In Photos: The Sea Creatures Lurking Off the Shores of Nantucket
An aerial survey captures images of marine megafauna aplenty in the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Massachusetts
Meet the Vegan Draculas of Australia
New research seeks to confirm the identity of tropical lampreys that don’t have the taste for blood
The Return of a Discredited Pseudoscience
Eugenics is rearing its ugly head again in today’s crucible of politics and culture
Archaeologists Just Found a Fascinating Ancient Statue—Used as a Paving Stone in a Roman Road
The statue dates back 2,500 years, and offers researchers clues about the culture of the period
An Astrobiologist’s Guide to the Best Sci-Fi Reads
Cosmic lesbian necromancers, cyberpunk Canterbury Tales, and so much more
Latest Stories
How Much of a Problem is AI’s Water Use?
It depends. Though water consumption by data centers pales in comparison to that of some other industries, it’s a problem in water-stressed regions. Water-saving cooling technologies could help
NASA Has Begun the Countdown to the Launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
The new space telescope will help astronomers unravel the mysteries of the universe
The Kitchen of the Realm: Even the Commoners Ate Well in Ancient Osaka
But their dental hygiene may leave something to be desired
Read Stories from Our Newest Print Issue: The Stupid Issue
See moreThe Resistance Is Here
They didn’t plan to be activists. But scientists have united to overturn Trump’s drastic cuts to science.
The Trouble with Cancer Screening
Tests for cancer often lead to more confusion than clarity. Here’s how to understand them.
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Cutting-edge science, unraveled by the brightest living thinkers.
Astronomy
See more AstronomyFive Images, Six Decades: Capturing the Iconic “Earthrise” Photo
The first was taken August 23, 1966
A Dazzling Image of a Dying Star, Featuring the Great Recycling System of the Cosmos
Ashes to ashes, stardust to stardust
History
See more History
How the Ancient Greeks Interpreted Their Dreams
Certain concepts such as metaphor may derive from early dream interpretation
When Stupid Was a Diagnosis
A dark history that is in danger of returning as support for people with disabilities withers
Psychology
See more Psychology
Are You in Danger of Becoming a Robot?
How interacting with social chatbots could reduce your “personhood”
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Environment
See more EnvironmentHow the Heat is Messing with Your Sleep
Restless nights may be the new normal as the globe cooks
An Ice Island as Big as Manhattan Just Broke Off Greenland
It’s a “remarkable” parting of the ways
How Our Attraction to Natural Fixes Can Stymie Climate Progress
Does a human-made problem need a natural solution?
Zoology
See more ZoologyWhat’s the Secret to Bats’ Super Longevity?
Multiples of immune proteins give them an edge in fixing cell damage
New Species of Groundsnake Named After Guns N’ Roses Guitarist and Noted Herpephile Slash
It likes the nightlife
Dolphins Eavesdrop on Their Prey—and Each Other
They strategically choose when to whistle or click
Philosophy
See more PhilosophyWhat a Picture of a Dog Has to Do with Reason and Logic
People who can’t see images in their minds challenge an old philosophical standby
What Makes Humans Stupid
It takes intelligence to get things spectacularly wrong. An essay on our undoing.
The Inventor of the Thinking Machine Didn’t Worry. Neither Should You
In this age of AI anxiety, listen to your heart
Dolly Parton: Science Icon
The singer/songwriter leaves a scientific legacy more should aspire to
Read more
See all postsVolcanoes That Made History
Long after the lava stopped flowing, enormous eruptions altered Earth’s climate and societies all over the globe
This Hidden Glacier Has Enough Water to Fill 600 Olympic Swimming Pools
And there are more than 50,000 others like it worldwide
How Conversations Can Shape Reality
A conversation about the science of conversation with neuroscientist and author Shane O’Mara
20 Minutes of Exercise Is as Good as a 90-Minute Nap If You’re Sleep Deprived
Don’t sleep on this new finding
This “One-in-a-Million” Fossil Has 450-Million-Year-Old Soft Tissue
Only the second fossil of its type to be discovered
Small Iguanodon Fossil Sheds Light on Dino Diversity
It lived in Japan long before Japan was an island
Babies Born Under Sugar Rationing Grew Into Adults with Lower Cancer Risk
Britain’s postwar sugar rationing was an accidental experiment. Decades on, it’s revealing how early diet shapes cancer risk, aging and eating habits for life.
