The Origins of Uranus’ Distant Rings Hint at a Hidden Moon
Astronomers are circling the answers
The Ancient Roots of the Crab Walk
It wasn’t a lateral evolutionary move
The Nautilus Reading List of Science Biographies
These beautifully composed books usher you into the life and times of influential scientists
Earth Day Started with an Oil Spill
The day of environmental action and protest has grown and evolved over the past 56 years
Defending Our Consciousness Against the Algorithms
Why it’s good to be bored
Latest Stories
The Mystery of the Giant Blobs at the Center of the Earth
Are they remnants of primordial Earth or extraterrestrial in origin?
From our latest print issue
See moreGet the Nautilus newsletter
Cutting-edge science, unraveled by the brightest living thinkers.
Astronomy
See more AstronomyThe Peace That an Eclipse Brings
The total solar eclipse in 2024 hushed the Earth by striking awe in the humans in its path
Mars Curiosity Rover Makes a Big Find on the Red Planet
The little robotic chemist that could
History
See more HistoryRome Was Built Today
Celebrating the scientific and technical contributions of Rome on the mythical birthday of the eternal city
The Birth of Genius
Leonardo da Vinci, polymath and victim of the vagaries of science funding, was born on this day
The Bra-and-Girdle Maker That Fashioned the Impossible for NASA
Crafting a spacesuit demanded perfection from seamstresses to gluers to engineers — every stitch could mean life or death
Psychology
See more PsychologyGet unlimited, ad-free Nautilus. Become a member today.
Environment
See more EnvironmentCocaine Fish: How Salmon Behave When Amped Up on Coke
The effects of cocaine pollution in the world’s waterways
The Centuries-Old History of the Super El Niño
We may get an exceptionally strong El Niño this year, but we’ve been tracking the climatic cycle since 1578
Zoology
See more ZoologyA Brief History of the Bizarre-Looking Anglerfish
These mysterious species have a lot of tricks
Arachnophobes Beware: Tarantulas Are Way Smarter Than You Think
They’re particularly good at remembering where their prey is hiding
Philosophy
See more PhilosophyThe Bad Seed and the Problem of Blame
A conversation with behavioral geneticist Kathryn Paige Harden about the heritability of vice
A Light in the Dark: Finding the Good in the Natural World
Is it absurd to think that science can inform our values?
How ‘Tiny Shortcuts’ Are Poisoning Science
Seemingly harmless data tweaks are undermining the integrity of the entire field. We must define the problem to prevent it
Mushrooms Stole a Trick From Bacteria. It Could Help Us Control the Weather
Can purloined genes make it rain?
Read more
See all postsAn Ancient Mummy’s Tooth Could Rewrite Script of Scarlet Fever in the New World
European colonists are off the hook for this one
Humans Evolving, One Way or Another
Have we moved beyond the reach of natural selection? If so, it’s likely a relatively recent development.
The New Science of the Near-Death Experience
For the first time, scientists are studying these mysterious states in real time
Check Out the Largest 3-D Map of the Universe
It spans over 11 billion years of cosmic history
Oldest Reptile Mummy Sheds Light on the Ancient Art of Breathing
Its rib breathing set the stage for further evolution of land animals
Was the Grand Canyon Born from an Ancient Lake Spillover?
It’s a surprisingly controversial question
Largest Known Collection of Bees Discovered Living in a Cemetery
Graveyards are teeming with life






































