Science News

The largest solar sail the solar system has ever seen weighs only 70 pounds. NASA's new heavy lift rocket isn't the only massive space propulsion system the agency has in the works. The largest solar sail the solar syste...

In the age-old war between Northern and Southern California, a change in the science has changed the politics.

Surface changes in the paint-like material can reduce biofilm buildup. When a horse is dislodging a pesky fly, it twitches a small portion of its skin to shake off the unwelcome visitor. Researchers from Duke University ...

Bringing iRobot and InTouch Health's core technologies together gives medical telepresence robots more range, flexibility, and automation. Doctors need only note on an iPad where the robot should go, and RP-Vita takes it...

In early 2013, a single 489 pound bluefin tuna sold in Japan for a record $1.76 million. That's roughly two homes in San Francisco and a Ferrari for each driveway--two and half times last year's record $736,000. It makes...

Foster's firm also designed Spaceport America, 2 World Trade Center, and Apple's new "flying saucer" campus. Click to launch the photo gallery The first real lunar base should look literally out-of-this-world cool. Maybe...

All today's stories on newscientist.com, including: tough lessons for rookie drone pilots, social whodunnit in India, muscle-zapping games, and more

Watch the first physics flicks to show what it might look like to journey back to the past

Designs have been published for an app that lets anyone with an iPhone get funds from others when in need

The New York Times published an article this morning saying that the newspaper has been the victim of persistent and, it must be said, not entirely unsuccessful cyberattacks originating in China. The attacks apparently s...

Can internet widgets help us communicate science's complex ideas in everyday language?

What is 'the right stuff' for a trip to Mars? Want to be an astronaut? Well, NASA wrapped up its latest astronaut recruitment period last year, so you'll have to wait a few years until the agency posts the "Help Wanted" ...

A groundbreaking technique produces a moving light inside a zebrafish's brain as different areas respond to what its eyes see

William Myer's Bio Design explores the intersection of design and biology. We can already store Shakespeare's sonnets in DNA. What if we could use trees as city lights, or turn pigeon poop into natural street cleaner? Wi...

An automated OR 'bot could eliminate human errors in sterilization and pre-op preparations that cost lots of money--and sometimes cost lives. It may not seem like it, but a huge portion of a hospital's budget can get swa...

When Sarah Reardon visited a a US air force base she discovered how tough being a remote pilot can actually be (full text available to subscribers)

When Sara Reardon visited a a US air force base she found that being the remote pilot of a warplane is no cushy number - and don't mention video games (full text available to subscribers)

US leaders are weighing in on immigration reform, but much more needs to be done for the country to retain its economic and technological edge

Whether objects behave the same in higher dimensions has flummoxed mathematicians for decades. A solution could influence quantum theory

A system that jolts players' muscles with electricity promises for a more immersive gaming experience from console controllers or smartphones

Watch the first example of a chimp modifying its tool use technique after watching a more proficient friend

Rather than temperature differences creating wind, they might be a result of condensing moisture - which often occurs over trees