Parrots Use Tools To Scrape Shells For Calcium | Video

Greater Vasa parrots (Coracopsis vasa) use pebbles or date pits to break apart seashells that provide dietary calcium. Researchers claim this is the first documented case of a non-human species using grinding tools. 

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Marijuana's THC May Increase 'Noise' in Your Brain

The level of "neural noise," or the random neural activity in the brain increases when people are given THC, a new study finds.

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Shingles Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke

What to worry about after a bout of shingles.

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New X Prize Challenge: Map Ocean Floor

Attention, sea-loving explorers: There's a $7 million reason to get serious about your passion for ocean research right now.

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Smuggled Ancient Wall Carving Returned to Egypt

Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities has been pushing for the return of ancient Egyptian artifacts smuggled out of the country.

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Reclaimed History: 9 Repatriated Egyptian Antiquities

Here's a look at nine reclaimed Egyptian artifacts that were once part of the underground marketplace for smuggled items.

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Deck the Halls — Scientifically! 5 Smart Tips for Holiday Decorating

Decking the halls is easy when you have science on your side.

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Why Humans Have Slender Faces and Neanderthals Don't

Neanderthals had protruding facial features because of the way their bodies deposited and dealt with bone, a new study finds.

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Drought Could Kill Off Many of the World's Trees

Drought could kill many of the trees in forests around the globe, and particularly in the United States, if global warming isn't contained.

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New Wearable Keyboards Could Be Sewn into Clothing

Researchers have developed wearable keyboards made of electronics knitted together like fabric that could lead to a new kind of human-machine interface.

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Putin’s Stiff Arm - KGB Training To Blame? | Video

Videos of the Russia's President, Prime Minister, and Fmr. Minister of Defense reveal reduced right arm swing while walking. Researchers theorize this is "gunslingers gait," a conditioned behavior resulting from weapons training.

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'Lost' Treasure Ship Is Also a War Grave

The wreck of the San Jose made headlines because of money. But there's more to this lost galleon than silver and gold.

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Do Before-Workout Supplements Actually Work?

Although individual ingredients in preworkout supplements may have some modest benefits for athletic performance, proprietary blends have less scientific backing.

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It Ain't Got That Swing: Putin's Unusual Walk Shaped by KGB

Neurologists' recent analysis of Russian president Vladimir Putin's peculiar walk trace its origins to training Putin received while in the KGB.

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Why Are There So Many Bob Dylan Lyrics in Medical Lit? The Answer, My Friend…

Do medical scientists have a thing for Bob Dylan?

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Satellite Imagery Reveals Most Lightning-Prone Places on Earth

Lake Maracaibo is the spot most prone to lightning strikes on Earth, according to new data with incredibly high resolution.

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Zika Virus Spreading in the Americas: What You Should Know

Health officials raise concerns about zika virus, a denguelike infection spreading rapidly in the Americas.

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Better Watch Out for Deer Ticks This Holiday Season

Unseasonably warm fall temperatures in the northeastern United States mean that blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as deer ticks, are active later into December than is usually the case.

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Water Art: Phytoplankton Bloom Turns Ocean into a Masterpiece

This phytoplankton bloom looks like a van Gogh painting.

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Young Smokers May Be Switching to Cigarette Alternatives

The percentage of young adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has dropped in recent years, but the decline could be due to this population switching from cigarettes to other forms of tobacco.

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'Plucking' Light Particles from Laser Beams Could Advance Quantum Computing

A novel method for "plucking" individual particles of light out of a laser pulse could lead to major breakthroughs in quantum computing, researchers say.

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Antidepressants May Raise Autism Risk in Later Pregnancy Stages

Children born to women who took antidepressants during their second or third trimester of pregnancy may face an increased risk of autism, a new study finds.

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Enormous Plesiosaur Once Swam Around Ancient Patagonia

A long-necked plesiosaur with enormous flippers once swam around the waters covering Patagonia about 65 million years ago, new research finds.

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Photos: Uncovering One of the Largest Plesiosaurs on Record

Plesiosaurs aren't dinosaurs, but they're just as enormous as some of their Cretaceous-age pals.

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Stress May Raise Risk of Memory Problems in Older People

Older people who have higher levels of stress may face a greater risk of developing cognitive problems, a new study finds.

