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Live Science is one of the biggest and most trusted popular science websites operating today, reporting on the latest discoveries, groundbreaking research and fascinating breakthroughs that impact you and the wider world.

We believe that science can help explain the things that matter to you and shine a light on everything from the mysteries of our universe to the inner workings of an atom. Our team of experienced editors and science journalists are here to guide you through the most important stories with clarity, authority and humor.

Whether you’re interested in dinosaurs or archaeology, weird physics or astronomy, health, human behavior or the mysteries of our planet — for those with a curious mind, your journey of discovery begins here.

A photo of three men crouched around a hole in the ground emitting helium gas — A huge helium shortage is looming — but ancient rocks in Earth's crust may be hiding massive reservoirsFor decades, helium has been produced with natural gas, generating huge carbon emissions. Now, geologists are looking for new helium sources — and finding enormous "carbon-free" reservoirs that could revolutionize the industry.

Left image shows remains of an ancient jawbone, right image shows a graphic illustration of numerous galaxies together — Science news this week: A human population isolated for 100,000 years, the biggest spinning structure in the universe, and a pit full of skulls

a plaque with a human skull dressed as a grim reaper with text that reads "the black death. the population of monmouth and the surrounding areas was decimated by the great pestilence in 1349 and again in 1369". — Volcanic eruption triggered 'butterfly effect' that led to the Black Death, researchers find
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A laptop with a bright image of a digital printed circuit board on the screen. — New 'physics shortcut' lets laptops tackle quantum problems once reserved for supercomputers and AI

Sally-Ann Ashton admires one of the statues of Cleopatra at the launch of a new exhibition at The British Museum in London 10 April 2001. — What if Antony and Cleopatra had defeated Octavian?

Aerial view of the edge of China's Kubuqi Desert where a large-scale tree planting effort is slowing desertification. — China has planted so many trees it's changed the entire country's water distribution
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photo of people shown from above, walking over asphalt decorated with an image of a human brain — 'Intelligence comes at a price, and for many species, the benefits just aren't worth it': A neuroscientist's take on how human intellect evolved
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Planet Earth

This photograph shows a view of the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir in Zahara de la Sierra in the southern province of Cadiz, during a drought episode on December 29, 2023.

Collapse of key Atlantic current could bring extreme drought to Europe for hundreds of years, study finds

By Sarah Wild published December 4, 2025

Scientists modeled Europe's future if a key Atlantic current were to collapse and found that the continent faces a much drier future.

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Rivers & Oceans

Death Valley's 'world's hottest temperature' record may be due to a human error

By Sascha Pare published December 3, 2025

A new analysis of July temperatures in Death Valley between 1923 and 2024 suggests the world record near-surface air temperature of 134 F measured in July 1913 may be erroneous.

4 Comments

Weather

Space

New 3I/ATLAS images show the comet getting active ahead of close encounter with Earth

By Brandon Specktor published 2 days ago

NASA and ESA both shared new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS this week, as the agencies gear up for the mysterious object's closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19.

5 Comments

Comets

Today's biggest science news: Vaccine skeptics get hep B win | Comet 3I/ATLAS surprises | 'Cold Supermoon' pictures

By Ben Turner, Tia Ghose, Patrick Pester, Alexander McNamara last updated 2 days ago

Live blog Friday, Dec. 5, 2025: Your daily feed of the biggest discoveries and breakthroughs making headlines.

archaeology

Unusual, 1,400-year-old cube-shaped human skull unearthed in Mexico

By Kristina Killgrove published 2 days ago

Archaeologists discovered an unusually flat-topped skull at a pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican site.

Archaeology

1,800-year-old 'piggy banks' full of Roman-era coins unearthed in French village

By Marjanko Pilekić published 2 days ago

An excavation in a small French village reveals three jars with thousands of Roman coins.

Romans

World of science

Health

white, pink and orange illustrations of leukemia in white blood cell

Science history: Female chemist initially barred from research helps helps develop drug for remarkable-but-short-lived recovery in children with leukemia — Dec. 6, 1954

By Tia Ghose published 2 days ago

In December 1954, Gertrude Elion and colleagues described a new compound they had developed that sent children with leukemia into remission. It would guide a new approach to "rational drug design."

9 Comments

Cancer

CDC panel, stuffed with vaccine skeptics, votes to end recommendation for universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination

By Nicoletta Lanese, Tia Ghose published 3 days ago

The CDC's vaccine committee has voted to roll back a universal recommendation that newborns be vaccinated against hepatitis B, which is one of public health's major success stories.

