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.

Modern conservationists are finding new ways to protect wildlife.

Conservationists have access to massive amounts of data on wildlife—and machine learning is helping them make meaning out of them.

Though it may seem paradoxical, zoos can play a big role in modern conservation efforts.

Translating complex information into captivating podcasts is no simple task. Is AI up to the challenge?

A Mysterious Outbreak, Leaded Gasoline Links to Mental Illness, Killer Whales Wearing Salmon as Hats

Underdiagnosed iron deficiency and anemia could be leaving people without affordable fixes for their concerns.

“America’s Doctor” says that our common enemy is the danger posed by viruses, not each other

Holiday deals are designed to be irresistible. A consumer psychologist explains how to avoid overconsumption and shop sustainably.

RFK, Jr., could restructure the CDC, FDA and NIH in pursuit of his flawed vision of public health. Plus, we discuss chimpanzees at play and the first-ever close-up image of a star.

Could Chatbots Bring Ancient Civilizations Back to Life?

C-Section Disparities Could Be the Result of Physician Bias

A serious bird flu infection in Canada, a troubling projection of future plastic waste and dispatches from a global climate convention.

On the 50th anniversary of the “Arecibo message,” we present a reflection on humankind’s first attempt to send a transmission to intelligent life in the cosmos.

Violins, the ink on the Declaration of Independence and other ways that insects shaped human history

Let's Do a Science News Roundup

Focusing on size in health care might be doing more harm than good.

In medieval times, astrology was considered a serious science, a branch of astronomy. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum, walks us through the medieval zodiac and how someone’s sign decided their day-to-day life.