Life Science

US national parks quiz: How many of the 63 can you name?

The U.S. is home to 63 national parks, which are areas of land protected by the federal government. How many of these parks can you name in our quiz?

Walvis Bay saltworks: The monster refinery in Namibia with colorful ponds that cover the land like patchwork

Walvis Bay in Namibia is home to the largest solar sea-salt production plant in sub-Saharan Africa. The plant is famous for its brightly colored evaporation ponds.

Next ice age would hit Earth in 11,000 years if it weren’t for climate change, scientists say

Scientists have determined exactly how Earth’s orbit and tilt affect glaciation and deglaciation, based on the length of these parameters’ cycles and clues hidden at the bottom of the ocean.

Most powerful cosmic rays in the universe start shockingly close to Earth, paper claims

The most powerful cosmic rays in the universe currently have no explanation. New research suggests that exotic, self-annihilating particles in our own galaxy may hold the answer.

The deadly ‘black fungus’ infection that decimates flesh

Most people are exposed to the fungi that cause mucormycosis regularly, but in certain individuals, these microbes can cause a potentially deadly infection.

Watch polar bear cubs emerge from their winter den for 1st time on Svalbard

For nearly a decade, researchers have gathered camera footage from outside the dens of female polar bears and their cubs on Svalbard, shedding light on the behaviors linked to denning.

Brewing tea can remove lead and other heavy metals from water, new study finds

Tea leaves can remove heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and chromium from water. And steeping time has the biggest impact.

Did a supernova 6 million years ago kickstart evolution in Africa? New study offers a clue.

A curious connection between an ancient supernova and virus diversification in one of Earth’s biggest lakes means that crazy cosmic events may have had more influence on our planet than we thought.

Death reported in Texas measles outbreak is 1st in US in a decade: What to know

An outbreak of measles in Texas has infected 124 people so far — 18 of whom have subsequently been hospitalized and one who has died.

‘Planet parade’ 2025: See the ultra-rare planetary alignment peak this week, before Saturn gets swallowed by the sunset

A stunning “parade of planets” will grace the night sky this week, with all seven of Earth’s celestial neighbors joining the show. Here’s how to spot it and why it happens.

Mars was once a ‘vacation-style’ beach planet, Chinese rover scans reveal

China’s Zhurong rover has found evidence of an ancient shoreline buried deep beneath the planet. That could point to an ocean, a beach, and to life.

Scientists made fake Martian dust — and found a big surprise about what makes Mars red

New research has revealed that Martian dust’s red hue comes from reactions that occurred in wet — not dry — conditions, and it could have implications for the possibility of life on the planet.

French scientists smash China’s ‘artificial sun’ fusion record by 25%

A new record for maintaining plasma burning inside a fusion reactor has been set in France, beating China’s previous benchmark by 25%.

Can you forget your native language?

Linguists give the lowdown on whether it is possible to forget your native language.

NASA supercomputer reveals strange spiral structure at the edge of our solar system

The mysterious Oort cloud is the source of many of our solar system’s comets, but astronomers still have no idea what it looks like. Now, new simulations may have given them a first glimpse.