Science

ScienceAug 22, 2026

What Was the First Recreational Drug?

Humans have been getting high since basically the dawn of time.

These Are the Degrees of the Future

Gizmodo and Statista identified 25 fields of study that most reflect the technologies, cultural shifts, and challenges of the mid-21st century.

China Publishes, Then Deletes Report of Potential Alien Signals

Observations from a radio telescope almost certainly aren't evidence of aliens, but we'd love to know more about these alleged signals.

Anthony Fauci Catches His First Case of Covid-19

The leading public health official is experiencing mild symptoms, the NIH said.

NASA Will Investigate UFOs, Er, ‘Unidentified Aerial Phenomena’

The space agency’s announcement comes on the heels of some inconclusive UFO hearings before Congress.

PoliticsAug 16, 2026

How to Watch the Government’s UFO Hearing

Congress is holding its first hearing on unidentified aerial phenomenon in decades.

This $35,000 Computer Is Powered by Trapped Human Brain Cells

A company is selling what it calls the world’s first “code deployable biological computer.”

AI Could Be Making Scientists Less Creative

A new study examining 68 million scientific papers shows using AI boosts researchers' careers, but narrows the questions they ask.

What Was the First Recreational Drug?

Humans have been getting high since basically the dawn of time.

Scientists Trained a Lump of Goo to Play Pong

The goo only got a little better at playing pong, but scientists are confident it could improve if we teach it to feel pain.

Study Finds No Strong Evidence for Benefits of Wim Hof Method

"It must be noted that the quality of the studies is very low," the authors of a new review on the method wrote.

These Volunteers Will Stay in Bed for Two Straight Months for Space Travel Experiment

The research will hopefully help scientists find better ways to prevent muscle loss in astronauts.

New NASA Official Took Her Oath of Office on Carl Sagan’s ‘Pale Blue Dot’

Dr. Makenzie Lystrup chose the iconic book, which was inspired by a 1990 photograph of Earth from space.

How the Brains of Fighter Pilots Can Help Us Prepare for Prolonged Missions in Space

Understanding the effects of space travel will help us to plan long-haul space flights, but getting access to astronauts is not easy. Fighter pilots could help.

An Imposter Claiming to Be an Astronaut Wooed a Japanese Woman Into Paying for a ‘Return Ticket to Earth’

The space romance unfolded through Instagram, but the victim soon grew suspicious of the astronaut's monetary demands.

Degrees of the Future 2022: Neuroscience

These are the universities with the best neuroscience programs.

Don’t Be Afraid of Self-Improving AI, Says a16z-Backed Startup Mirendil

Some call it a dangerous path to runaway AI, others call it vibe research.

Nobel Prizes: 5 Unlikely Winner Reactions, From the Unbothered to the Downright Mad

Apparently people just have better things to do than win the world's most prestigious prize.

An Artist Claims to Have Created Paint in a ‘New’ Impossible Hue Conjured by Scientists

Olo has become Yolo.

Scientists Agree That Everyone Hates Your Terrible Zoom Mic

A new study from Yale confirms what everyone already knew: we’re all judging you when your mic sounds cheap and bad on a conference call.