News

  1. Archaeology

    A special brew may have calmed Inca children headed for sacrifice

    The mummified remains contained a substance that may reduce anxiety and is found in ayahuasca, a psychedelic ceremonial liquid still drunk today.

    By Bruce Bower
  2. Planetary Science

    NASA’s InSight lander has recorded the largest Marsquake yet

    The magnitude 5 temblor, detected May 4, will help scientists learn more about the Red Planet’s interior.

    By Katherine Kornei
  3. Physics

    Experiments hint at why bird nests are so sturdy

    A bird’s nest is a special version of a granular material. Lab experiments and computer simulations explain its quirky behavior.

    By Emily Conover
  4. Humans

    Prehistoric people may have used light from fires to create dynamic art

    When brought near flickering flames, prehistoric stone engravings of animals seem to move, experiments with replicas and virtual reality show.