Could we prevent dementia? A new trial may point the way. Explainer - While much funding for dementia research goes toward treatments, some scientists want to reduce people's risk of developing the condition in the first place. Explainer

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Why Aug. 12 could be the greatest single day and night for skywatchers for years -- A solar eclipse, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, Venus at dichotomy and the Milky Way at its annual best will create one of 2026's best days for skywatching. -- Jamie Carter -- Published

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Sharks reveal their secret lives, coldest temperature recorded in Antarctica, geoglyphs hint at lost Amazonian civilization and why inflammation causes false memories. -- Science news this week -- August 1, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend -- Pandora Dewan

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'We are not giving up yet': Private mission to rescue NASA's Swift telescope is spinning out of control -- Katalyst Space's LINK spacecraft is recovering from an unexpected spin in orbit, and will need a little more time to rescue NASA's falling Swift observatory. -- Elizabeth Howell -- Published

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Astronomers accidentally discover 2 supernovas that exploded from a single star system -- Astronomers have identified a supernova remnant beside the well-known Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443), and evidence suggests both are the wreckage of two stars that once orbited each other before exploding separately. -- Olivia Maule -- Last updated

21 hours ago

IBM scientists claim they've achieved 'quantum advantage' - and they've dared others to prove them wrong -- Using IBM's quantum computer, scientists say they have shown in three different experiments that quantum computers can outpace classical machines in useful computations. -- Tristan Greene -- Published

23 hours ago

Alzheimer's blood tests are transforming how patients get diagnosed - here's what to know -- Explainer -- New tests for Alzheimer's are helping people who are at risk of dementia get clarity on their condition, Live Science reports from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London. -- RJ Mackenzie

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Scientists discover 2 new 'ghost' lineages that contributed DNA to modern humans -- A new method of analyzing modern humans' DNA is revealing secrets about our extinct ancestors. -- Charles Q. Choi -- Published

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Scientists put cameras on whale sharks for the first time and saw something they'd never seen before -- Animal-borne cameras have revealed that the world's largest fish spends far more time feeding below the surface than scientists realized. -- Olivia Maule -- Published

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500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the Americas -- Ancient DNA from Chilean mummies is the first ever molecular evidence that European colonizers brought smallpox to the Americas, decimating Indigenous populations. -- Olivia Ferrari -- Published

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40,000-year-old bird figurines the size of a thumbnail discovered in German cave -- Two newly discovered bird carvings reveal early humans' keen eye for artistry in the ice age world 40,000 years ago. -- Kristina Killgrove -- Published

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A unique antibody system may help explain bats' unusual tolerance of viruses -- Researchers found that vesper bats use two separate sets of genes to build antibodies ‪-‬ a rare evolutionary quirk that may give them different ways to fight infection. -- Kenna Hughes-Castleberry -- Published

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Lasers reveal hundreds of geoglyphs made by a mysterious civilization in the Amazon rainforest thousands of years ago -- A new lidar survey of dense Amazonian rainforest has revealed hundreds of earthworks made by a mysterious civilization two millennia ago. -- Kristina Killgrove -- Published

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Chinese rocket struck by lightning moments after launch in front of packed crowd (video) -- A Long March 3B rocket was struck by lightning in front of a packed crowd, around 30 seconds after lifting off from a Chinese spaceport. Despite this, the spacecraft survived its ascent and successfully deployed its payload in orbit. -- Harry Baker -- Published

2 days ago

Antarctica just experienced minus 119 F, Earth's coldest temperature since 2012 - here's why -- Too hot? Head to the Concordia research station in Antarctica, where "astronauts of ice" just experienced near-record-breaking cold. -- Patrick Pester -- Published

2 days ago

After 100-year hunt, scientists get their best look yet at Betelgeuse's secret sidekick -- A century-old mystery about the night sky's famous "shoulder star" may finally be solved, as astronomers capture the sharpest image yet of a small star tucked close beside the dying Betelgeuse. -- Olivia Maule -- Published

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Three galaxies in this cosmic string are missing a crucial component of the universe -- Astronomers have discovered a third galaxy without dark matter in a strange string of a dozen dwarf galaxies. A violent collision is likely to blame. -- Ivan Farkas -- Last updated

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Monkeys have a basic intuition for geometry, study suggests -- Baboons and macaques appear to use some of the same mental strategies as humans when matching shapes, suggesting that the foundations of geometry evolved in a common ancestor. -- Kenna Hughes-Castleberry -- Published

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Biological 'superspreader' event could be imminent as more than 1,000 ships idle in the Strait of Hormuz, scientists warn -- The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz may pose significant biosecurity hazards as well as economic impacts, with potentially devastating consequences for global ecosystems and human health. -- Pandora Dewan -- Published

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High-powered lasers can wirelessly charge drones mid-flight -- Chinese researchers have successfully charged a drone using just a laser, in a breakthrough that could change how we approach unmanned flight -- Rory Bathgate -- Published

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