Most people picture aliens as little green humanoids with big eyes, but that’s not exactly helpful. Neil deGrasse Tyson, a well-known scientist, has a different idea. He thinks we’re way too stuck on Hollywood versions of extraterrestrials. In reality, life out there could look nothing like us—or ev
Back in the 1800s, two scientists named Hansen and Neisser both studied leprosy. Hansen published findings first, naming the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. Neisser followed a year later, but never said Hansen was wrong or ignored his work. Yet over time, a story grew that Neisser tried to take credi
Most people see the Moon as a gray rock hanging in the sky. But four astronauts just spent ten days looking at it from a hundred miles away—and returned with stories that surprised even the scientists who trained them. Instead of seeing a flat, colorless surface, the crew noticed subtle browns, gree
In cities, the air isn’t just made of oxygen and dust. It carries invisible bits of plastic—some so small they can travel deep into our lungs. These tiny plastic pieces, called inhalable microplastics, don’t just float around randomly. New research shows their numbers change throughout the day and d
Scientists recently corrected a key research paper about brain cells called microglia. These tiny cells act like the brain’s cleanup crew and defense team mixed together. Instead of being identical, they switch between different roles depending on what the brain needs at the time. This flexibility h
Over two thousand researchers signed a letter last week warning that getting rid of the National Science Board weakens America’s position against countries like China. The board, created in 1950, used to guide how taxpayer money supports science and engineering research. Its twenty-plus members, app
The Michigan Science Center is turning a fourth-floor gallery into something unusual—a life-sized cardboard maze inspired by Detroit’s neighborhoods and landmarks. Opening in early May, the exhibit isn’t just a fun challenge; it’s a creative way to blend art, engineering, and local pride. Built enti
Last month, federal officials hit pause on at least 18 research grants at UC Berkeley, despite a judge just months ago telling them to stop canceling grants. One of those frozen was a $1. 4-million project at the Lawrence Hall of Science that trains Ohlone youth to build mixed-reality exhibits about
Animation has always been a playground for bold sci-fi ideas, and the last five years proved no different. Some of these films take viewers on wild space adventures, while others dive deep into personal struggles within futuristic worlds. One standout is a tale about robots and dogs in 1980s New Yor
Scientists recently tested a fresh approach to fighting depression in mice by pairing a natural compound with brain stimulation. They wanted to see if two different methods could work better together than alone. First, they stressed out mice to mimic human depression. Then, they split the animals in
