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Articles

The power of science fiction comes from the license to dream.

Round Table

What Idea From Science Fiction Would You Most Like To See Become Reality?

Astronomers, writers and an astronaut weigh in with some interesting answers

Figuring out the mysteries of the universe, one galaxy collision at a time.

Think Big

What Is the Universe? Real Physics Has Some Mind-Bending Answers

Science says the universe could be a hologram, a computer program, a black hole or a bubble—and there are ways to check

Curtains of light weave across the sky over Fairbanks, Alaska, on September 12.

Powerful Solar Flare Paints the Sky With Candy-Colored Auroras

Two back-to-back flares sent clouds of charged particles racing toward Earth, creating auroras that may last through the weekend

Scientists hope to make the process of producing engine-ready propane from E. coli bacteria commercially viable in 5 to 10 years.

Anthropocene

Researchers Trick E. Coli Into Making Propane

European researchers have taken an important first step toward renewable propane, powered by the sun

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Pemaquid Peninsula, Maine

Maine’s Most Interesting Lighthouses

Shipwrecks, poetry and alien encounters: The lighthouses dotting Maine’s coast pack a double punch of beauty and history

IBM and Mayo Clinic are applying game-show champ Watson's smarts to matching patients with the best clinical trials.

IBM’s Watson Will Match Cancer Patients With Trials at Mayo Clinic

By pairing patients with trials in seconds, the supercomputer will help speed the pace of medical innovation

The Biomuseo brightens the night sky

Frank Gehry’s Biomuseo in Panama, Finally Open for Business

The eye-popping structure devoted to the nation’s vibrant ecosystems makes its grand debut

A model of Spinosaurus, based on data published in Science today, gets rock star treatment at a National Geographic photo shoot. A feature story, including the image above, will appear in National Geographic's October issue.

New Research

Meet the Mighty Spinosaurus, the First Dinosaur Adapted for Swimming

A mysterious mustachioed man helped paleontologists piece together the life story of the long-lost, semi-aquatic “Egyptian spine lizard”

The Fight for Catalonian Independence Took the Form of a Giant “V” in the Streets of Barcelona

Hundreds of thousands of protestors formed a giant red and yellow V, symbolizing the “Way Forward” and marking the region’s national holiday

Sugar gliders, marsupials native to Australia.

Adorable Portraits Put Nocturnal Animals in the Spotlight

A new photo book showcases animals we humans rarely see—while a new study says we may have more in common with night-dwellers than thought

Apple recently announced three models of its Apple Watch.

Tech Watch

The 5 Biggest Challenges to the Success of the Apple Watch

Even though wearables are on the rise, Apple’s newest product has its obstacles, from limited battery life to a hefty price tag

Kale is delicious, nutritious and unnatural, genetically speaking.

Sorry Hipsters, That Organic Kale Is a Genetically Modified Food

And those juicy red grapefruits are mutants created by radiation exposure

William Greiner's photographs, including Merry's, are on view in "Oh! Augusta!" at the Morris Museum of Art in Georgia.

Capturing First Impressions of a City in Transition

William Greiner’s photographs are on view at the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, GA

Peoples Design Awards

Vote for the Winner of the 2014 People’s Design Award

Marvel at these breakthroughs in innovative design and select your favorite

Khufu Pyramid at Giza.

Google Street View Brings Egypt’s Pyramids To A Computer Near You

From ancient citadels to the Great Sphinx, you can now explore Egypt’s wonders in the digital world

Cyclists Inspecting Ancient Petroglyphs, Utah, 1998: Texas-based photographer Terry Falke captures several of the exhibition's themes in this image of cyclists examining petroglyphs and bullet holes in a stratified rock face by the side of the road in Utah. "You’ve got the ultimate strata, which is man-made, so the idea is that we are impacting, we’re leaving our mark on the Earth over time as well," says Talasek.

Anthropocene

What Does “Deep Time” Mean to You?

An art exhibition at the National Academy of Sciences offers perspective on our geological past and future

Pew pew

Cool Finds

A Military Contractor Just Went Ahead And Used an Xbox Controller For Their New Giant Laser Cannon

The army’s new laser cannon is controlled with an Xbox controller

The cover of the 2014 State of the Birds 2014, the most extensive study of birds in the U.S. ever published.

The Most Extensive Report Ever on American Birds Says There’s Cause for Concern

Researchers from 23 groups just released the fifth State of the Birds report, which contains good and bad news

Artist Roman Muradov's interpretation of a scene from Tolstoy's Anna Karenina for Google Doodle.

Google Doodle Honors the Genius of Leo Tolstoy

On what would be his 186th birthday, see the author’s famous works digitally brought to life

Matt Dean (left) and Jim Dines (right) analyzed pelvic bones of whales and dolphins from 29 different species.

New Research

Promiscuous Whales Make Good Use of Their Pelvises

Hips don’t lie: Whale pelvic bones are not vestigial but instead evolved to help the marine mammals maneuver better during sex

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