All Stories

  1. Particle Physics

    Theorists perplexed by hints of unexpected new particle

    Hints of a potential new particle at the LHC have scientists excited, and theoretical physicists are beginning to converge on explanations.

    By Emily Conover
  2. Astronomy

    Japan’s latest X-ray telescope is officially dead

    The Japanese space agency has officially declared its latest X-ray telescope a loss.

    By Christopher Crockett
  3. Math

    Claude Shannon’s information theory built the foundation for the digital era

    Claude Shannon, born 100 years ago, devised the mathematical representation of information that made the digital era possible.

    By Tom Siegfried
  4. Plants

    Nightshade plants bleed sugar as a call to ants for backup

    Bittersweet nightshade produces sugary wound goo to lure in ant protectors that eat herbivores, researchers have found.

    By Helen Thompson
  5. Animals

    Dragons sleep like mammals and birds

    Some lizards may sleep in the same way as mammals and birds, a new brain wave study finds.

    By Sarah Schwartz
  6. Neuroscience

    Ions may be in charge of when you sleep and wake

    The recipe for sleep and wake may depend on ions.

    By Tina Hesman Saey
  7. Animals

    Chemical behind popcorn’s aroma gives a bearcat its signature scent

    Bearcats smell like popcorn. Now scientists now why: The chemical responsible for popcorn’s alluring scent has been found in bearcat pee.

    By Sarah Zielinski
  8. Animals

    Peacocks twerk to shake their tail feathers

    Researchers reveal the biomechanics of the peacock mating dance.

    By Helen Thompson
  9. Neuroscience

    Words’ meanings mapped in the brain

    Language isn’t just confined to one region of the brain: The meaning of words spark activity all over the cerebral cortex.

    By Meghan Rosen
  10. Planetary Science

    Tiny moon orbits dwarf planet

    Hubble Space Telescope images from April 2015 show that the dwarf planet Makemake has a tiny moon.

    By Christopher Crockett
  11. Planetary Science

    Hubble telescope finds small moon orbiting dwarf planet Makemake

    Hubble Space Telescope images from April 2015 show that the dwarf planet Makemake has a tiny moon.

    By Christopher Crockett
  12. Animals

    How animal poop could be key in solving echidna mystery

    The western long-beaked echidna hasn’t been seen in Australia in 10,000 years. But DNA in scat could reveal its presence.

    By Sarah Zielinski