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Which States Are Eating Their Fruits and Veggies?

Many Americans are passing on their fruits and vegetables.

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The Great Calorie Debate

Are calories really the key to weight loss?

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Diet and Weight Loss: The Best Ways to Eat

Want to eat for weight loss? Here's how to do it.

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Dino-Killing Asteroid Impact Triggered Lethal Algal Bloom

The asteroid that killed the nonavian dinosaurs may have also killed countless marine animals after it triggered a worldwide algal bloom, a new study finds.

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Backyard Bonanza: Medieval Outhouses and Roman Roads Unearthed

Backyards haven't changed much over the past 1,000 years or so. While digging in an area not far from where King Richard III's bones were found, archaeologists unearth rubbish pits, outhouses and mosaic pavements along what were once people's backyards.

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Photos: Rubbish Piles & Roman Mosaics Unearthed in Historical English City

Not far from where the English king Richard III was buried, archaeologists have uncovered some everyday treasures.

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Why Do Scientists Overspecialize into Silos? (Op-Ed)

Crossing disciplinary boundaries is unusual – and crucially important.

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Cloud Shields and Cow Pills: The Craziest Climate Change Fixes

From helping cows get a handle on their flatulence to creating a giant atmospheric shield for the sun's rays, scientists have proposed some crazy climate fix ideas.

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Virtual Reality Tech Lets You 'Teleport' Back in Time

A group of engineers is hoping to do just that with a virtual reality (VR) system that lets you take 3D videos with your phone and an accompanying virtual reality headset that lets you experience those memories again, whenever you want.

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How Forests Could Bridge the Energy Transition (Op-Ed)

Forests can store up to half of global carbon emissions — can they provide the solution to a warming planet?

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For Hippos, Their Charismatic Looks Won't Keep Them Safe (Photos)

Hippopotamuses may be adorable, but they still face terrible poaching.

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As Habitat Vanishes, Migratory Birds Are in Free Fall (Op-Ed)

Migratory birds are losing ground, literally, at every stage of their flights.

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TEST

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Modern Birds Took Flight 95 Million Years Ago

Modern birds — from the soaring eagle to the tiny hummingbird — share a common ancestor that lived about 95 million years ago in South America, a new study finds.

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Earth May Spin Faster as Glaciers Melt

Melting ice triggered by global warming may make Earth whirl faster than before and could shift the axis on which the planet spins, researchers say.

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727 People on Chesapeake Bay Island Could Become America’s First ‘Climate Refugees'

Rising sea levels in the Chesapeake Bay could make the 700-plus residents of Tangier Island America's first climate refugees.

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Prairie Voles' Cheatin' Heart Tied to Genes

Prairie vole genes determine whether a vole will wander or stay close to home, and its wandering may be linked to spatial memory.

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'Impossible' Feat: Scientists Measure Energy of Atoms During Reactions

For the first time, scientists have accomplished a feat long thought impossible — they have measured the energy of incredibly short-lived arrangements of atoms that occur as chemical reactions are happening.

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Traces of a 'Lost' Stonehenge Appear in Rock Quarry

Stonehenge may have actually been built from stones that were dismantled from an earlier henge, although not everyone agrees with that theory.

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Too Much Sleeping & Sitting as Bad as Smoking & Drinking

Like alcohol, rich foods and tobacco, too much sleep and sitting around are not good for you — especially if they occur together.

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Elf on the Shelf: Cute or Creepy?

On the 10-year anniversary of the Elf on the Shelf, not everyone is charmed. Here's what some psychologists have to say.

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Bon Voyage: US Navy's Futuristic Destroyer Sails Out to Sea

The futuristic destroyers will one day be home to sci-fi-worthy weapons.

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Global Climate Deal 'Close to Finishing Line'

Negotiators hope to strike an ambitious deal on Friday to try to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

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Gluten-Free Diet: Benefits & Risks

A gluten-free diet is recommended for people who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. For other people, however, going gluten-free can be unhealthy.

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When Will Flu Season Start?

It may be late fall, but there's not much flu going around in the United States so far this season, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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How El Niño Made the Pacific a Hurricane Hotbed in 2015

A record-breaking number of furious storms rocked the Pacific Ocean during the 2015 hurricane season, while the Atlantic Ocean stayed relatively quiet, likely because of El Niño, new research shows.

