Science

First Look Why does this vibrant fish bear President Obama’s name?

Tosanoides obama, discovered in Hawaii's Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, joins a small club of creatures named after the president.

First Look Scientists discover bizarre molten iron 'jet stream' in Earth's core

Measurements made by Europe's Swarm satellites suggest a river of liquid iron deep within the Earth.

First Look Scientists use lasers for a better look at antimatter

Researchers in Switzerland used a laser gathered info about antimatter to figure out why the universe is dominated by matter.
Nukes or quakes? Scientists decipher tiny tremors in North Korea

Researchers say a 2010 event previously thought to be a small nuclear test in North Korea was actually just a small earthquake – a finding that could have implications for monitoring the regime's nuclear tests.
Shark-eating orcas: A window into how new species can arise?

A drone video, which shows a pod of killer whales attacking a sevengill shark, may provide new insights into the ecology of a splitting species.
First Look 'Klingon' newts, 'Ziggy Stardust' snakes among 163 new Mekong species

Dozens of new discoveries along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia offer a glimmer of hope to a region under pressure from development and poaching.

Did these baby dinosaurs munch on meat while their parents pecked at plants?

Paleontologists discover juvenile dinosaurs with teeth and adults of the same species that mysteriously had none. What could it mean?
First Look Rumblings of Europe's supervolcano: Will the sleeping giant awaken?

Campi Flegrei has not erupted since 1538. But now, there are signs it could awaken in the near future.
Phosphorus: The key to life on Earth as we know it?

Researchers talk about oxygen playing a significant role in kickstarting animal life on Earth, but a new study suggests a different element might also be of crucial importance.
First Look Solstice! Why Northern Hemisphere gets first official day of winter.

The winter solstice was once a high point on the astronomical calendar. Today, it is significant for the extra minutes (and eventually hours) of daylight it returns to Northern Hemisphere dwellers.
Two ways this Japanese satellite could improve space travel

The satellite itself could provide new insight into the Van Allen radiation belts, which may harm electronic devices and even astronauts themselves.
First Look Long before Rudolph, these gigantic birds flew around the North Pole

New Cretaceous bird fossils, some of the oldest in the Arctic, suggest the polar climate 90 million years ago was as warm as Florida today.

Follow Stories Like This

Get the Monitor stories you care about delivered to your inbox.

December 22, 2016

Photos of the day 12/21

Jade (l.) and Camden Evans sit on the lap of their dad, Heath Evan, as they watch an elaborate display of Christmas lights flash and blink to a soundtrack of holiday music at a home in Jenks, Okla.

View Gallery

More Science

view all

Newly discovered 'Jimi Hendrix' plant imperiled by development

The plant, the thin stalk of which grows to be about 1 foot high, 'dies' every summer before regrowing in the fall.
First Look How NASA's CO2 simulation could boost climate science

Scientists hope the model will explain phenomena such as “carbon flux” – the exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere, land, and ocean.
First Look Astronomers spot 'planet-eating' star similar to our own sun

HIP68468 is a 'solar twin' of our sun, and may have consumed some of its own planets.
Eriovixia gryffindori: Not the only critter with Harry Potter heritage

The tiny spider's shape was eerily reminiscent of Harry Potter's sorting hat, prompting the creature's name. Increasingly, scientists are looking to pop culture for naming inspiration.
First Look Mysterious and rare ghost shark caught on video

This species of the deep sea creature - a chimaera - has never before been spotted or filmed in Northern Hemisphere waters.
First Look Axial Seamount: A model for predicting volcanic eruptions?

Scientists successfully predicted the eruption of an underwater volcano off Oregon's coast - seven months in advance. They hope the same techniques will help scientists predict volcanic activity elsewhere in the world.
First Look World's biggest diamonds may unlock mysteries of Earth's mantle, say geologists

The world's largest diamonds aren't just more valuable for jewelers: they also hold surprising clues about the composition of the Earth's mantle, says a new study.
Sponsor Content How to secure health by tracking mosquitos

Using mathematical models to predict the movements of mosquitos and the viruses they carry can help health professionals and policy makers make informed decisions
Ceres on ice: Scientists confirm vast stores of frozen water inside dwarf planet

Ceres' frozen water could yield clues into the history of our own planet, the solar system, and beyond.
First Look What makes the seahorse so unique?

Researchers have completely sequenced the genome of a seahorse for the first time, providing a basis for understanding one of the world's strangest fish.