Nature
The 2-Pound Dinosaur That Rewrote the Rules of Miniaturization
A nearly complete skeleton from Patagonia shows that alvarezsaurs shrank before they specialized, upending a core assumption about how evolution works.
Casey Cooper/
Latest Stories
Ideas
You're on Autopilot More Than You Think
A new study found that 65% of daily behaviors are habitual and 88% are executed without conscious thought. The science of why your brain prefers shortcuts, and what that means for change.
Answers
Why Are Teens Sleeping Less Than Ever? It's Not Just Screens.
A new JAMA study found nearly one in four teens sleeps five hours or less per night, up from 16% in 2007, and screens aren't the main driver. Here's what the research actually shows.
Answers
When Does Daylight Saving Time Start in 2026?
Daylight saving time starts Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2 a.m., when clocks spring forward one hour. Here's what you need to know about the change, its health effects, and how to adjust.
What Happens to HBO Max and Paramount+ After the Merger?
Paramount is buying Warner Bros. Discovery. Here's what that means for your Max subscription, your Paramount+ account, and your wallet.
The Hell Heron: How a Blade-Crested Spinosaur Is Rewriting Dinosaur History
A 95-million-year-old predator with the tallest head crest of any dinosaur has been found deep in the Sahara, far from any ancient ocean.
Topic Discovery
Curated deep dives on topics that matter to you.
Science
More Science
Fusion Reactors Might Accidentally Create Dark Matter
A new theoretical method shows that the ITER fusion reactor could produce detectable axion-like particles as a byproduct, offering a cheaper path to solving one of physics' biggest mysteries.
Twisted Magnets: The New Magnetic State Hidden in Atom-Thin Crystals
Rotating ultra-thin chromium iodide layers by a fraction of a degree created a magnetic state never seen before, hosting stable skyrmions.
CRISPR's New Trick: Gene Drives That Disarm Superbugs From the Inside
UC San Diego researchers have built a CRISPR-based system that spreads through bacterial populations and strips out antibiotic resistance genes, turning superbugs back into treatable infections.
The Universe May End in a Big Crunch
New dark energy data from two hemispheres suggest our cosmos has a 33-billion-year lifespan, with a dramatic collapse already baked into the physics.
History
More History
40,000 Years Before Writing, Ice Age Hunters Had Their Own Sign System
A computational analysis of 3,000 carved marks on Aurignacian artifacts reveals a 22-symbol inventory with rule-governed placement, pushing structured symbolic communication back 10,000 years.
Alexandria on the Tigris: Rediscovering Alexander the Great's Lost Desert City
Archaeologists have identified the remains of Charax Spasinou, a massive port city founded during Alexander's campaigns that controlled nearly all maritime trade entering Mesopotamia for 600 years.
Inside an Ice Age Hunter's Pouch: What 29 Stone Tools Reveal About a Life 30,000 Years Ago
A tightly packed cluster of blades found in the Czech Republic preserves the complete personal gear of a single Gravettian hunter, offering one of archaeology's rarest glimpses into individual Stone Age life.
The Daughters of Catalhoyuk: DNA Reveals the World's Oldest Known Female-Centered Society
Genetic analysis of 131 skeletons from a 9,000-year-old Turkish settlement proves that the earliest farming communities organized around mothers, not fathers.
Culture
More Culture
The Invention of the Weekend
The two-day weekend is barely a century old, born from factory strikes, religious bargains, and one automaker's radical bet. Now the gig economy is quietly dismantling it.
The Year of the Fire Horse: Why 2026 Has Some in Japan Worried
In 1966, Japan's birth rate plummeted 25% because of a centuries-old superstition about women born in Fire Horse years. As 2026 begins another such year, will history repeat?
The Year We Stopped Pretending to Be Online
In 2026, performative offline became the new performative online. How micro-communities and authentic connection are replacing the algorithm-driven feed.
The Cultural Exhaustion of Always Being Online
After a decade of documenting everything, people are finally putting down their phones. Welcome to the social exit, 2026's quiet rebellion against constant connectivity.
