All Stories

Materials Science

Astronauts may be able to make cement with their own pee

Lunar dust and a compound found in urine might one day be used to build future dwellings on the moon, a new study finds.

Health & Medicine

Waiting for a ‘smart’ toilet? It’s nearly here

With every bathroom visit, we flush away important health data. Scientists hope to change that with 'smart toilets' that analyze your body’s output.

Earth

Scientists Say: Tsunami

This is a series of ocean waves triggered by an underwater earthquake or volcano. The event starts as small waves, but those waves can grow as they approach land.

Archaeology

This cave hosted the oldest known human remains in Europe

Bone fragments, tools and other finds in Bulgaria suggest that Homo sapiens moved rapidly into Eurasia as early as 46,000 years ago.

Health & Medicine

Coronavirus lockdowns may have avoided 531 million infections

Studies find big benefits from global coronavirus lockdowns. More than a half a billion of the potentially deadly infections appear to have been avoided.

Fossils

Saber-toothed anchovy relatives were once fearsome hunters

Today’s plankton-eating anchovies sport tiny teeth. But their ancient kin were armed with spiky lower teeth and a giant upper sabertooth.

Chemistry

Let’s learn about colors

The colors we see come from electromagnetic waves traveling through space and hitting our eyes.

Physics

Physicists foil classic oobleck science trick

Cornstarch and water — best known as oobleck — solidifies upon impact. Researchers used a new technique to make it stay liquid.

Physics

Scientists Say: Spaghettification

Black holes cram a lot of mass into a small area. When another object gets close, the black hole’s gravity can stretch it into a noodle-like strand.

Animals

Why you’re spotting more wildlife during COVID-19

People are seeing more animals than they did before the pandemic. There are many reasons why.

Animals

This tube worm’s glowing slime may help sustain its own shine

Snot oozed by a marine tube worm can glow for up to 3 full days. The secret of how this works might lead to long-lasting lights that glow on and on.

Animals

#BlackBirdersWeek seeks to open the outdoors for everyone

The social media campaign #BlackBirdersWeek hopes to show the world the many black birders and nature lovers of color.