SCIENCE

NASA Will Grab Asteroid Dirt to Bring Back to Earth. Here's How

Thank a robotic arm and a nitrogen gas burst.

Conservationist Recruits RC Cars to Protect the Desert Tortoise

Each "Guardian Angel" rover can be controlled from the web.

Scientists Decipher Charred Biblical Scroll Using 'Virtual Unwrapping'

The scroll was reduced to charcoal 1400 years ago.

The Mystery of Identity Thief Lori Erica Ruff

A six-year cold case was cracked by a former nuclear physicist.

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Commit $3 Billion to Eradicating Disease

Physician, educator, and philanthropist Priscilla Chan and her husband, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, have announced a wildly ambitious $3 billion plan to “eliminate, cure, or prevent disease” by the end of this century.

Scientists Discover World's Oldest-Known Fishhooks in Okinawa, Japan

The hooks are about 23,000 years old.

Study Finds Harmful Compounds in Household Dust

Ninety percent of samples taken from homes, schools, and daycare centers contained dangerous chemicals.

Researchers Develop "Species from Feces" DNA Tool to Identify Bats

Northern Arizona University scientists created a DNA barcoding tool that can pinpoint a bat's species from its poop.

How Climate Change Shaped Human Migration Out of Africa

A new study says our prehistoric ancestors dispersed across the globe in waves inspired by dramatic changes in the world’s climate.

Newsletter Alerts You to the Asteroid Flybys Happening Almost Daily

Now, there’s an easy way to keep tabs on the notable space rocks that zoom past the planet without purchasing a high-powered telescope.

Pigeons Can Distinguish Written Words From Nonsense

These common birds are masters of the four-letter word.

The Longest Lightning Bolt Ever Recorded Stretched 200 Miles

Zapping across the sky in 2007, the 200-mile flash over Oklahoma could be seen from Colorado.

Feral Cats Are Key Contributors to the Sixth Mass Extinction

In the past 500 years, cats have played a role in the demise of 63 species.

Most Languages Use the Same Sounds for Certain Words, Study Finds

Concepts like "nose" and "tongue" share some of the same sounds no matter what language you're listening to.

Water Bears’ DNA Makes Them Practically Indestructible

A new study suggests we could someday borrow the tardigrade’s resilience to use in our own flimsy bodies.

Archaeologists Discover Pot With 3000-Year-Old Burnt Cheese

An ancient kitchen mishap proves that culinary incompetence is timeless.

Scientists Test the 5-Second Rule

The floor is gross, you guys.

Tool-Using Hawaiian Crows Join Bird Version of MENSA

The rare ‘Alalā species is only the second known crow species to use tools.

2000-Year-Old Skeleton Found at Ancient Shipwreck

Human remains are a rare find for sunken ships. Discovering a skeleton in one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world is even rarer.

Do Dolphins Carry On Conversations?

A much-hyped new paper claims to have found evidence of human-like speech patterns in bottlenose dolphins, but other researchers are skeptical, to say the least.

Get Better Faster by Changing Your Eating Habits When You're Sick

Depending on what kind of infection you have, eating or fasting may be a better strategy.

Trade Your Lawn for a Vegetable Garden to Cut Down on Greenhouse Gases

If you’re looking for a tasty way to help the environment, consider swapping your lawn for a vegetable garden.

8 Incredible STEM Careers You Didn't Know Existed

You could be an underwater archaeologist or a flavor technologist.

Hunting Bats Tilt Their Heads Like Puppies

Waggling their ears helps the bats target their prey.

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