In this news roundup, we cover outbreak updates, microbes in space and a brain turned to glass.

Some songs get stuck in our head more than others, and scientists have uncovered what makes them so irresistible.

We look back on about 11 years of the Gaia spacecraft, now at the end of its mission to create the best map of the Milky Way.

In this week’s news roundup, we cover activity from the black hole at our galaxy’s center and a troubling measles outbreak in Texas.

Humans have a surprising lack of hair for mammals. Biological anthropology may provide insights into why the hair we have sometimes comes out curly.

Journalist Carl Zimmer chats about aerobiology and his new book Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe.

Valentine’s Day often focuses on romance, but deep friendships deserve love, too. Here’s why they matter.

News of an asteroid with a 2 percent chance of hitting Earth in 2032 made headlines. But is its fluctuating risk really cause for concern?

In this week’s roundup, we’re reviewing some animal research, the latest on bird flu and the burden of microplastics on our brain.

Researchers in the U.S. are grappling with Trump administration executive orders around health and science agency funding and communications.

Outrage fatigue can wear us down—but we can take care of ourselves in an onslaught of overwhelming news.

In this week’s roundup, catch up on the spread of bird flu in the U.S., a tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas and lessons from fossilized vomit.

Giving in to cynicism makes us less trusting, less connected, and even less physically and mentally healthy.

There’s a Lot to Be Excited About in Heliophysics This Year

A rundown on what’s at stake for global health if the U.S. withdraws from the World Health Organization and an update on bird flu are in this week’s science news roundup.

The founder of Adventure Scientists explains how community science is the ultimate civic engagement.

A U.S. federal court struck down the FCC’s enforcement of net neutrality. What does that mean for Internet users?

We discuss a big week for commercial spaceflight, a red dye ban and a scary spider species in this news roundup.

Linguists think that the words that we use to express pain might tell us something about our shared biology and the commonality of language.

Slow, Disjointed Response to Bird Flu Outbreak Could Allow Disease to Spread

The Reason Wildfires in L.A. Were So Destructive and an Update on Public Health Outbreaks

Pluto was unseated as the ninth planet in our solar system. Will we find a real Planet Nine?

Nature can affect our nervous system and diversify our microbiome—and you don’t need to go on a hike to reap the benefits.

We’re closing out the year with a roundup of the science stories that stood out to our editors in 2024.

There are so many species facing extinction—but today we’re telling stories about the animals making a comeback and the conservationists working hard to help.