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New Research

Israel isn’t the first country where fingerprints found during archaeological research have elicited curiosity and spurred questions about who left them behind.

What Fingerprints Tell Us About Jerusalem’s Ancient Artisans

In an unusual collaboration, archaeologists in Israel are working with police to analyze prints left on fifth- or sixth-century pottery shards

A drawing of the extinct Steller's sea cow

An Extinct Sea Cow May Help the Restoration of California’s Dwindling Kelp Forests

Researchers are modeling out what the ocean may have looked like when the seaweed-munching mammal roamed the shores

Ant species across five subfamilies exchange milk-like substances.  

Scientists Just Discovered That Ants Make Milk

Adults and larvae consume a nutrient-rich fluid released by pupae

A pack of grey wolves in Yellowstone National Park. 

Parasites Make Grey Wolves More Likely to Become Pack Leaders

Research has shown that infected animals can engage in riskier behavior than their uninfected peers

The Grand Prismatic Spring inside Yellowstone National Park

A Surprising Amount of Magma Is Under Yellowstone’s Supervolcano

New research suggests more melted rock lies beneath the Yellowstone Caldera—but it’s still not likely to erupt anytime soon

An illustration of the event horizon of a black hole

A Space Flash Detected in February Was a Black Hole Devouring an Unassuming Star

The bright light was the result of a rare cosmic occurrence known as a tidal disruption event

Over the past 43 years, the Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the rest of the world. 

Scientists Revive 48,500-Year-Old Virus, Setting World Record

As temperatures rise because of climate change, melting permafrost could cause dormant diseases to re-emerge, researchers warn

A brain scan of a person with Alzheimer's disease

Second Death Tied to Experimental Alzheimer’s Treatment

While the new drug is seen as a breakthrough, these deaths highlight a possible risk to patients on blood thinners, experts say

Artist’s reconstruction of Janavis finalidens

How a 67-Million-Year-Old Fossil Turned the Theory of Bird Evolution Upside-Down

A skull bone suggests prehistoric birds could move their upper beaks, much like most modern birds

SharkGuard takes advantage of sharks’ “sixth sense”—their ability to detect electromagnetic fields using specialized organs called ampullae of Lorenzini.

An Electric Pulse Could Scare Sharks Away From Fishing Hooks

A new device could reduce bycatch of blue sharks by 91 percent and pelagic stingrays by 71 percent, research suggests

A view of the Shanidar Cave in Iraq’s Zagros Mountains, where some of the charred plant remains were discovered

Neanderthals Cooked Surprisingly Complex Meals

Charred food remnants provide insight into 70,000-year-old dietary practices

A group of zebrafish

Gut Bacteria Might Shape Social Behavior

A study of zebrafish reveals the mix of microbes in the intestinal tract could influence brain development

Male great bustard (Otis tarda)

These Giant Birds Might Self-Medicate Their STIs

During the breeding season, great bustards consume two plants that may combat common pathogens

Modern imaging technology suggests a collection of Roman coins discovered in 1713 may be authentic.

New Research

Roman Coins, Long Considered Forgeries, May Be Authentic After All

Using modern imaging technology, researchers argue that the coins were once in circulation

Histoplasma under a microscope

Fungi That Cause Lung Infections May Be Spreading Across the U.S.

Doctors are likely to misdiagnose cases due to outdated maps of these fungi’s ranges

Rice is a major staple crop around the world.

Perennial Rice Could Raise Yields and Cut Costs

These plants that grow back year after year show promise, but they are not a silver bullet

A cross-section of a spinal cord at five times magnification.

Researchers Identify Neurons That Might Help Paralyzed People Walk Again

With electrical stimulation and physical therapy, nine people with spinal cord injuries regained the ability to stand and take steps

The monkey's skeletal remains

1,700-Year-Old Monkey Skeleton Suggests Diplomatic Ties Between Mesoamerican Powers

Researchers believe the Maya gave the sacrificial female spider monkey to Teotihuacán as a gift years before relations soured

An illustration of human sperm.

Human Sperm Counts Declining Worldwide, Study Finds

Researchers disagree on whether the trend has implications for human fertility

An illustrated reconstruction of Leviathanochelys aenigmatica.

Scientists Unearth a Prehistoric Marine Turtle the Size of a Car

Fragments of the creature’s pelvis and shell were discovered in the Pyrenees

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