Topics

Chemistry

Physics explains why gold doesn’t ‘rust’

Metals like copper tarnish when they react with oxygen in the air. Gold doesn’t, thanks to a quick rearrangement of atoms on its surface.

By Emily ConoverJuly 14, 2026

a young boy drinks from a glass of tap water, standing at the kitchen sink with his mom

Chemistry

Scientists Say: Fluoride

By Katie Grace CarpenterJune 29, 2026

Old, plastic fishing nets being collected into a pile on a trailer.

Environment

Hawaii is turning fishnets and other plastic trash into roads

By Sara NovakMay 29, 2026

Earth

A surfer in a black wetsuit crouches on a surfboard inside a large curling turquoise wave as the waves break over him. Palm trees are visible in the background.

Oceans

Big waves shape this surfer-scientist’s research and life

Professor and pro surfer Cliff Kapono studies human-ocean interactions through the lens of a surfer, from molecular to macro scales.

By Rachael LallensackJuly 15, 2026

Fluorescent microscope images of three ciliate protozoa from the rumen (first stomach) of cattle. The one on the left is egg-shaped and covered in waves of green, yellow and red hairlike cilia. In the center a clear, red goblet-shaped organism is topped by a bright orange shock of cilia. On the right is a green and yellow microbe that resembles an oval Koosh ball with a blue-green oval in the center. The center oval is the nucleus. These organisms have a newly discovered organelle that makes hydrogen and spurs other microbes to produce methane.

Microbes

Fuzzy microbes may fuel cows’ methane burps

By Tina Hesman SaeyJuly 13, 2026

Earth

Earth’s crust under Africa is thinning in a way never seen before

By Katherine KorneiJuly 7, 2026

Humans

An image of site 2 of the Plain of Jars, Phonsavan, Xiang Khouang Provance, Laos. There are numerous large ancient stone jars scattered across clearing.The Plain of Jars in Laos is a collection of thousands of large, ancient stone vessels. Local legend says they stored rice wine for giants. Some thought they may might once have stored food and water. Now researchers say they’re part of a vast burial complex.

Archaeology

The mystery of the ‘Plain of Jars’ in Laos may now be solved

The remains of at least 37 people sit in an ancient stone “jar.” They suggest thousands of such jars in Laos are burial vaults.

By Tom Metcalfe12 hours ago

Oceans

Big waves shape this surfer-scientist’s research and life

By Rachael LallensackJuly 15, 2026

Brain

VR can train the human brain to treat wings like real limbs

By Yujia HuangJuly 6, 2026

Life

Microbes

Fuzzy microbes may fuel cows’ methane burps

Production of this potent greenhouse gas is triggered by a newfound feature of these microbes — one with a funny name: hydrogenobody.

By Tina Hesman SaeyJuly 13, 2026

A brown mouse stands upright with its mouth open, as though singing, against a backdrop of wood chips and blurred green foliage. It belongs to a species known as singing mice.

Animals

Here’s how ‘singing’ mice belt out their tiny tunes

By Jake BuehlerJuly 8, 2026

Brain

VR can train the human brain to treat wings like real limbs

By Yujia HuangJuly 6, 2026

Math

Math

Scientists Say: Topology

This gamelike field of math probes the limits of families of shapes.

By Katie Grace CarpenterJune 15, 2026

A smiling teenage boy wearing a floral origami crane as a hat holds a geometric folded paper structure, with a Regeneron ISEF lanyard around his neck, posing against a concrete block wall.

Physics

Origami research takes top prize at 2026 Regeneron ISEF competition

By Katie Grace CarpenterMay 18, 2026

Brain

Brain scans offer clues to why math is harder for some kids

By Lily BurtonMay 1, 2026

Physics

Physics explains why gold doesn’t ‘rust’

Metals like copper tarnish when they react with oxygen in the air. Gold doesn’t, thanks to a quick rearrangement of atoms on its surface.

By Emily ConoverJuly 14, 2026

Space

Life

Earth

Archaeology

Mystery solved: Why earthquakes haven’t wrecked Egypt’s Great Pyramid

By Skyler WareJune 29, 2026

Earth

Analyze This: A rocket reentry spiked metal levels in the atmosphere

By Adam Mann and Carolyn WilkeJune 24, 2026

Topics

Physics explains why gold doesn’t ‘rust’

Scientists Say: Fluoride

Hawaii is turning fishnets and other plastic trash into roads

Big waves shape this surfer-scientist’s research and life

Fuzzy microbes may fuel cows’ methane burps

Earth’s crust under Africa is thinning in a way never seen before

The mystery of the ‘Plain of Jars’ in Laos may now be solved

Big waves shape this surfer-scientist’s research and life

VR can train the human brain to treat wings like real limbs

Fuzzy microbes may fuel cows’ methane burps

Here’s how ‘singing’ mice belt out their tiny tunes

VR can train the human brain to treat wings like real limbs

Scientists Say: Topology

Origami research takes top prize at 2026 Regeneron ISEF competition

Brain scans offer clues to why math is harder for some kids

Physics explains why gold doesn’t ‘rust’

Scientists Say: Event horizon

Trying to break a photon would create a quantum mess

This evolutionary biologist fuses art into her science

Some of these Smithsonian secrets might just blow your mind

These 12,000-year-old Native American dice are the oldest in the world

Scientists Say: Event horizon

Analyze This: A rocket reentry spiked metal levels in the atmosphere

Could a storm last forever?

VR can train the human brain to treat wings like real limbs

Mystery solved: Why earthquakes haven’t wrecked Egypt’s Great Pyramid

Analyze This: A rocket reentry spiked metal levels in the atmosphere

It’s a wonderful world — and universe — out there.

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