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Traveling for the Holidays with Kids? How to Keep Them Safe

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Wine + Penny = Problem Solved! Chemistry Hack Saves Old Wine

Good news, wine lovers: You can revive a stale bottle of your favorite vintage with a simple chemistry experiment.

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Geminid Meteor Shower Puts on Dazzling Display This Week

The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week. Here's how to see it.

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Mystery Solved? Ceres' Bright Spots Likely Made of Salt

Observations made by NASA's Dawn spacecraft suggest that Ceres' many bright spots could be made primarily of hydrated magnesium sulfates. Here on Earth, magnesium sulfate is sold as Epsom salt.

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'Star Wars' Creature: Giraffe Relative Named After Queen Amidala

A weird-headed, short-necked relative of the giraffe named after the Star Wars character Padmé Amidala has been unearthed in Spain.

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High-School Cheerleading Injuries Are Often Severe

Injuries that occur in cheerleading tend to be more severe than those that occur in other sports, a new study finds.

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Female Mass Killers: Why They're So Rare

The female San Bernardino mass shooter is a rare outlier among mass killers and terrorists who are mostly men. Here's why scientists say most mass violence is carried out by men.

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The Science of the 'Hoverboard' Scooter: How It Works

These contraptions are cool, but what makes them go?

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How Self-Balancing "Hoverboards" Work (Infographic)

Self-balancing scooters are the tech craze of 2015.

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Lost Tomb of 'Suleiman the Magnificent' Possibly Unearthed

Lost for 450 years, the memorial tomb of the greatest ruler of the Ottoman Empire may have been discovered outside of a small town in Hungary.

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First Puppy Litter Born By In Vitro Fertilization | Video

A host female dog was impregnated with 19 embryos and delivered 7 puppies. (mix of beagle and cocker spaniels). Combined with gene editing and IVF, genetic disorders can be reduced or eliminated.

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Cholesterol Levels Are a Problem for Many US Kids

About 20 percent of U.S. children have problems with their cholesterol levels, such as high levels of "bad" cholesterol or low levels of "good" cholesterol, according to a new report.

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What Is Protein?

Protein is a macronutrient that is essential to building muscle mass. It is commonly found in animal products, though is also present in other sources, such as nuts and legumes.

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Pesticide in Milk Decades Ago May Be Linked to Parkinson's Disease

A pesticide that was once common in milk could be linked with Parkinson's disease, a new study finds.

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Being Happy Doesn't Really Increase Your Life Span

How happy you are doesn't seem to affect your risk of an early death, a new study from the United Kingdom suggests.

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Lurking Beneath the 'Mona Lisa' May Be the Real One

The "Mona Lisa" may be hiding the real Lisa Gherardini beneath its surface, one scientist claims, but other experts in the field are skeptical.

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Spaniel-Size Triceratops Cousin Walked on Its Two Hind Legs

The discovery of a spaniel-size ceratopsian that walked on its two hind legs reveals that Late Jurassic horned dinosaurs were much more diverse than previously thought, a new study finds.

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Spaniel-Sized Dinosaur Discovered, Stood On Hind Feet | Video

The plant-eater Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis was discovered in China's Gobi desert and is a relative of the Triceratops. It lived in the Late Triassic period (~160 million years ago).

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IVF Puppies: First Litter Born by In Vitro Fertilization

Cornell University researchers have unlocked a reproductive secret in domestic dogs, resulting in the first litter of puppies born through in vitro fertilization.

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Photos: Fertility Eggs-periments Yield Litter of Playful Pups

The first-ever litter of 'test tube' puppies arrived after decades of experimentation and canine reproduction research. And they are adorable.

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US Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Wings Past 200 Days in Orbit

Mum's the word: The secretive X-37B space plane has winged its way past the 200 day mark, carrying out a classified agenda for the U.S. Air Force.

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Angkor Wat Yields Astounding Buried Towers & Spiral Structure

Using laser scanning, archaeologists have discovered a sprawling sand structure composed of several rectangular spirals at the Angkor Wat temple. They aren't sure what the spiral design would have been used for during the 12th century.

