All Science
- An evolutionary spinoff
Spiders may owe their evolutionary success to one unusual organ.
- First LookBrazil emerges as partner for US satellite industry
The market for low-cost satellite launches is expanding rapidly and US companies are eyeing the Alcantara space center in Brazil. Launching near the equator dramatically cuts fuel costs, a fact the Latin American country emphasizes to draw new commercial contracts.
- First LookBrazil emerges as partner for US satellite industry
The market for low-cost satellite launches is expanding rapidly and US companies are eyeing the Alcantara space center in Brazil. Launching near the equator dramatically cuts fuel costs, a fact the Latin American country emphasizes to draw new commercial contracts.
- How to make science experiments as common at home as bedtime stories
A study released today suggests one hurdle to more science being shared in family rooms is the lack of expertise parents feel. Researchers say having all the answers doesn't matter, but the encouraging of curiosity does.
- First LookAstronomers discover signal from 'cosmic dawn'
Scientists have detected a faint radio signal from 13.6 billion years ago, when the earliest stars were first beginning to glow. The finding paints a picture of a formative moment in the universe's history and may offer the first ever confirmation of so-called 'dark matter.'
- First LookNeanderthals had the brainpower to create art, according to new studies
The artwork is rudimentary, but the new findings are a surprise that 'constitutes a major breakthrough in the field of human evolution studies.'
- Can altruism exist without empathy? Lessons from the ant world
New research shows that termite-hunting Matabele ants dress the wounds of injured comrades. It is the first time an insect has been shown to display healing behavior toward others.
- First LookRemote Oman desert serves as stand-in for Mars
The Dhofar desert's resemblance to the landscape on Mars, with similar riverbeds and salt domes, makes it a perfect location for more than 200 scientists from 25 nations to test out technology for a manned mission to Mars.
- First LookSpaceX sports car now racing toward asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
SpaceX's latest rocket was launched into orbit Tuesday with a sports car on board. 'You can tell it's real,' SpaceX chief Elon Musk said, 'because it looks so fake.'
- First LookRare dinosaur discovery marks Egypt's strides in paleontology
The discovery of a rare plant-eating dinosaur's fossils in western Egypt has ignited international excitement about the region's potential deposits. While a global leader in archeology, the country has seen far less success with prehistoric excavation.
- New kilogram could have mass appeal, say scientists
Scientists are working to liberate the standard unit of mass from its physical prototype.
- Explorer 1 at 60: How has space travel changed us?
Sixty years ago Wednesday, the United States launched its first satellite, setting in motion a shift in perspective of cosmic proportions.
- Where does music come from?
People seem to respond emotionally to music in a way that transcends culture, language, and geography. Does this universality suggest an evolutionary basis for music?
- Racing to space, together
The space race of 50 years ago was characterized by wartime posturing and national pride. Modern space exploration, however, is both competitive and collaborative.
- Are we trashing the final frontier?
Scientists directing space missions take care not to spoil areas that hold potential for life. But when it comes to other areas of space, the mandate for stewardship becomes murky.
- Native American family tree sprouts a new branch
Genomic analysis of a member of an ancient Alaska population yields clues about the peopling of the Americas.
- 'Alien megastructures' debunked. Why are we so quick to assume it's aliens?
Humans often ascribe agency, intelligence, and intentionality to mysterious phenomena. And our tendency to do that may be rooted in our species.
- Why incoming asteroids shouldn't keep you up at night
A close shave with a previously undetected asteroid last month serves as a pointed reminder to humanity that planet Earth and other celestial bodies can sometimes cross paths. Fortunately, space agencies are on the case.
- The ExplainerFusion breakthrough explained: What are quarks again?
Physicists have confirmed the existence of a doubly charmed baryon, opening the door to an entirely new kind of fusion, known as quark fusion.
- There’s an alien world beneath our feet. What could it teach us about life?
So-called extremophiles, like blind, transparent shrimp that thrive deep within the cavernous bowels of the Mexican jungle, are stretching the limits of where life can flourish.