A sci-fi inspired tractor beam is real and could solve the looming space debris problem
Nothing heightens the tension in a science fiction movie more than watching the good guys’ spaceship get caught in an invisible tractor beam that slowly engulfs the villains. But what was once just a sci-fi staple could soon become a reality. Scientists are developing a real-life tractor beam called an electrostatic tractor. However, this tractor […]
This new DNA storage system can fit 10 billion songs in one liter of liquid, but challenges remain with this specialized storage format
US biotech company Atlas Data Storage has launched a synthetic DNA storage system that can hold 1,000 times more data than traditional magnetic tape. The product, called Atlas Eon 100, claims to store humanity’s “irreplaceable archive” for thousands of years. These include master versions of family photographs, scientific data, corporate records, cultural artifacts, digital artworks, […]
A new fentanyl vaccine is entering human trials — here’s how it works
A vaccine to block the effects of fentanyl, including overdose, is expected to enter human trials in the coming months, possibly leading to the first-ever active treatment for opioid use disorder. Initial trials will focus on evaluating the safety of the vaccine, which was originally developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. The […]
How many holes does the human body have?
The human body is very complex, with several openings and several exits. But exactly how many holes does a person have? This seems like an easy question to answer. List job information and add them up. However, when you start thinking about questions like “What exactly is a hole?”, it’s not so simple. “Do openings […]
AI is getting better at generating faces, but it can be trained to spot fakes
Facial images generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are so realistic that it is only by chance that even an elite group of “super-recognizers” with extremely powerful facial processing abilities can detect fake faces. People with typical cognitive abilities are worse than chance, most of the time assuming that AI-generated faces are real. This is according […]
6 ‘lost’ cities that archaeologists have yet to discover
Archaeologists are busy unearthing lost civilizations, but they haven’t found everything. There are still prominent ancient cities, such as capitals of great kingdoms and empires, that have not yet been excavated by scholars. We know about these cities because they are described in ancient texts, but their locations can be lost over time. In some […]
Eye denture surgery, ‘blood chimerism’ and pregnancy from oral sex: 12 bad medical cases we covered in 2025
Each week, Live Science features interesting case reports from the medical literature, exploring unusual symptoms, rarely seen diagnoses, and ready-to-use treatments. This Diagnostic Dilemma series describes how doctors work to finally discover the cause of a patient’s illness. In complex cases, this diagnostic process can be very difficult. One reason doctors share case reports is […]
10 things we learned about our ancestors in 2025
Our understanding of how our species evolved has improved dramatically since we began analyzing ancient DNA. This year, researchers made impressive discoveries spanning 3 million years of human evolution, most of which relied on DNA, genome, or proteomic analyses. Here are 10 major discoveries about human ancestors and ancient relatives that scientists will announce in […]
Winter constellations that are easy to find even for beginners
On a clear winter night, the sky looks like a starry blanket, but it’s not a blanket, it’s a map. Constellations are signposts to the stars, simple stick figures that turn randomly scattered points of light into things you can recognize, remember, and navigate. Just learn a few things and the whole winter sky will […]
Flat-headed cat not seen in Thailand for 30 years rediscovered
Researchers have photographed a rare cat in Thailand that has not been seen in the country for about 30 years. And it’s so adorable. The flathead cat (Prionailurus planiceps), named for its flat forehead, is scattered across Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, but was feared to be extinct in Thailand. Researchers rediscovered the cat in Thailand’s […]