Muon magnetism could hint at a breakdown of physics’ standard model
A mysterious magnetic property of subatomic particles called muons hints that new fundamental particles may be lurking undiscovered. In a painstakingly precise experiment, muons’...
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Europe’s oldest known humans mated with Neandertals surprisingly often
When some of the earliest human migrants to Europe encountered Neandertals already living there around 45,000 years ago, hookups flourished. Analyses of DNA found...
People add by default even when subtraction makes more sense
Picture a bridge made of Legos. One side has three support pieces, the other two. How would you stabilize the bridge? Most people would...
Tiny crystals give a plain fish twinkling, colorful dots under light
As light shines steadily on a silver slip of a fish, minuscule dots on the fish start flashing: blue, yellow, blue, yellow. The bodies...
Yawning helps lions synchronize their groups’ movements
Watch a group of lions yawn, and it may seem like nothing more than big, lazy cats acting sleepy, but new research suggests that...
‘Pipe Dreams’ flushes out hope in an unexpected place: the toilet
Pipe DreamsChelsea WaldAvid Reader Press, $27 Everyone poops. But not everyone has a safe, sanitary place to do it. What’s more, existing wastewater treatments...
A spike in Arctic lightning strikes may be linked to climate change
Climate change may be sparking more lightning in the Arctic. Data from a worldwide network of lightning sensors suggest that the frequency of lightning...
New depictions of ancient hominids aim to overcome artistic biases
Depictions of extinct human ancestors and cousins are often more art than science. Take, for example, two reconstructions of the Taung child, a 2.8-million-year-old...
Newly made laser-cooled antimatter could test foundations of modern physics
For the first time, physicists have used lasers to deep-freeze antimatter. In a new experiment, an ultraviolet laser quelled the thermal jitters of antihydrogen...
Microscopic images reveal the science and beauty of face masks
Studying fabrics at very high magnification helps determine how some face masks filter out particles better than others. And the close-ups reveal an unseen...
‘One step away from famine’: Inside Afghanistan’s hunger crisis 
Bangladesh: UNICEF chief calls for an end to child marriage 
Rule breaking by just a few people can be contagious 
Yemen war continues to force families from homes amid hunger and disease