The improbable origins of life on Earth
We do not yet know how, where, or why life first appeared on our planet. Part of the difficulty is that "life" has no strict, universally agreed-upon definition......»»
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Arecibo Message
On the 50th anniversary of the “Arecibo message,” we present a reflection on humankind’s first attempt to send a transmission to intelligent life in the cosmos......»»
I played Half-Life 2 for the first time this year—here’s how it went
Wake up and smell the ashes, Ms. Washenko. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2—a game of.....»»
How to Design a Real-Life Hot Wheels Loop
You should absolutely not build this thing. But it’s still fun to think through the physics......»»
NASA tests new AI chatbot to make sense of complex data
NASA has partnered with Microsoft to develop an AI-powered chatbot aimed at making sense of vast amounts of Earth-related science data......»»
Elon Musk teases sixth Starship flight test with video of spectacular catch
Ahead of the Starship's sixth test flight, SpaceX boss Elon Musk has shared a spectacular video showing the massive booster being caught on its return to Earth......»»
Electric field signals reveal early warnings for extreme weather, study reveals
A new study led by Dr. Roy Yaniv from the Institute of Earth Sciences at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Sheba Medical Center, in collaboration with Dr. Assaf Hochman from The Hebrew University and Prof. Yoav Yair from Reichmann University, ha.....»»
3 underrated shows on Peacock you need to watch in November 2024
Get ready for thrills, comedy, and real-life drama in the three underrated shows on Peacock that you need to watch in November......»»
Astrology Was an Important Science for Medieval People
In medieval times, astrology was considered a serious science, a branch of astronomy. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum, walks us through the medieval zodiac and how someone’s sign decided their day-to-day life......»»
Happy Martian New Year!
The Martian new year arrives with the Red Planet’s vernal equinox. Explaining why requires a deep dive into celestial mechanics and Earth’s calendrical history.....»»
Half-Life 2 pushed Steam on the gaming masses… and the masses pushed back
Back in 2004, many players saw Valve’s new platform as nothing but “fancy DRM.” It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of.....»»
Research looks to see how hidden costs of Social Security claiming takes toll on widows
The timing of filing for Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions senior Americans must make. But few think about the implications filing early or late in life has on widowed spouses, a segment of society that represents nearly.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»
New study examines how extraterrestrial civilizations could become "stellivores"
One of the most challenging aspects of astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is anticipating what life and extraterrestrial civilizations will look like. Invariably, we have only one example of a planet that supports li.....»»
Theoretical model explains the anomalous properties of water in extreme conditions
Water, a molecule essential for life, has unusual properties—known as anomalies—that define its behavior. However, there are still many enigmas about the molecular mechanisms that would explain the anomalies that make the water molecule unique. D.....»»
3 great BritBox shows you should watch in November 2024
From a moody detective show to a real-life scandal program, these British TV series are among the best shows available on BritBox......»»
You probably haven’t heard of Meanwhile on Earth. It’s only 2024’s best sci-fi movie
In a year filled with great pictures like Dune: Part Two and Furiosa, the best sci-fi movie of 2024 might just be this little-seen film from France......»»
Scientists compile library for evaluating exoplanet water
By probing chemical processes observed in the Earth's hot mantle, Cornell scientists have started developing a library of basalt-based spectral signatures that not only will help reveal the composition of planets outside of our solar system but could.....»»
Scientists say world"s largest coral found near Solomon Islands
Scientists say they have found the world's largest coral near the Pacific's Solomon Islands, announcing Thursday a major discovery "pulsing with life and color"......»»
Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago
An asteroid struck Mars 11 million years ago and sent pieces of the red planet hurtling through space. One of these chunks of Mars eventually crashed into the Earth somewhere near Purdue University and is one of the few meteorites that can be traced.....»»
Planet saw its 2nd-warmest October in 175-year record: 2024 on pace to be world"s warmest year on record
Earth saw another unusually warm month, with October 2024 ranking as the second-warmest October in NOAA's 175-year global climate record......»»