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Childhood Bullying Can Have Lasting Effects on Mental Health

Kids who were frequently bullied in 2nd grade have a greater risk of mental health problems in their teens and young adulthood.

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In Photos: Stunning Discoveries at Angkor Wat

Photos reveal buried towers and a huge spiral structure uncovered at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

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Dinosaur Blood Vessels Survived 80 Million Years Without Fossilizing

Tiny, delicate vessels that carried blood through a duck-billed dinosaur 80 million years ago never fossilized and still contain the beast's tissue, a new study finds.

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Da Vinci Droid & Dancing Machines: Japan Convention's Coolest Bots

Leonardo da Vinci showed up at a robotics exhibit in Japan last week.

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Bigger Smiles, Less Hair: How Yearbook Photos Have Changed

A computer program reveals how yearbook photos have changed over the decades, from bouffant hair to more natural styles for women. And more smiles.

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50 Shades of Green? Environmental Attitudes Vary Widely in US

A lot of factors can influence how Americans feel about environmental issues.

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US Life Expectancy Holds Steady; Infant Death Rate Drops

Checking on life expectancy in America…

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Sunken Treasure Ship Worth Billions Possibly Found After 300 Years

The Colombian government announced the discovery of a treasure ship sunk in battle 307 years ago. The onboard treasure in gold, silver and emeralds is thought to be worth between $4 billion and $17 billion.

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In Photos: Treasure Ship Holding Gold and Emeralds Discovered

Images show what may be the wreckage from the demise of the San Jose galleon, which held a wealth of treasure in the form of gold, silver and emeralds.

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Only Half of Overweight Americans Are Serious About Weight Loss

Most overweight Americans want to lose some pounds, but only half say they are seriously trying, a new poll suggests.

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More US Kids Are Being Diagnosed with ADHD

The percentage of U.S. children who are diagnosed with ADHD is still on the rise, new research finds.

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Citizen Scientists Reveal Wildlife Changes as Sea Ice Melts (Op-Ed)

Get out your binoculars — wildlife is on the move, and not where expected.

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Novel Chemical 'Washes Away' Alzheimer's Plaque in Mice

Researchers have found a molecule that breaks down the clumps of protein linked with Alzheimer's disease.

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How DNA Jewelry Works

A company is embedding human DNA into watches, rings and pendants.

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Gene Gems: Ultrapersonalized Jewelry Encapsulates Your DNA

Diamonds may be forever, but what's more unique and rare than even the most precious stones on Earth? The code of life.

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When Is 'Gene Editing' Dangerous? (Video)

People must not use CRISPR gene editing irresponsibly, lest it become a Pandora's box, says its co-inventor Jennifer Doudna.

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Rare 'Flasher' Squid Caught on Video

A squid with shiny, bioluminescent "spotlights" tipping two of its arms confronted a remotely operated vehicle in deep ocean waters near Hawaii.

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Underwater Photos: Elusive Octopus Squid 'Smiles' for the Camera

Check out these amazing underwater photos of a deep-sea octopus squid, flashing spotlights on its arms and showing off its seeming red lips and round eyes.

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Saint West? Kim & Kanye Choose Baby Name That Fits Trend

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West have chosen the name Saint for their second child, reflecting an overall societal trend of choosing royal or grandiose names for children.

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China's Latest 'Airpocalypse' Seen from Space

Northeastern China is covered in hazy pollution clouds, according to satellite images taken by NASA, which have created health hazards for many Chinese citizens.

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Lost in Pearl Harbor: Photos of Sunken WWII-Era Navy Plane

Archaeologists and history enthusiasts have tried to get decent pictures of the drowned plane for decades.

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74 Years Later, Sunken Pearl Harbor Plane Still Filled with Mystery

Archaeologists and history enthusiasts have tried to get decent pictures of the drowned plane for decades.

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Squid Grabs Submarine – What Was It Thinking? Descends To Seafloor | Video

NOAA's Deep Discoverer research submersible had a pair of encounters with a large squid in Sept. 2015. On the first sighting, the crew captured the animal descending toward the seafloor.

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What Is a Human? Long-Standing Debate Surrounds Our Family Tree

The ancient human remains that have been unearthed over the years have opened more windows into the evolutionary landscape in which today's humans arose. But some researchers are not convinced such discoveries belong alongside Homo sapiens.

