Science News | The latest news from all areas of science

Usain Bolt crouches next to a digital display showing his new world record while pointing to a crowd in a stadium

Humans

World record speeds for two Olympics events have fallen over time. We can go faster

The human body can go faster in the 100-meter dash and the 50-meter freestyle. But to reach full potential, our technique must be perfect.

By Erin Garcia de JesúsJuly 12, 2024

Two komodo dragons walk to the right along a gravel path, with water and trees in the background. One komodo dragon has its head raised and mouth open.

Animals

Komodo dragon teeth get their strength from an iron coat

By Erin Garcia de Jesús6 hours ago

Stock photo of a person who menstruates sitting down, unpacking a period pad.

Health & Medicine

A new algae-based menstrual pad could stop leaks

By Claire Yuan10 hours ago

An Apollo 11 astronaut places a seismometer on the surface of the moon.

Space

Moonquakes are much more common than thought, Apollo data suggest

By Lisa Grossman12 hours ago

An image of a rock on Mars taken by the NASA rover Perseverance. Rocky white stripes flank a clay-colored area that is speckled with dark spots.

Planetary Science

NASA’s Perseverance rover finds its first possible hint of ancient life on Mars

By Lisa GrossmanJuly 25, 2024

A time-lapse photo of the night sky over Coyote Buttes, Ariz., shows stars leaving circular trails around a bright point in the middle, which is the North Star.

The North Star is much heavier than previously thought

By Ken CroswellJuly 25, 2024

A metal structure in the innards of the XENON-nT experiment.

Particle Physics

Dark matter experiments get a first peek at the ‘neutrino fog’

By Emily ConoverJuly 25, 2024

Spotlight on Health

A stock photograph of a nurse holding two tubes of blood. In the background, a patient in a green shirt holds a cotton ball to their arm after having blood drawn.

Sepsis tests take days, putting patients at risk. A new method may cut wait time

A faster way to figure out what bacteria is causing a potentially deadly bloodstream infection could let doctors treat it more quickly and efficiently.

By Claire YuanJuly 24, 2024
Some melanoma cancer cells may punch their way through the body
How to stay healthy during the COVID-19 summertime surge

From the Archives

Olympics in Mathematics

March 15, 1975 Vol. 107 No. #11

Science News Magazine

July 13, 2024 cover

July 13, 2024 Vol. 206 No. 01

The Science of the Olympics

Usain Bolt crouches next to a digital display showing his new world record while pointing to a crowd in a stadium

World record speeds for two Olympics events have fallen over time. We can go faster

photo of Simone Biles at the Olympics

How mindfulness-based training can give elite athletes a mental edge

An underwater photo of a diver after entering the water with diving boards visible above the water line

Physicists explain how to execute a nearly splashless dive

javelin throw

Why modern javelin throwers hurled Neandertal spears at hay bales

female rowers

Strong-armed women helped power Europe’s ancient farming revolution

A photo of several marathon runners running from left to right across the frame.

Brain tissue may be fuel for marathon runners

distance runner

Gut microbes might help elite athletes boost their physical performance

muscular legs of a bicyclist

Endurance training leaves no memory in muscles

a woman running along a rocky shore, with a phone strapped to her arm

Joggers naturally pace themselves to conserve energy even on short runs

pill man

For athletes, antioxidant pills may not help performance

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Life

This protist unfolds its ‘neck’ up to 30 times its body length to scout prey

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Astronomy

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Physics

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Earth

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Science & Society

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