Earth
Some of 2025’s scientific discoveries broke records
Longest lightning, the first AI-generated genomes and biggest black hole smashup were among this year’s top science superlatives.
Life
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
More Stories in Life
- Animals
Science taught us a few new tricks about our pets in 2025
Are we reading our dog’s moods right? Does TV really comfort them when we’re away? These pet stories were catnip to us this year.
- Humans
Have a taste of our favorite food stories from 2025
This year, researchers took a bite out of culinary innovation. Check out some of our favorite food-related stories from 2025.
- Animals
These are our favorite animal stories of 2025
From clever cockatoos to vomiting spiders, these cool critters captivated us this year.
- Life
Watch a cancer cell evade capture
By moving around, some cancer cells force attacking immune cells to just nibble at the edges rather than engulf them completely.
- Health & Medicine
He made beer that’s also a vaccine. Now controversy is brewing
An NIH scientist’s maverick approach reveals legal, ethical, moral, scientific and social challenges to developing potentially life-saving vaccines.
- Microbes
This giant microbe organizes its DNA in a surprising way
3-D microscopy shows that the giant bacterium Thiovulum imperiosus squeezes its DNA into peripheral pouches, not a central mass like typical bacteria.
- Animals
Ancient DNA rewrites the tale of when and how cats left Africa
Cats were domesticated in North Africa, but spread to Europe only about 2,000 years ago. Earlier reports of “house” cats were wild cats.
- Tech
Mosquitoes use it to suck blood. Researchers used it to 3-D print
A mosquito proboscis repurposed as a 3-D printing nozzle can print filaments around 20 micrometers wide, half the width of a fine human hair.
- Life
How these strange cells may explain the origin of complex life
The tiny pantheon known as the Asgard archaea bear traits that hint at how plants, animals and fungi emerged on Earth.
