Latest science news, discoveries and scientific developments.
Turnover related to menopause has become a critical global socioeconomic challenge, affecting female career longevity and organizational productivity. A new study suggests that, although many employers have attempted to make special accommodations in the workplace, they fail to address a woman's increased psychological burdens related to the menopause transition.
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS brought material from another planetary system within reach of our telescopes, but reading its chemistry poses a problem. Energetic particles encountered during its journey through space may have changed its outer layers, so how much of what astronomers detect still reflects the comet's birthplace?
Scientists have discovered a natural compound that targets dangerous C. difficile bacteria without wiping out the gut's beneficial microbes. Successful early tests suggest it could lead to a gentler, more effective treatment for stubborn intestinal infections that frequently return.
The aging brain may be undergoing a remarkable transformation rather than simply losing its abilities, shifting its focus from remembering details to understanding the bigger picture. Scientists suggest this change could be an evolutionary adaptation that helps older adults develop wisdom and share decades of knowledge with younger generations.
People who have lost the ability to talk are finding new voices with technology. This technological feat is changing what it means to lose a voice.
FRASCATI, Italy — Observing Earth from space provides a much-needed insight into the evolution of our planet's health. This is particularly important in the face of climate change, as environmental degradation, food insecurity and extreme weather events can all reveal themselves in stark images taken from high above our planet's surface.Simonetta Cheli is the director of Earth observation programs at the European Space Agency (ESA) and the head of the European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy. With nearly 40 years of experience in the field, she is one of the world's leading experts on Earth observation. Live Science spoke with Cheli on a recent visit to ESRIN to talk abou...
QUICK FACTSWhere is it? Southern Europe and North AfricaWhat's in the photo? Land and sea surface temperatures during one of Europe's record-breaking summer heat wavesWhich satellite took the photo? Sentinel-3BWhen was it taken? June 23, 2026This striking satellite snap shows the scorching land and sea surface temperatures that hit Southern Europe during one of the continent's record-breaking heat waves this summer.The image was created using data from the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) on board the European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-3B satellite. It was selected for this week's edition of Earth from space by Simonetta Cheli, director of Earth observation programs at...
One of the best fall meteor showers peaks this week, when pieces of the famous Halley's Comet streak across Earth's atmosphere as fast-moving "shooting stars."The Orionid meteor shower will peak overnight Wednesday (Oct. 21) through Thursday (Oct. 22), potentially producing around 20 meteors per hour under a dark sky, according to Time and Date. The Orionids are caused when Earth passes through the debris left by Halley's Comet, which last passed through the inner solar system in 1986 and will return in 2061. Halley's Comet is presently beyond the orbit of Neptune, according to The Planets Today, but it doesn't need to be close to Earth to cause "shooting stars." Every time the comet travels...
Letters to the editors for the June 2026 issue of Scientific American
Scientists can’t figure out why ultraprocessed foods are unhealthy for us—and new studies suggest that the “processing” isn’t the problem
Play this crossword inspired by the November 2026 issue of Scientific American
Astronomers are finally figuring out what powers mysterious gamma-ray bursts
In 1926 we wrote about how there was a good chance Mars had both plants and animals. And in 1876 we probed the duplicity of the artificial butter business
Can our “prediction machine” brains learn to handle a world in chaos?
Solid-state transformer designs have been around for decades. Now data centers may finally give the chip-filled devices their killer application
The U.S. hasn’t detonated a nuclear weapon since 1992. Now a fusion start-up whose co-founders include former national lab scientists could help conduct experiments that make sure the stockpile works
Regardless of whether social media addiction is real, these platforms hack the human brain, often to our detriment