The forces of rotation caused red hot masses of stones to be torn away from the Earth and to be thrown into the ether, and this is the origin of the stars.

— Anaxagoras 428 BC

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Updated: 10 hours 7 min ago

These Actions Could Make Vaccines Safer. But RFK, Jr., Isn’t Pursuing Them

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 3:00pm

Vaccines are safe, but they could always be safer—here’s what would make a difference

Categories: Astronomy

A Gigantic Megacomet Is Erupting as It Zooms through the Solar System

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 12:15pm

Recent observations have revealed carbon monoxide venting from the largest comet ever seen, providing clues about its origins in the mysterious depths of the outer solar system

Categories: Astronomy

Heat Domes Are Hotter and Lingering Longer—Because of the Arctic

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 11:15am

A rapidly warming Arctic is driving long-lasting summer extremes, such as this month’s sweltering temperatures, new research suggests

Categories: Astronomy

Math Enthusiasts Unite to Have Rover Calculate Pi on the Moon

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 6:45am

Later this year a tiny rover will carry out an unusual lunar task

Categories: Astronomy

What Is Thimerosal? Why Most Vaccines Don’t Contain Mercury Anymore

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 5:30pm

Thimerosal, which contains an organic compound of mercury, has mostly been phased out as a preservative for vaccines. Here’s how we know it is safe and why we still use it in some vaccines given to adults

Categories: Astronomy

Archaeologists Recreate Prehistoric Tools to Build a Canoe for 140-Mile Ocean Voyage

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 3:20pm

Researchers and expert seafarers teamed up to re-create an ocean journey from more than 30,000 years ago

Categories: Astronomy

Use Summer Break to Build Closer Bonds with Your Children

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm

The kids are out of school, and some of the pressures may be off. Here’s how you can further connect with them to make next year a little easier

Categories: Astronomy

Trump Administration Ousts National Science Foundation from Headquarters Building

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 10:25am

Employees at the National Science Foundation say they’ve been blindsided by a plan for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to take over their offices

Categories: Astronomy

Sexual Synesthesia Paints the World in Color at the Moment of Orgasm

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 9:30am

Scientists are just beginning to document sexual synesthesia, a phenomenon that can bring consciousness-altering washes of color and fantastical scenes at the moment of orgasm

Categories: Astronomy

A Sodom and Gomorrah Story Shows Scientific Facts Aren’t Settled by Public Opinion

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 8:00am

Claims that an asteroid or comet airburst destroyed the biblical Sodom captured the public’s imagination. Its retraction shows that scientific conclusions aren’t decided by majority rule in the public square

Categories: Astronomy

When Do Babies Become Conscious?

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 8:00am

Answering the question of when consciousness emerges is deeply tied to the mystery of what it actually is and how it can be measured

Categories: Astronomy

See Vaccine Recommendations Backed by Science in These Handy Charts

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 7:00am

These graphics will guide you through science-based vaccine guidelines for children and adults

Categories: Astronomy

How Bird Flu Went from Devastating Poultry Farms to Infecting Dairy Herds

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 6:00am

The bird flu was long known to poultry farmers. Here’s why the dairy industry was caught off guard by its jump to cattle.

Categories: Astronomy

How Perfectionism Hurts Parents and Their Kids

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 2:30pm

New research highlights the risks and occasional rewards of parental perfectionism

Categories: Astronomy

How to Keep Your Home Cool in Extreme Heat

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:45pm

When extreme heat arrives, here are science-based tips to keep your home cool, from the most efficient way to use air conditioning to strategic uses of fans

Categories: Astronomy

Did the U.S. Really Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program?

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 12:00pm

Nuclear policy specialist David Albright explains how his organization is monitoring for damage to nuclear sites following U.S. and Israeli strikes

Categories: Astronomy

Dark Matter ‘Droplets’ Could Solve Multiple Cosmic Mysteries

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 11:00am

Inspired by superconductivity, a strange new theory that seeks to explain dark matter might explain dark energy, too

Categories: Astronomy

To Make Better Choices, Understand How Your Brain Processes Values

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 9:00am

The brain weighs factors based on their importance to oneself and one’s social world as part of a complex calculation that shapes behavior

Categories: Astronomy

The Hidden Game Theory of Sherlock Holmes

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 8:00am

In the early 20th century, a mathematician and economist sought the optimal strategy for Holmes to escape Moriarty’s pursuit

Categories: Astronomy

NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft, Exploring Solar System Origins, Is Back on Track after Thrusters Lost Power

Mon, 06/23/2025 - 5:30pm

This explorer spacecraft is heading to a rare asteroid with a naked metal core. It could hold clues to how Earth began

Categories: Astronomy