All Stories

Planets

Defining planethood

Did Pluto deserve to be demoted from the rank of planet in the solar system?

Space

A dead star’s dusty ring

Astronomers have observed the dusty remains of a planetary system around a dead star.

Earth

Petrified lightning

Sand turned into glass by a lightning strike can provide clues about ancient climates.

Computing

Games with a Purpose

Playing some online games may help computers get smarter.

Environment

Life under ice

Researchers unexpectedly find a community of sea creatures in the ocean beneath an ice shelf.

Tech

A New Touch

Rewired nerves may eventually lead to artificial limbs with a sense of touch.

Chemistry

Gold’s Glittery Rewards

Gold has properties that make it valuable not only for jewelry but also for electronics and other uses.

Humans

Stonehenge settlement

The remains of a prehistoric village lie near the legendary stone circle in England known as Stonehenge.

Space

Space Camera Glitch

The sharpest, most sensitive camera on the aging Hubble Space Telescope has stopped working.

Health & Medicine

Eat Out, Eat Smart

Knowing the number of calories in your restaurant meal can help you make healthier food choices.

Fossils

An Ancient Feathered Biplane

A dinosaur may have glided from tree to tree on two sets of wings, one below the other.

Animals

Odor-chasing penguins

Penguins may use their sense of smell to locate food in the ocean.