All Science
First LookGoogle's timelapse photos from space reveal Earth's rapidly changing surfaceImages from Google's satellite timelapse photography highlight the changes Earth has undergone – both negative and positive – over the past few decades.
Mysterious gap in the four-legged fossil record might not be a gap at allWhen vertebrates grew four limbs and adapted to move out of the oceans and onto the land, it was a huge leap in evolution that set up terrestrial life as we know it. But scientists have long been missing data from that crucial period of time – until now.
First Look'Rock star' scientists awarded $25 million in Breakthrough PrizesThis year's Breakthrough awards go to string theory physicists, gravitational wave researchers, and RNA experts.
First LookResearchers discover tiniest and brightest near-earth asteroid2015 TC25 will likely never hit Earth, but researchers hope that studying it may lead to better understanding about asteroids that may one day be on a collision course with our planet.
Why is a blue cloud appearing over Antarctica?Noctilucent, or night-glowing, clouds appear over the South Pole each year. This year they arrived much earlier than usual, puzzling scientists.
First LookCould Pluto’s frozen heart harbor an ocean of life?Mysterious, tiny, freezing Pluto could harbor some kind of aquatic life, researchers say. But it would likely be much different than the life we know on Earth.
First LookESA backs new Mars mission despite disappointing Schiaparelli crashAfter the ESA's Schiaparelli lander crashed to the surface of the Red Planet in October, some wondered about the project's future. But experts say they can fix the problem – and new funding is a sign of confidence.
First LookMake room Copernicium, there's a new heavy metal band on the periodic tableFour new elements have been added to the periodic table, though each of the synthetic metals can only exist in reality for fractions of a second.
First LookRussian cargo ship breaks apart after launch en route to space stationThe Russian cargo ship broke apart six minutes into flight meant to deliver food and fuel to the crew of the International Space Station.
Is climate change behind the rise in extreme tornado outbreaks?Climate models suggest that conditions for tornado outbreaks should be increasing with rising temperatures, but do the data agree?
First LookMt. Paektu mystery: Biggest volcanic eruption but little effect on the climate?The eruption of the North Korean volcano in AD 946 was likely the biggest in the last couple thousand years, but ice cores and tree rings show little evidence of climatic effects.
First LookGravitational-wave observatory gets back to spotting spacetime weirdnessAfter months offline, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is up and running again.
First LookWhy Audi is backing a trip to the moonThe German automaker is supporting an entry into Google's Lunar XPRIZE space travel competition. It's a race to reach the Apollo 17 landing site and send photos back to Earth – with a $20 million prize for the first team to get there.
First LookWhy Pluto's 'icy heart' may have sunk under its own weightScientists propose a new model for the formation of the ice-filled crater that is Pluto's iconic heart.
Lucy in the trees? Our ancient relative may have had strong climbing armsScientists may have just found the smoking gun that the ancient human relative, Australopithecus afarensis, swung from trees like chimpanzees.
How did baleen whale ancestors lose their teeth?A 25-million-year-old whale fossil holds clues to a major transition in macro evolution, scientists say.
Is it time to think about how to prevent a space war?With tensions rising between space-capable powers such as Russia, China, and the United States, the Pentagon is taking orbital threats to satellite systems more seriously.
First LookESA releases first close-up photos from ExoMars missionThe ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which entered orbit in mid-October, is testing onboard technologies – among them, the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS).
First LookDear Trump: Science deserves 'critical role' in future of United StatesProminent members of the scientific community hope to impart the importance of scientific understanding in policy decisions, especially concerning topics such as climate change, in an open letter to the president-elect and the 155th Congress.
NASA devises plan to keep astronauts free of biological contaminationLast year, more than 100 researchers convened at a three-day summit to identify the risks and possible solutions of biological contamination.