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Childhood Allergies Could Signal Heart Disease Risk

Children who have asthma, hay fever or eczema may also have an increased risk of heart disease, a new study suggests.

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Marijuana Extract May Help Treat Epilepsy, Small Study Suggests

A liquid form of the compound cannabidiol (CBD), which is found in marijuana, may help treat epilepsy, a small new study suggests.

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Thunder-Thighed Dinosaurs Arose Quickly from Predecessors

Dinosaurs took less than 5 million years to evolve from their reptile predecessors, the early dinosauromorphs, a new study finds.

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Photos: Unearthing Dinosauromorphs, the Ancestors of Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs evolved from their closest relatives, the dinosauromorphs, in less than 5 million years, a new study finds.

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Laser-Armed Cameras Can 'See' Around Corners

With the help of lasers, cameras can track moving objects hidden around corners, scientists say. The finding could one day help vehicles see around blind corners to avoid collisions, researchers added.

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4 Calorie-Cutting Tips That Won't Leave You Hungry

To lose weight, most people need to reduce the number of calories they consume. Here are a few calorie-cutting tips that won't leave you feeling extra hungry.

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How to Get Started on a Weight Loss Program

If you've made the decision to lose weight, you might be wondering where to begin. Here are some tips for getting started on a weight loss program.

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The Best Way to Lose Weight Safely

The formula for losing weight is a simple one: Eat fewer calories than you burn. But exactly how people do this can vary. Experts emphasize that a person's approach to weight loss should be one that they can maintain long-term.

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4 Easy Ways to Get More Exercise

Exercise is important for your health, and it's a crucial part of weight loss. Here are some tips for getting more exercise.

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Cheers? Counting the Calories in Alcoholic Drinks

Alcohol can be a "hidden" source of calories. Here's a look at how many calories are in different alcohol drinks.

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Meet a Hibernating Primate: Vietnam's Slow Loris

Until recently, the only primates known to hibernate were Madagascar lemurs. But scientists have found another primate that snoozes seasonally: the pygmy slow loris.

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Women in Combat: Physical Differences May Mean Uphill Battle

The military has officially opened all combat positions to both men and women, but there are still big differences in the strength of average men and women.

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Death by Flatfish: Whales Suffocate After Soles Clog Blowholes

Two long-finned whales died after flatfish got stuck in their blowholes and suffocated the giant mammals. The whales may have followed a sick "friend" to unfamiliar waters in the south North Sea and there they were forced to eat unfamiliar food.

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Pediatricians Unveil New Recommendations for Office Visits

For children and teens, there's a new schedule that lists what should happen at each doctor's checkup.

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What Clues Does Your Dog's Spit Hold for Human Mental Health?

Dogs suffer from many of the same psychiatric and neurological disease humans do. Can studying them help diagnose and treat humans as well?

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5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Make Your Gifts Meaningful

Experts who have studied the psychology of gift giving offer their tips for making presents more meaningful.

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Superquiet Supersonic: NASA Aims for Softer Booms

Supersonic planes are superfast, but they're also superloud.

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Little Male Songbird Makes Colorful Splash at Brooklyn Park

A stunningly colorful little male songbird called a painted bunting has drawn a big crowd to Brooklyn's Prospect Park this week, where birders and other enthusiasts flocked. The bird has never, in recent memory, been spotted in the park.

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Mark Zuckerberg's Donation: What Can You Buy with $45 Billion?

From dozens of private islands to the entire budget of the National Science Foundation, $45 billion can buy a lot of stuff.

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400-Year-Old Embalmed Hearts Found Under French Convent

Four hundred years after they were buried in heart-shaped lead urns, five embalmed human hearts have been discovered in a cemetery in northwestern France.

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Ancient 'Wand' May Be Oldest Example of Lead Work in the Levant

A lead and wood artifact discovered in a roughly 6,000-year-old grave in a desert cave is the oldest evidence of smelted lead on record in the Levant, a new study finds.

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9 Hacks for Making Healthier Holiday Cookies

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Avoiding Identity Theft: 9 Tips for Online Holiday Shoppers

Simple steps can keep your credit card and personal information safe while shopping for family and friends this holiday season.

