The detection of life beyond Earth would be one of the most profound discoveries in the history of science. The Milky Way galaxy alone hosts hundreds of millions of potentially habitable planets[1]. Astronomers are using powerful space telescopes[2] to look for molecular indicators of biology in the atmospheres of the most Earth-like of these...
Study shows surge of imagery and fakes can precede international and political violence
Imagine a country with deep political divisions, where different groups don’t trust each other and violence seems likely. Now, imagine a flood of political images, hateful memes and mocking videos from domestic and foreign sources taking over social media. What is likely to happen next?
The widespread use of social media during times of...
Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur
Curious Kids[1] is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [2]. Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies like other animals? – Murilo, age 5, Brazil Have you ever wondered why you don’t have thick hair covering your whole body
... Scientists found a potential sign of life on a distant planet – an astronomer explains why many are still skeptical
A team of astronomers announced on April 16, 2025, that in the process of studying a planet around another star, they had found evidence[1] for an unexpected atmospheric gas. On Earth, that gas – called dimethyl sulfide – is mostly produced by living organisms.
In April 2024, the James Webb Space Telescope[2] stared at the host star...