Surprising Science

In NASA’s new view of the heliosphere, the magnetic field lines (in red and blue) create a foamy layer of magnetic bubbles at the far edge

Bubbles of Magnetism at the End of the Solar System

NASA's Voyager spacecraft have found a foamy layer at the edge of the heliosphere

The European hamster is bigger than the petstore variety and has a black belly

To Save a French Hamster

A European Union court has ruled that France should be doing more to protect the Great Hamster of Alsace

Trees grow at high elevations in the Rockies, fed by melting snow.

Rocky Mountains Losing Their Snow

A new study finds an unprecedented decline in snowpack in the West

Colin Firth, a king AND a scientist.

Colin Firth: Actor. Writer. Academy Award Winner. Scientist?

The star of the King's Speech is the co-author on a paper examining political orientation and brain structure

Can a letter in your name truly affect your purchasing habits?

Does Your Last Name Affect Your Buying Habits?

Researchers claim that people with names at the end of the alphabet respond more quickly to purchasing opportunities

Unofficially, the periodic table goes up to element 118.

Meet the New Elements

It’s official: Elements 114 and 116 do exist and belong on the periodic table

A population of the wicker ancylid limpet (insert, not to scale) was found recently in Choccolocco Creek in Alabama.

Alabama Snail Returns From the Dead

The wicker ancylid, declared extinct in 2000, has been found alive and well in Choccolocco Creek

A sunspot is bigger than the Earth, as demonstrated in this colorized image.

The Source of the Sun’s Dark Spots

A new study provides insight into how convection creates sunspots

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Watch a Trombone’s Shock Wave

Scientists have generated the first video of a shock wave from a trombone

A bar-headed goose flies over India

The Goose That Flies Over the Himalayas

The bar-headed goose spends its winters at sea level in India and its summers in central Asia

Feral cats can roam over great distances, a new study finds.

The Secret Lives of Feral Cats

Free-roaming, unowned kitties live differently from our beloved pets

Scientists use satellite images of the kelp canopy (here, as seen from underwater) to track this important ecosystem over time.

A New View Into California’s Kelp Forests

Satellite imagery is providing new insight into an important ecosystem just off the California coast

Most fatal black bear attacks are carried out by hungry males

How To Avoid Being Eaten By A Black Bear

A recent study of fatal black bear attacks shows that hungry males are the ones to really worry about

What bits of the universe are legal to own?

A Quick Guide to Owning the Universe

If someone tries to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge, you know it's a hoax. But what about a meteorite, moon or star?

Llamas can still be found at Machu Picchu today.

The Secret to Machu Picchu’s Success: Llama Poop

The Incas used llama dung as fertilizer to grow maize, and fuel an empire

A model of estimated fault slip for the March 2011 Japanese earthquake.

What Scientists Are Learning About the 2011 Japanese Earthquake

What scientists are learning from "the best recorded earthquake ever" could help prepare for future ones

Black-footed ferrets at the National Zoo

Black-Footed Ferrets and Other Endangered Critters

The subject of endangered species can be a depressing one, but there are also many reasons to be hopeful

A mummified princess from Thebes (known as Luxor during her time) is the earliest person known to have had coronary heart disease

Ancient Egyptian Princess Had Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease isn't just a modern problem--even the ancient Egyptians suffered from it

A guanaco in Chile

Vegetation Determines Animal Migration Patterns

Scientists show that patterns in vegetation across a species' range determine whether and how it moves

The Great Barrier Reef

Ocean Acidification and the Battle Between Coral and Seaweed

Ocean acidification creates plenty of potential problems for life in the oceans, but corals might have it the worst

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