Page Updated: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 2:26 PM ET

Live Science - Science

Watch now! The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse has begun (live stream) Today (Aug. 12), a total solar eclipse will swoop across a narrow path of totality, while millions of people in North America and Europe will be treated to a partial eclipse. Watch it live right here. the-sun

50 minutes ago

Nocturnal dodo? Study suggests we were very wrong about Mauritius' iconic flightless bird -- Researchers continue to rage against the dumb-dodo myth with more evidence that the iconic flightless bird was smarter than early accounts suggest ‪-‬ and might have even been nocturnal. -- Patrick Pester -- Published

50 minutes ago

New 'magnetoelastic' tent generates electricity from wind, body movement and sound to power small devices -- A magnetoelastic tent concept could one day turn wind, movement and fabric flexing into usable electricity. -- Alan Bradley -- Published

6 hours ago

Genetics triggers male black widows to blackflip into death, study finds -- A wild cannibalistic sexual behavior in spiders has a simple genetic explanation, new study finds. -- Stephanie Pappas -- Published

7 hours ago

Astronomers drop one of the largest-ever maps of the universe, charting 4 billion objects -- A new celestial map not only catalogs a variety of cosmic objects but also serves as a pointer for other telescopes on Earth and in space. -- Elizabeth Howell -- Published

3 hours ago

Neanderthals passed on a gene that helps modern humans pack on more muscle - but only a few people have it -- Neanderthals passed along a gene variant to modern humans that can make some people buff, a new study finds. -- Tom Metcalfe -- Published

22 hours ago

New AI chip mimics the human brain's capacity for split-second motor control - it solved problems using 10,000 times fewer calculations -- A new brain-inspired device is designed to kick AI systems into gear only when they detect something unusual. Could it reduce dependence on power-guzzling data centers? -- Owen Hughes -- Published

23 hours ago

Perseid meteor shower 2026: What it is, where to see it, and how to watch -- The 2026 Persied meteor shower could be the best one in years, thanks to a new moon that will also cause a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12. -- Jamie Carter -- Last updated

23 hours ago

'Like a jail door slamming': Male sperm whales' mysterious rhythmic clanging is the loudest communication sound of any animal -- Researchers have studied a mysterious rhythmic clanging noise produced by male sperm whales. -- Patrick Pester -- Published

1 day ago

FDA's approval of new mRNA vaccine does not necessarily signal the government's embrace of the technology, experts say -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an mRNA-based vaccine for influenza. Live Science asked experts what that means for the future of mRNA vaccines in the U.S. -- Nicoletta Lanese

22 hours ago

2,400-year-old grave of possible ancient pro wrestler discovered in Turkey -- A tomb excavated in Aspendos, Turkey, revealed a skeleton buried with several coins featuring ancient wrestlers. -- Kristina Killgrove -- Published

1 day ago

'Now our lives have changed': Drop in coal burning is helping the African Sahel turn green after decades of drought -- Warming has brought extreme rain to the parched Sahel, which is seeing aquifers refill as monsoons grow stronger. But heavier downpours alone cannot explain the groundwater revival, say hydrologists, who believe efforts to harvest rainfall may also be paying dividends. -- Fred Pearce -- Published

1 day ago

Using AI has an environmental impact - here are 4 ways you can minimize it -- Escalating use of tools like Gemini and ChatGPT saps more and more power. Experts offer some tips on how to consume less. -- Knowable Magazine -- Published

3 days ago

Where and when to see the Aug. 12 solar eclipse - exact times for North America and Europe -- Here's exactly when and where to watch the Aug. 12, 2026 solar eclipse in Europe, North America and North Africa. -- Jamie Carter -- Published

4 days ago

When does August's full Sturgeon Moon rise? (And when to see it eclipsed) -- When does the next full moon rise? Find out exactly when to see the full moons of 2026, including the full "Sturgeon Moon" lunar eclipse in August. -- Jamie Carter -- Last updated

4 days ago

Bacterial 'postbiotic' may help preserve fertility in the aging uterus, preliminary research suggests -- A bacteria-derived "postbiotic" may help restore the aging uterus, but experts say it is too early to know whether it could improve fertility as a treatment. -- Isha Ishtiaq -- Published

4 days ago

New recyclable yarn is as stretchy as spandex and could help tackle fashion's plastic waste problem -- A new yarn combines the stretch of spandex with the recyclability of a single plastic, offering a potential path toward more sustainable clothing. -- Olivia Maule -- Published

5 days ago

NASA grants Voyager 2 another year of power with risky 'Big Bang' maneuver -- Voyager 1 is running low on power for science, but a successful energy-saving maneuver on Voyager 2 raises hope that the 50-year-old spacecraft can keep going. -- Elizabeth Howell -- Published

5 days ago

AI found a weakness in one of the world's most studied encryption systems - is your data under threat? -- No, AI hasn't cracked the encryption protecting your bank account. But experts say Anthropic's latest research could change how tomorrow's cryptography is tested. -- Carly Page

5 days ago

Scientists reveal most-detailed-ever view of the sun's surface -- For the first time, scientists have directly observed a 150-year-old predicted phenomenon on the sun's surface that could explain why the sun's atmosphere is far hotter than its surface. -- Olivia Maule -- Published

5 days ago