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More Than 30 Years Since Their Discovery, Prions Still Fascinate, Terrify and Mystify Us
Figuring out what they were was just the beginning of a field of research into prions and prion diseases that’s still growing
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Using 18th-Century Writings and Illustrations, Scientists Model an Ancient Magnetic Storm
The vibrant aurora lit up the night sky over the city of Kyoto, Japan, some 250 years ago
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An October Harvest Moon Rises Tonight
The full moon closest to the equinox rises soon after sunset, casting a glow early evening that helps farmers bring in their crops
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This Wandering Concrete Sphere Will Track the Movements of the Arctic Circle
On a small Icelandic island, a massive piece of art will track Earth’s wobble in space
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Method for Capturing the Smallest Details of Life Nabs Chemistry Nobel
With cryo-electron microscopy, tiny living molecules can be seen in their natural states
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Revel in the Big Details of Tiny Things With These Prize-Winning Images
Skin cells, tape worms and fuzzy mold are among this years top photos
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How Scientists Decide Which Animal Genomes to Sequence
There are an estimated 8.7 million species on Earth–it’s unlikely scientists will ever sequence them all
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Could a Magnetic Shield Protect Earth From Space Weather?
A bad geomagnetic storm would fry the electric grid and cripple civilization for years—a space shield is cheap by comparison
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Controversial Hawaiian Telescope Gets State Approval
The long-delayed Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea faces opposition from native Hawaiian groups and environmentalists
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Three Scientists Behind the Detection of Gravitational Waves Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics
The trio is the leading force behind the massive pair of detectors that can measures ripples in the fabric of space-time smaller than the width of a proton
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The Irish Cardiologist Whose Invention Saved LBJ
Frank Pantridge miniaturized the defibrillator, making it portable
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Just a Few Species Make Up Most of Earth’s Food Supply. And That’s a Problem
The looming threat of extinction from climate change makes the lack of diversity in the world’s food supplies a dangerous prospect
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Nobel Prize Awarded to Three Scientists Who Mapped the Body’s Internal Clock
Circadian rhythms dictate the daily patterns of life on Earth, and understanding these patterns is crucial to overall health
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The Hollywood Star Who Confronted the AIDS ‘Silent Epidemic’
Rock Hudson died of AIDS-related complications in 1985
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Scientists Discover One Last Image From the Rosetta Mission
The probe sent partial data for the photo before it crash landed on a comet September 30, 2016
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Celiac Sufferers May Soon Have Better Bread Options Thanks to Genetically Modified Wheat
Researchers successfully removed 90 percent of the genes that code for the gluten proteins that trigger adverse symptoms
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The Perks and Pitfalls of Being a Nobel Laureate: Early Mornings, Performance Anxiety
On the plus side, at UC Berkeley you get free parking
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The 2011 Tsunami Flushed Hundreds of Japanese Species Across the Ocean
After the Fukushima disaster, a surprising number of coastal creatures survived a multi-year journey by clinging to floating debris
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Diver Explores Beautiful Blue Hole Hidden in Plain Sight
After spotting the feature while perusing Google maps, a marine biologist set out to experience and capture it in all its cerulean glory
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This May Be the Oldest Traces of Life Yet Found
Bits of graphite, 3.95 billion years old, suggest life was churning away soon after Earth’s formation
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