All Science
Will we meet aliens in the near future?A senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, which scans the skies for signals of extraterrestrial intelligence, told Congress last week that he is optimistic about the prospects of detecting life on other planets.
Hurricane Amanda rallies briefly, surprising scientistsHurricane Amanda has been weakening since Sunday, but unexpectedly sped up and re-established an eye on Tuesday morning.
What's scarier, 'climate change' or 'global warming'?New research shows that Americans are more likely to express concern when presented with the term 'global warming,' as opposed to 'climate change.'
How a new seafloor map could aid in the search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370Using satellite data, a duo of researchers developed a topographic map of the seafloor of the Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 search area.
Are you smarter than an ant colony?New research finds that ant colonies are downright brilliant when it comes to finding efficient routes between their nest and a food source.
Trip to space with Leonardo DiCaprio auctioned off for $1 millionThe $1 million price tag benefited AIDS research, but regular tickets for Virgin Galactic's commercial spaceliner sell for $250,000. DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, Angelina Jolie, and Justin Bieber already have reservations. The first commercial flight could happen this year.
Hurricane Amanda: The strongest May hurricane in 50 years is weakening, say expertsHurricane Amanda, off the Pacific coast of Mexico, is still a Category 4 but it will stay far offshore as it winds down, say experts. The Pacific hurricane season started May 15.
- Meteor shower Camelopardalid disappointing. Better tonight?
Meteor shower: Some forecast as many as 200 meteors per hours. But the Camelopardalid meteor shower peaked at between five and 10 meteors per hour early Saturday. Could early Sunday be better?
Do biologists really need dead animals? Article inflames debate.Upon discovering a new species, it is customary for field biologists to collect – and kill – 'voucher specimens.' But is that really necessary?
Are last rites in order for NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope?Spitzer Space Telescope project managers are making a last-ditch effort to trim costs in hopes of preventing one of the last three of NASA's Great Observatories from going dark.
HAARP project winding down: Was it all a huge conspiracy?Conspiracy theorists have blamed the US Air Force's High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, which is now set to shut down, with everything from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan to the 2013 tornado that devastated Moore, Okla.
Could clouds quash the camelopardalids?The north-central United States offers the best viewing conditions for this weekend's predicted meteor shower. Elsewhere in the nation, clouds and rain could make watching the celestial fireworks tricky.
Bird DNA linked: How did flightless birds evolve? Scientists unravel mystery.Bird DNA linked: The closest relative of New Zealand's iconic kiwi is a 10-foot-tall elephant bird that was native to Madagascar, a new DNA study reveals.
Off Massachusetts, a boom in humpback whale sightingsThe number of humpback whale sightings near Boston has exploded this season, with 20 to 30 whales spotted on each whale watching excursion. Normally, only two to three whales are seen each trip.
- Never-before-seen meteor shower this weekend: How to watch it
The Camelopardalids, a meteor shower expected on Friday night and early Saturday morning, could potentially put on a spectacular show, say astronomers.
Did flightless birds once rule the skies?Yes, except that they weren't flightless back then, reports a new study that indicates that the ancestors of ratites spread around the globe not by continental drift, but by flight.
McScary mascot: What was McDonald's thinking?McScary mascot: McDonald's recently unveiled 'Happy,' a grinning red cube that detractors have dubbed 'McScary.' What is the psychology behind corporate mascots?
How did flightless birds evolve? Kiwi DNA offers clues.The closest relative to New Zealand's diminutive national bird is the elephant bird, a 10-foot-tall bird from Madagascar that went extinct about 1,000 years ago.
Texas declares war on zebra musselsStarting July 1, boaters on Texas lakes and rivers will be required to drain their watercraft, in an attempt to curb the spread of invasive zebra mussels.
Humpback whales could actually be three distinct subspecies, say scientistsThe humpback whale populations in the North Pacific, North Atlantic, and the Southern Hemisphere tend to keep to themselves, a new genetic study reveals.
