SCIENCE

A glamour shot of the mummy at the Argonne National Laboratory.

Researchers Used Advanced X-Rays to Reveal Secrets of an Ancient Egyptian Mummy—Without Unwrapping It

It’s far from the first time an ancient mummy has been scanned, but this technology isn’t any old X-ray.

How the Polio Epidemic of 1950 Gave Wytheville, Virginia, a 'Summer Without Children'

Seventy years ago, a polio epidemic swept through Wytheville, Virginia—and the town went on lockdown.

Here are clear directions for a clear windshield.

How to Defog Your Windshield Quickly, According to a Former NASA Engineer

Foggy glass can make your drive dangerous—here’s how to get rid of it quickly (and how to avoid it in the first place).

3D Map Shows the Milky Way Galaxy in Unprecedented Detail

With this new map of the Milky Way, astronomers can calculate the galaxy's mass and learn more about its past and future.

Science is closer to understanding what prompts severe COVID-19 illness.

Scientists Come Closer to Understanding COVID-19 'Cytokine Storms'

The "cytokine storms" that precede severe illness in patients with COVID-19 has been poorly understood. New research has traced the risk of lung damage and organ failure to two key proteins that have the potential to be treated with drugs.

National Trust, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Archaeologists Discover the Jousting Yard Where Henry VIII Had His Historic Accident

Henry VIII nearly lost his life while jousting in 1536. Now, archaeologists have located the site of the history-making accident.

Bremont's New Stephen Hawking Watch Contains Pieces of the Late Scientist's Desk

Keep Stephen Hawking's memory alive with a watch made from pieces of his beloved desk, with proceeds supporting The Stephen Hawking Foundation.

Why Do Babies Start Crying As Soon As You Sit Down?

Wondering how to stop a baby from crying? Unfortunately, the answer doesn’t involve sinking into your comfiest armchair.

How to Crack an Egg, According to Science

If you find your countertop splattered with an egg crime scene, you might benefit from these useful tips.

The race for an effective coronavirus vaccine is showing signs of real success.

Pfizer's Coronavirus Vaccine Appears 90 Percent Effective in Early Review

Pfizer's vaccine, which uses messenger RNA to instruct the body to mount a defense against the coronavirus, is showing highly promising results in the first real evidence of efficacy of any coronavirus vaccine trial.

Why Are Oceans Salty?

The salt in the ocean comes from two main sources: rocks on land and vents at the bottom of the sea.

What Happens When You Let a Glass of Soda Sit Out for 3 Months? This Timelapse Shows You (and It's Not Pretty)

Temponaut Timelapse filmed the decomposition of a glass of cola over 105 days, and the results aren't pretty.

The 10 Happiest Songs, According to Science

Music preferences are subjective, but there are certain quantifiable metrics that help us identify the best upbeat songs.

A nameless northern lights show in Ylläs, Finland.

The Northern Lights Storms Are Getting Names—and You Can Offer Up Your Suggestions

Whether you’ve seen a northern lights show in Alaska, Iceland, or not at all, you’re eligible to suggest they name the next storm after your dog.

Grant Imahara attends San Diego Comic-Con

Late MythBusters Star Grant Imahara Honored With New STEAM Foundation

Grant Imahara, who passed away in July at age 49, is the namesake of The Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation, which will help bring opportunities to students.

How African Dust Storms Create the Caribbean’s Beautiful Beaches—and Protect Them from Hurricanes

Bermuda's red soil and the Bahamas's white-sand beaches might have come from the same place: the Sahara Desert.

The dreaded 'wrong pipe' calamity can strike at any time.

What Really Happens When Food Goes Down the 'Wrong Pipe'?

It's a bit of an oversimplification, but the food you eat really can take a wrong turn before it hits your stomach.

8-Year-Old Twinkies Intrigue Fungus Experts

A Twinkie was found shriveled-up and hardened after eight years in a basement, and now scientists are searching for the fungus behind the transformation.

15 Fun Gifts for an Amateur Naturalist

All you really need to study the natural world is a hearty amount of curiosity—but the right goods and gear can certainly help.

This year's first place finisher is a young zebrafish photographed from above.

See the Big Winners of Nikon’s Microscopic Photo Competition

Snail tongues and nylon stockings are surprisingly beautiful. Fruit bat skeletons, on the other hand? Terrifying.

Study Finds Slow-Blinking at Your Cat Could Improve Your Communication

You can’t exactly spell out “I love you” via blinking, but it could help you send positive vibes to your precious pet.

There's a good chance his parents have dimples, too.

Why Do Some People Have Dimples?

Genetics probably play a part in dimple formation, and so does a muscle called the “zygomaticus major.”

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna Receive Nobel Prize in Chemistry for CRISPR Gene Editing Tool

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna have been awarded 2020's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, making them the first women to jointly receive the prize.

People in Victorian London were amazed by a stage effect perfected by John Henry Pepper that had them seeing a ghost.

How 'Pepper's Ghost' Became the Toast of Victorian London

In the mid-1800s, John Henry Pepper was a superstar in science demonstrations. Then he helped usher in a dramatic special effect that left Victorian London awestruck.

PREV NEXT