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Mysterious Egyptian Mummy Has Head Full of Dirt

The presence of dark sediment inside the head of a 3,200-year-old mummy is bizarre, said researchers who used CT scans to peer inside the ancient woman's body. The brain was also still inside the skull.

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Monster Black Hole Eats Star, Returns Leftovers

A supermassive black hole anchoring the center of a nearby galaxy has been caught in a rarely seen double act: ripping apart a nearby sun-size star and shooting out jets of debris from its center at close to light speed.

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Turbulent Magnetic 'Perfect Storm' Triggers Hypernovas

Astrophysicists have created a computer model that simulates a dying stars' magnetic guts before generating a cosmic monster.

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New Superbug's Genetic Trick Could Help It Spread

Health experts are closely watching for cases of a type of superbug called CRE. Some of these bacteria contain their resistance genes in little circles of DNA called plasmids, which are easily swapped with other bacteria.

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Wi-Fi 'Allergies': Is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Real?

Many people who suffer from a range of general, undiagnosed symptoms blame their discomfort on sensitivity to electromagnetic field signals, but scientists are skeptical.

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New Type of Carbon Is Harder and Brighter Than Diamonds

A new phase of carbon, called Q-carbon, is even harder and brighter than natural diamonds, and has unique magnetic and electrical properties.

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Rabbit Fever on the Rise in the US, CDC Says

Four Midwestern states have seen a big rise in rabbit fever cases. The disease, also called tularemia, can be transported to humans through contact with infected rabbits and rodents, as well as from bites from infected ticks.

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Many People Who Would Benefit from Statins Aren't Taking Them

About half of American adults who might benefit from taking cholesterol-lowering medications aren't taking them, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Federal Gun Research Still Stalled

Despite a presidential order after the Sandy Hook shooting, federal gun research funding remains virtually nonexistent.

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Lightest Metal Ever Is 99.9 Percent Air

How do you build the world’s lightest metal? Make it mainly from air, according to scientists.

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3200-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy CT Scanned By Radiologists | Video

The mummified remains of an Egyptian woman, who live in ~1200 BC was scanned to learn more about her origin. The woman lived in the city of Asyut (374 miles from Alexandria).

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Predisposition to Obesity May Be Carried in Sperm

The information carried in a man's sperm cells may depend on his body weight, a small new study finds.

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Biblical King's Royal Seal Unearthed Near Temple Mount

The seal of King Hezekiah, one of the early kings who ruled over the Israelites, has been uncovered near the Temple Mount in Israel.

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How Stupid Can You Be? Science Counts the Ways

There are three different categories of stupidity, scientists have found. And though stupid is a bit of a catchall term, the researchers found that people are very quick to identify it.

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Map of World's Groundwater Shows Planet's 'Hidden' Reservoirs

Researchers from an international collaboration create the world's first groundwater resource map. They also estimated the world's current total supply and the ages of different segments of these resources.

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Nicaragua's Momotombo Volcano Erupts for 1st Time in 110 Years

After being quiet for 110 years, the cone-shaped Momotombo volcano in Nicaragua rumbled to life on Dec. 1. A haze of smoke continues to emanate from the volcano's crater.

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Risk of Stillbirth Raised by Weight Gain Between Pregnancies

Weight gain between pregnancies may increase the risk of stillbirth or infant death, a new study from Sweden suggests.

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Paleo Diet: Giant Turds Show Dinosaurs Dined on Flowering Plants

Two lumpy pieces of fossilized poop show that some dinosaurs ate flowering plants during the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million years ago, new research finds.

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Should Families Going Through Divorce Have Court-Ordered Psychiatrists? (Op-Ed)

As kids face their parents' divorce, should courts assign psychiatrists?

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Why It's Time to Map the Microbiome (Kavli Roundtable)

Scientists are rushing to map the microbe communities in our world, and our guts — here's why it's urgent.

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Sir Butterfly! New Species Named for David Attenborough

The striking new species is the first butterfly to be named for the British broadcaster.

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Camping Out, Paleo Style: Cave Art Shows Ancient 'Village'

The oldest engraving of an ancient human dwelling has been unearthed in a cave in Spain.

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Clever Cuttlefish 'Freeze' Bioelectric Fields to Avoid Predators

Color-changing cuttlefish have figured out how to turn down their emanating electric fields to hide from sharks and rays. They freeze in place and hold their breath, researchers have found.