Technology
More Technology
What Is Apple's iPhone 17e? Everything to Know
Apple's budget iPhone gets Dynamic Island, MagSafe, and a faster chip. Here's what the iPhone 17e offers and who should consider upgrading.
ChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini: Which AI Chatbot to Use
A practical comparison of the three leading AI chatbots in 2026, with honest recommendations for who should use which and when.
What Is DeepSeek? The Chinese AI Rival Taking on ChatGPT
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company whose models rival ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost. Here's what it does, how it works, and whether you should try it.
The Brain-Inspired Chips That Just Solved Physics Problems
Sandia National Laboratories showed that neuromorphic computers, hardware designed to mimic the human brain, can solve the same equations as massive supercomputers at a fraction of the energy cost.
Nature
More Nature
How Parasites Rewire Their Hosts' Brains
From zombie ants to fearless rats, parasites have evolved astonishingly precise methods of neural hijacking that challenge our understanding of free will and behavior.
The Underground Cities Waiting on the Moon and Mars
Lava tubes beneath the lunar and Martian surfaces could be large enough to shelter entire settlements. Robots are already learning to explore them.
How Microplastics Are Weakening the Ocean's Climate Defense
The ocean absorbs billions of tons of CO2 annually, our biggest ally against climate change. New research shows microplastics may be disrupting this critical process.
Rats Are Hunting Bats, and Scientists Are Stunned
In German caves, researchers filmed rats standing upright and snatching bats from the air. It's changing what we know about rodent behavior.
Ideas
More Ideas
Active Forgetting: Why Your Brain Deletes Memories on Purpose
Forgetting isn't a failure of memory. It's a deliberate neural process, powered by dopamine and fine-tuned by evolution, that keeps your brain functional.
When the Sun Disappears: Eclipses Between Science and Myth
An annular solar eclipse arrives February 17. For thousands of years, eclipses stopped wars, toppled kings, and drove scientific revolutions. The ring of fire still has stories to tell.
Why We Overestimate Ourselves When AI Helps Us Think
New research reveals a troubling pattern: AI tools improve our performance while simultaneously making us believe we're even better than we actually are.
The Fermi Paradox Sixty Years Later: New Answers to 'Where Is Everybody?'
Enrico Fermi's lunchtime question has haunted scientists for decades. With thousands of exoplanets now discovered, we're finally getting closer to an answer, and it might not be the one we wanted.
Answers
More Answers
How to Prepare Your Home for Spring Allergy Season
Start now to reduce spring allergy symptoms at home. Evidence-based strategies from allergists, plus the medications that actually work.
How to Start Seeds Indoors for Spring Gardening
A beginner's guide to starting vegetable and flower seeds indoors, with timing, supplies, and the mistakes that kill most seedlings.
Did DOGE Actually Cut Government Spending?
DOGE claimed $160 billion in savings, but federal spending rose $301 billion. Here's what the numbers actually show.
How to Protect Yourself From Bird Flu (H5N1) in 2026
Practical steps to reduce your bird flu risk at home and outdoors, based on the latest CDC guidance and current outbreak data.
Money
More Money
How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Tight Budget
Practical strategies for building emergency savings when money is tight, with specific methods that work on any income level.
Should You Refinance Your Mortgage Now That Rates Hit a 3-Year Low?
The 30-year fixed rate just dropped below 5.8%, the lowest since early 2023. Whether refinancing makes sense depends on your current rate, how long you plan to stay, and the math behind closing costs.
Do I Need to Report Cryptocurrency on My 2026 Taxes?
Yes, you must report cryptocurrency on your taxes. Here's exactly what triggers a reporting obligation, how to use Form 8949 and Schedule D, and what the new Form 1099-DA means for your 2025 filing.
What Is the New Car Loan Interest Tax Deduction in 2026?
The One Big Beautiful Bill lets you deduct up to $10,000 in car loan interest. Here's who qualifies, what vehicles count, and how to claim it.
Explore All Sections
Dive deeper into the topics that matter most to you.