Mar 20th, 2026 - A microscopic layer of environmental carbon solves a long-standing mystery about static electricity's true origins. When microscopic particles of sand, ash, or dust collide in the air, they often exchange a tiny electrical charge. This tiny spark of static electricity can sometimes drive massive natural phenomena, from the extraordinary distances traveled by Saharan dust storms to the spectacular lightning that crackles inside volcanic plumes. Physicists have previously struggled to explain exactly how this charging process works, particularly when the two materials rubbing together are ... [Read More]

Mar 20th, 2026 - When imagining wildlife encounters, people typically assume they need to be in a remote location. However, sometimes these encounters occur much closer to home than anticipated. One example is when a driver was making his way down the road when he stumbled upon a massive snake constricting around a young deer. Rather than ignoring the scene, the driver pulled over and saved the deer from the python's grasp. Driver Frees Deer From Python's Grasp AZ Animals shared some details surrounding the snake in the video. When thinking of a massive snake, the first snake that often comes to mind is the ... [Read More]

Mar 19th, 2026 - NASA readied its repaired Artemis II moon rocket for a return trip to the launch pad overnight Thursday, setting the stage for a delayed April 1 launch to send four astronauts on a historic nine-day flight around the moon and back. Mounted atop a powerful Apollo-era crawler-transporter, the 332-foot-tall Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and its mobile launch platform were expected to start inching out of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building around 8 p.m. EDT to begin the 4-mile, 12-hour trip to launch pad 39B. Once on the firing stand, NASA and contractor engineers and technicians will ... [Read More]

Mar 19th, 2026 - Your taste in music may feel unique, but there may be something more biologically innate driving your acoustic choices: A new study found that animals and humans tend to prefer many of the same mating calls. The results indicate that humans may be more attuned to animal sounds than scientists once thought—although it's unclear why. The natural world is a cacophony of squawks, screeches, coos, chirps, whinnies , grunts, growls, and more. And while humans can often discern animal distress calls or differentiate dog barks , many animal noises may seem inconsequential to the untrained ... [Read More]

Mar 19th, 2026 - Archaeologists have uncovered more than 43,000 ostraca, aka pottery shards and limestone flakes used for writing, at the Athribis site in Upper Egypt. Collectively, they provide us modern folk with reams of vivid detail of everyday ancient Egyptian life through a variety of notes, including ancient receipts for transactions. They were primarily written in Demotic script, a simplified cursive used in ancient Egypt for everyday writing, but they also included texts in Greek, hieroglyphic, Coptic, Arabic, and Hieratic. As for the subjects of all this writing, it's nothing monumental and ... [Read More]

Mar 19th, 2026 - Reading time 3 minutes In November 2025, a comet began disintegrating into pieces after a heated close encounter with the Sun. In a twist of fate, the Hubble space telescope happened to be observing the comet as it broke apart, capturing its demise in a series of images. "Sometimes the best science happens by accident," John Noonan, a research professor in the Department of Physics at Auburn University in Alabama and co-investigator of the event, said in a statement . "This comet got observed because our original comet was not viewable due to some new technical constraints after we won our ... [Read More]

Mar 19th, 2026 - University of Colorado Boulder researchers have discovered an appetite-suppressing compound in python blood that helps the snakes consume enormous meals and go months without eating yet remain metabolically healthy. The research, a collaboration with scientists at Stanford and Baylor universities, could inform new weight loss therapies that promote satiety without the nausea and muscle loss that can come with existing drugs. The findings appear in the journal Natural Metabolism on March 19. "This is a perfect example of nature-inspired biology," said senior author Leslie Leinwand, a ... [Read More]

Mar 19th, 2026 - It's quick and easy to access Live Science Plus, simply enter your email below. We'll send you a confirmation and sign you up for our daily newsletter, keeping you up to date with the latest science news. Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Get the Live Science Newsletter Get the world's most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful ... [Read More]