Science News | Page 2 of 2123 | The latest news from all areas of science

Subscribe today

This image shows round, green cyanobacteria.

Life

Bacteria fossils hold the oldest signs of machinery needed for photosynthesis

Microfossils from Australia suggest that cyanobacteria evolved structures for oxygen-producing photosynthesis by 1.78 billion years ago.

By Tina Hesman Saey9 hours ago

A woman with long dark hair wearing a white T-shirt holds her right hand over her mouth while her left hand braces her against the wall. The image conveys nauseousness.

Health & Medicine

Fetuses make a protein that causes morning sickness in pregnancy

By Tina Hesman Saey12 hours ago

Depiction of Odysseus tying himself to his ship's mast to resist the Sirens' call. Psychologists call that act self-control.

Science & Society

Most people say self-control is the same as willpower. Researchers disagree

By Sujata Gupta14 hours ago

A photo of jets of water vapor erupting on the surface of Enceladus.

Planetary Science

A toxic gas that could help spawn life has been found on Enceladus

By Nikk OgasaJanuary 2, 2024

A couple walking outside with a dog

Health & Medicine

When it comes to physical activity, every bit counts

By Meghan RosenJanuary 2, 2024

A close up of the face of a black ant, which is covered in fingerprint-like ridges

Animals

Ant face patterns like swirls and stubble might have practical value

By Susan MiliusJanuary 2, 2024

A California condor soars in the sky.

Life

The Endangered Species Act is turning 50. Has it succeeded?

By Brianna RandallDecember 22, 2023

The Climate Fix

A photo of wind turbines in a grassy area with power lines nearby.

How one device could help transform our power grid

As coal-fired power plants are retired, grid-forming inverters may be key to a future that relies on solar and wind power.

By Alexandra WitzeAugust 24, 2023
How an Indigenous community in Panama is escaping rising seas
How Kenya is helping its neighbors develop geothermal energy

From the Archives

Science Photo of 1973

December 22, 1973 Vol. 104 No. #25

Science News Magazine

Cover of the December 16 & 30, 2023 issue of Science News

December 16, 2023 Vol. 204 No. 10

Featured Media

A closeup of a man splashing water on his face

Here’s how 2023 became the hottest year on record

The effects of climate change were on clear display in 2023 as records not only broke, but did so by surprising amounts.

a black and white animation in which ghosts representing neutrinos pass through the earth

How ghostly neutrinos could explain the universe’s matter mystery

Jon Nelson sits next to his son.

How brain implants are treating depression

an underwater nursery made of metal bars in a tree-like shape holds pieces of corals on strings

Fake fog, ‘re-skinning’ and ‘sea-weeding’ could help coral reefs survive

A red-headed hummingbird hovers in the air in front of blurred foliage

How hummingbirds fly through spaces too narrow for their wings

Follow Science News

More Stories

Life

These scientific discoveries set new records in 2023

By Maria TemmingDecember 21, 2023
Some picky Australian mosquitoes may target frog nostrils for blood

By Jake BuehlerNovember 27, 2023
Crabs left the sea not once, but several times, in their evolution

By Amanda HeidtNovember 20, 2023

Humans

Human embryo replicas have gotten more complex. Here’s what you need to know

By Tina Hesman SaeyJuly 24, 2023
Lauren Schroeder looks beyond natural selection to rethink human evolution

By Anna GibbsJuly 11, 2023
Oldest traces of a dysentery-causing parasite were found in ancient toilets

By Freda KreierMay 25, 2023

Climate

Astronomy

A bar of stars at the center of the Milky Way looks surprisingly young

By James R. RiordonDecember 13, 2023
How tiny red stars can test ideas about the origin of life

By James R. RiordonDecember 11, 2023
50 years ago, astronomers challenged claims that Barnard’s star has a planet

By Emily ConoverDecember 7, 2023

Physics

Invisible comet tails of mucus slow sinking flakes of ‘marine snow’

By Emily ConoverDecember 18, 2023
Light, not just heat, might spur water to evaporate

By Emily ConoverNovember 13, 2023
A controversial room-temperature superconductor result has now been retracted

By Emily ConoverNovember 7, 2023

Health & Medicine

Here are some of the biggest medical advances in 2023

By Erin WaymanDecember 14, 2023
Why weight-loss drugs became more popular than ever this year

By Meghan RosenDecember 13, 2023
A gene editing technique shows promise for lowering LDL cholesterol

By Meghan RosenDecember 12, 2023

Earth

STEVE and other aurora-like glows perplex scientists with their complex physics

By Maria TemmingDecember 20, 2023
Speed bumps under Thwaites Glacier could help slow its flow to the sea

By Nikk OgasaDecember 19, 2023
Here are some big-if-true scientific claims that made headlines in 2023

By Maria TemmingDecember 15, 2023

Science & Society

These are the most popular Science News stories of 2023

By Science News StaffDecember 21, 2023
History buffs will dig these 5 science stories from 2023

By Saima S. IqbalDecember 19, 2023
These are Science News’ favorite books of 2023

By Science News StaffDecember 5, 2023