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Too Much TV Really Is Bad for Your Brain

Young adults who spend too much time in front of the TV may start seeing the effects of this as early as middle age, a new study finds.

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Ancient Tiny Whale Hunted with Pointy Teeth, Oversize Gums

Before baleen whales developed their iconic comblike filter-feeding structures, they relied on their pointy teeth and a suctioning method to nab and gulp down prey, a new study finds.

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Squid-Like Cuttlefish Go 'Stealth' To Evade Predators | Video

When shown silhouettes of their predators, they 'cloak their elecrical fields' by lying motionless, covering body opening and slowing their breathing.

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For Babies, Safe Sleeping Is Just 1 Part of Preventing SIDS

A safe sleeping environment is crucial for preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But other factors are important too.

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How Does CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Work? | Video

UC Berkeley biochemist Jennifer Doudna and Director of Berlin’s Max Planck Institute of Infection Biology Emmanuelle Charpentier, pioneered this easy, inexpensive method of making precise changes in DNA.

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'Body by Darwin: How Evolution Shapes Our Health and Transforms Medicine' (US 2015): Book Excerpt

Microbes really are your friends for life, whether you like them or not.

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Friends for Life: How Good Bugs Keep You Healthy (Op-Ed)

Are you grabbing that chocolate bar, or did your gut microbes tell you to do it?

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World's Oldest Peach Pits Reveal Juicy Secrets

The world's oldest peach fossils have been discovered in southwestern China, according to a new report. At more than 2.5 million years old, the fruits predate the arrival of humans to the region.

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An Ancient Nessie? Long-Neck Dinos Once Prowled Scottish Lagoon

Hundreds of dinosaur footprints and handprints dating to 170 million years ago adorn the shore on the Isle of Skye, making it the largest dinosaur site ever discovered in Scotland, a new study finds.

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Photos: Giant Sauropods Plodded Along in Scottish Lagoon

The giant footprints of long-necked sauropods were found on rocky coast of the Isle of Skye this past April.

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Stick-Figure Science: Cartoonist Makes Complicated Stuff Simple

Randall Munroe once designed robots at NASA, and now he's undertaken a comparably tough task: describing complicated science using only the 1,000 most commonly used words in the English language.

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Amid Controversy, Japanese Whaling Ships Return to Antarctic Ocean

Japan resumes whale hunts that have come under increasing scrutiny and censure from the international community for their questionable scientific merit.

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Why So Blue? Tarantula’s Cool Color Is Still a Mystery

A tarantula's cool blue coloring could inspire fashion and technologies of the future.

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CRISPR Gene Editing - Should We Alter Human Gametes? | Video

UC Berkeley professor, Jennifer Doudna, a principal discoverer of the gene-editing tool CRISPR /Cas9, discusses the technique’s far-reaching positive potential, as well as the need for close bioethical consideration.

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Huge Geometric Shapes in Middle East May Be Prehistoric

Thousands of stone structures forming various shapes from wheels to gates to bull's-eyes have long puzzled archaeologists. New research reveals some may date back 8,500 years while others seem to have astronomical significance.

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In Photos: Sprawling Wheel-Shaped Structures Dot the Middle East

Here are photos of circular-shaped structures, some with spokes radiating out from the center, that dot the Middle East. Some of these so-called wheels date back thousands of years, though archaeologists are puzzled over their purpose.

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Doctors Could 3D-Print Micro-Organs with New Technique

Scientists say 3D-printed structures loaded with embryonic stem cells could one day help doctors print out micro-organs for transplant patients.

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Your Brain Is a Mosaic of Male and Female

Brains don't fall along a predictable male-female continuum, new research finds.

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Oh Snap: Trap-Jaw Ants Jump with Their Legs, Too

Scientists recently discovered a trap-jaw ant species that leaps with its legs, a behavior that is extremely rare in ants and previously unknown in the trap-jaw family.

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Trap-Jaw Ants Show Rare Jumping Ability | Video

The Odontomachus rixosus have been caught on camera doing something ants rarely do, jump. What makes this find even more unusual is that fact that the trap-jaw ants are using their legs to jump, not their powerful mandibles.

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