Viruses, Infections & Disease

Could aging eggs be 'rejuvenated'? New tool may help pave the way to fertility-extending treatments

By Nicoletta Lanese published December 5, 2025

Scientists invented a new experimental system to study how age-related changes in egg cells make them more prone to chromosomal errors.

Fertility, Pregnancy & Birth

Animals

18,000 dinosaur tracks discovered along ancient Bolivian coastline — and they set a new record

By Sascha Pare published December 4, 2025

Researchers have counted 16,600 fossilized dinosaur footprints and 1,378 swim tracks at a site in Bolivia that showcase a variety of behaviors and different theropods from the Cretaceous period.

7 Comments

Dinosaurs

Anacondas became massive 12 million years ago — and it worked so well, they haven't changed size since

By Skyler Ware published December 2, 2025

The snakes stayed large and thrived even when cooling temperatures and shrinking habitats killed off other giant reptiles millions of years ago.

Snakes

What's the difference between a newt and a salamander?

By Alice Sun published November 30, 2025

Salamanders and newts are both long-tailed amphibians, but what's the difference between them?

Animals

Human Behavior

A hand holding a pencil over a crossword puzzle

Live Science crossword puzzle #22: Subatomic particle with a positive charge — 13 across

By Harry Baker last updated December 1, 2025

Science crossword Test your knowledge on all things science with our weekly, free crossword puzzle!

Time may be a psychological projection, philosopher argues

By Adrian Bardon published November 30, 2025

Is time real, or an illusion? The best answer may be neither: Both physics and philosophy suggest that time is a projection of the mind onto a timeless reality.

Human Behavior

There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you

By Kit Yates published October 27, 2025

Opinion How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.

21 Comments

Physics & Mathematics

Maxar overview satellite imagery shows the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano releasing huge smoke clouds before the eruption on January 14th , 2022 in Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Islands, Tonga.

What was the loudest sound ever recorded?

By Clarissa Brincat published yesterday

Determining the "loudest recorded sound" depends on how you define sound and on which measurements you choose to include.

5 Comments

Physics & Mathematics

Law of 'maximal randomness' explains how broken objects shatter in the most annoying way possible

By Skyler Ware published December 2, 2025

A new mathematical equation describes the distribution of different fragment sizes when an object breaks. Remarkably, the distribution is the same for everything from bubbles to spaghetti.

Mathematics

World's largest neutrino detector starts up — with incredible results

By Rory Harris last updated November 27, 2025

Deep underground in southern China, there is a 20,000-ton tank of liquid that can detect neutrinos. Named JUNO, the detector's first results are in — and they're very promising.

Particle Physics

Chemistry

Scientists invent way to use E. coli to create and dye rainbow-colored fabric in the lab

By Mason Wakley published November 15, 2025

Scientists have used a novel method to create sustainable, rainbow-colored fibers using bacteria in the lab.

Chemistry

an animation of a spinning buckyball molecule

Science history: Chemists discover buckyballs — the most perfect molecules in existence — Nov. 14, 1985

By Tia Ghose published November 14, 2025

Over a feverish 10-day period, scientists synthesized and described a new class of carbon molecules, called buckminster fullerenes, after the iconic 20th-century inventor.

Chemistry

Why does boiling water have bubbles, except in a microwave?

By Victoria Atkinson published November 8, 2025

Bubbles are usually the first sign that water’s coming to the boil, but heating it in a microwave seems to skip this important step. Here’s what’s going on.

11 Comments

Chemistry

Technology

Two prototypes of the ultrasonic system used to “shake” water out of an atmospheric water harvester.

MIT invention uses ultrasound to shake drinking water out of the air, even in dry regions

By Owen Hughes published December 4, 2025

A new device cuts down the time it takes to harvest water from the atmosphere from days to minutes, MIT researchers say.

2 Comments

Engineering

Vector of a man working with a robot sitting at table. Symbol of future cooperation and technology advance

When an AI algorithm is labeled 'female,' people are more likely to exploit it

By Damien Pine published December 3, 2025

People who played the “Prisoner’s Dilemma” were less likely to cooperate when the other player was a male human or AI, and exploited female players.

Artificial Intelligence

Science history: Computer scientist lays out 'Moore's law,' guiding chip design for a half century — Dec. 2, 1964

By Tia Ghose published December 2, 2025

At a small local chapter meeting of a professional society, Gordon Moore's talk laid out the rudiments of what would become "Moore's law", which would govern the electronics industry for a half century.

2 Comments

Monday, December 08, 2025

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Time travel