Tsunami researchers hunt for clues about the next big Pacific Northwest quake

A massive earthquake will one day rattle the Pacific Northwest. Minutes to hours later, a surge of seawater will swallow the land. No one knows when.

By Carolyn Y. JohnsonDecember 2, 2024

Study shows mountain lions are changing to adapt to human recreation

Mountain lions living in the busiest recreation areas were more nocturnal than their counterparts, the researchers found.

By Erin BlakemoreDecember 1, 2024

Animations of coiled hair for Black film characters improve with new algorithms

New algorithms allow for more realistic coily hair animation, enhancing the representation of Black characters in film.

By Lizette OrtegaNovember 30, 2024

Orcas have learned how to hunt and kill huge whale sharks, video shows

Off the coast of Mexico, scientists have observed a pod of killer whales adapting new skills to help them hunt these docile giants of the sea.

By Rachel PannettNovember 29, 2024

Rare footprints suggest two of our prehistoric ancestors may have met

The footprints are the first clear evidence that the two hominin species shared a habitat, raising questions about whether their interactions shaped human evolution.

By Leo SandsNovember 28, 2024

From fossil dung, scientists reconstruct the rise of the dinosaurs

The research has shed light on the emergence of large dinosaurs and their geographic spread, as well as the role of environmental changes in their evolution.

By Carolyn Y. JohnsonNovember 27, 2024

‘Surreal’ video shows stealthy killer whales gliding past downtown Vancouver

A ferry captain captured the stunning moment a family of killer whales, or orcas, came within 10 feet of the boat in downtown Vancouver.

By Naomi SchanenNovember 26, 2024

Bear cub that was harassed, posed for photos is returned to the wild

In April, a group of people in Asheville, North Carolina, were filmed pulling the cub from a tree to pose with it for photos, at one point dropping the frightened animal.

By Praveena SomasundaramNovember 24, 2024

Denmark signs international agreement on responsible space exploration

Artemis Accords signatories commit to peaceful space exploration, with an emphasis on scientific research and sustainability.

By Erin BlakemoreNovember 24, 2024

Child dead, 11 people infected by listeria linked to ready-to-eat meat brand

Yu Shang Food items including beef shank and chicken feet have been recalled amid a listeria outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

By Adela SulimanNovember 23, 2024

Trump picks former congressman Dave Weldon of Florida to lead CDC

The medical doctor has been a vocal critic of the agency, especially its vaccine program.

By Lena H. SunNovember 22, 2024

Meet Lucy, the celebrity of fossils, who changed our view of evolution

A collection of 3-million-year-old bones unearthed 50 years ago in Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins.

By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Manuel Canales, William Neff and Carson TerBushNovember 22, 2024

Mysterious chemical byproduct in U.S. tap water finally identified

Scientists have identified the byproduct of a chemical used to disinfect tap water and prevent waterborne illnesses. Researchers urge testing for toxicity.

By Carolyn Y. Johnson and Joel AchenbachNovember 21, 2024

Nearly 1,000 mice arrive, and an animal shelter scurries to find them homes

The New Hampshire SPCA is overwhelmed by the surrender of hundreds of rodents: “They’re everywhere.”

By Jiselle LeeNovember 20, 2024

CDC warns of infection spread via body lice in homeless populations

Papers from the CDC highlights public health concerns over the difficulty of identifying and treating B. quintana among homeless populations.

By Mark Johnson and Sabrina MalhiNovember 20, 2024

Calling bird watchers: New ‘EagleCam’ shows ‘intimate lives’ of bald eagles

A camera in Minnesota will follow a pair of bald eagles as they make their nest and raise chicks. A previous eagle pair’s nest collapsed in a storm in 2023.

By Annabelle TimsitNovember 20, 2024

Scientists study 35,000-year-old saber-toothed kitten frozen in Siberia

The frozen cub was about 3 weeks old with brown fur and broad paws for walking on snow. The first of its kind study showed “significant differences” to a baby lion.

By Rachel PannettNovember 17, 2024

Scientists discover unusual new bacteria in deep-sea coral

Marine biologists found the new bacteria in the tissue of two soft coral species that live in complete darkness in the Gulf of Mexico.

By Erin BlakemoreNovember 17, 2024

Man caught trying to smuggle hundreds of tarantulas on a plane

In addition to the spiders, the South Korean traveler also had 110 centipedes and nine bullet ants in containers taped to his body, Peruvian authorities said.

By Andrew JeongNovember 16, 2024

ChatGPT is a poet. A new study shows people prefer its verses.

A new study finds that people prefer poems written by ChatGPT, a chatbot, over those written by human writers.

By Carolyn Y. JohnsonNovember 14, 2024