Science

SpaceX sends up new Starship rocket after consecutive failures, but it spirals out of control
Following two explosive setbacks, SpaceX launched its colossal Starship rocket once again on Tuesday evening. Despite a strong liftoff, the mission failed to reach its primary goals when the spacecraft lost stability and disintegrated mid-flight. The towering 403-foot (123-meter) vehicle embarked on its ninth test mission from SpaceX’s Starbase facility, located at the southernmost tip of Texas. Earlier this month, locals voted to establish their community as an official municipality. Although
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A rare Archaeopteryx fossil withheld from researchers for years finally studied—yields a series of astonishing findings
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory newsletter to delve into the wonders of science. Discover incredible breakthroughs, intriguing research, and fascinating cosmic stories. Fossils that preserve entire animals as they appeared in death give us a rare glimpse into the distant past. Such is the case for multiple finds of Archaeopteryx—the earliest known bird—and a newly studied, long-inaccessible fossil now reveals fresh insights into whether or not Archaeopteryx could truly fly. Scientists have
A rare Archaeopteryx fossil withheld from researchers for years finally studied—yields a series of astonishing findings
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Researchers Reveal the Reason Behind Mars’ Red Color
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter to journey through the cosmos with updates on discoveries, breakthroughs, and more from the scientific world. Often recognized by its reddish appearance, Mars has long been known as the Red Planet. Now, new research may have identified the true cause behind that signature shade—challenging a long-held scientific assumption. Mars has been one of the most thoroughly observed planets thanks to its relative proximity and decades of robotic
Researchers Reveal the Reason Behind Mars’ Red Color
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Earth’s magnetic field unlocks a special ability in sea turtles, making them ‘dance’
Note from the Editor: A version of this article was originally featured in CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Want it delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe for free here. Deep within our planet, an enduring enigma continues to intrigue scientists: Earth’s inner core. Comprised primarily of iron and nickel, this intensely hot, solid sphere is roughly 70% the size of our moon. A recent study suggested that the core has reversed its rotation, and now, researchers have discovered
Earth’s magnetic field unlocks a special ability in sea turtles, making them ‘dance’
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Newly found fungus transforms cave-dwelling spiders into 'zombies'
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter to journey through space and time with the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and more. European scientists have uncovered a previously unknown fungus species that turns cave spiders into “zombies.” This fungus compels spiders to abandon their webs, leading to their premature demise, and then utilizes their lifeless bodies to disperse its spores. The new species, dubbed Gibellula attenboroughii, exhibits behavior similar to the
Newly found fungus transforms cave-dwelling spiders into 'zombies'
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Astronomers suggest Earth’s recent "mini-moon" could be a fragment of the moon itself
Subscribe to CNN's Wonder Theory Science Newsletter. Dive into updates on groundbreaking discoveries, innovative scientific research, and the mysteries of the cosmos. A tiny celestial object, once nicknamed Earth's temporary "mini-moon" last year, could actually be a fragment of the Moon that broke away thousands of years ago. The near-Earth body, officially named 2024 PT5, has an estimated width of 33 feet (10 meters). Even so, researchers confirm that its trajectory poses
Astronomers suggest Earth’s recent "mini-moon" could be a fragment of the moon itself
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Doorbell camera captures unusual moment of meteorite hitting front walkway
Subscribe to CNN's Wonder Theory Science Newsletter to uncover the wonders of the universe. Stay updated on groundbreaking discoveries, remarkable scientific strides, and more. On a calm, sunny afternoon in Canada’s Prince Edward Island, Joe Velaidum and his partner, Laura Kelly, decided to take their dog for a walk. While in their yard, Velaidum noticed a stray leash and paused briefly to pick it up before continuing their stroll. Moments later, a meteorite hurtled down, striking the very
Doorbell camera captures unusual moment of meteorite hitting front walkway
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From a once-quiet Florida pad, a rocket aiming to rival SpaceX's supremacy stands ready for liftoff
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter to dive into the cosmos and stay updated on groundbreaking discoveries, scientific advancements, and more. On a once-quiet launchpad in Florida that hasn’t seen action in nearly two decades, a towering new rocket measuring around 320 feet (98 meters) is ready for its debut flight. Developed by Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin, this rocket represents a major milestone for the aerospace firm. The uncrewed vehicle, named New Glenn, will serve as
From a once-quiet Florida pad, a rocket aiming to rival SpaceX's supremacy stands ready for liftoff
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A recent orca encounter sparks memories of a puzzling 1980s mystery. Could it be returning?
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter for insights into the vast cosmos, with updates on groundbreaking discoveries, scientific progress, and more. Fashion trends may be fleeting, and as it turns out, even killer whales aren't immune to style experimentation. Back in 1987, a group of killer whales off the northwest coast of North America adopted an unusual fashion statement, balancing dead salmon on their heads for weeks. Recently, a male orca named J27, also called
A recent orca encounter sparks memories of a puzzling 1980s mystery. Could it be returning?
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"Unknown mollusk discovered in the ocean's midnight zone baffles researchers with its uniqueness"
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory newsletter to stay up-to-date with awe-inspiring news about scientific breakthroughs and the wonders of the universe. Scientists have unveiled a surprising addition to the ocean’s mystifying midnight zone: a glowing creature they've dubbed the “mystery mollusk.” This new species—an apple-sized sea slug named Bathydevius caudactylus—is unlike any other the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has encountered. Its unique characteristics set it
"Unknown mollusk discovered in the ocean's midnight zone baffles researchers with its uniqueness"
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Ancient Maya city unearthed in Mexico
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter for insights into the cosmos and groundbreaking discoveries in the world of science. For over a millennium, the dense forests of the Mexican state of Campeche cloaked a remarkable ancient history. The region, long regarded as an archaeological “blank spot” within the Maya Lowlands — an area stretching across present-day Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico — was home to the Maya civilization from around 1000 BC to AD 1500.
Ancient Maya city unearthed in Mexico
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5 Groundbreaking Discoveries Yet to Win the Nobel Prize
Stay up-to-date with the latest discoveries by subscribing to CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Journey through the cosmos with the newest news on incredible breakthroughs and cutting-edge scientific advancements. Next week, the brightest scientific minds will emerge from the shadows of academia as the recipients of the coveted Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, and physiology or medicine are revealed. These prestigious awards, founded by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel more than
5 Groundbreaking Discoveries Yet to Win the Nobel Prize
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Scientists sequence DNA from 3,600-year-old cheese
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter to dive into the cosmos and stay updated with remarkable breakthroughs, scientific progress and much more. In northwest China, mummified remains from the Bronze Age have revealed a curious burial practice: desert dwellers were interred with cheese carefully placed on their heads and necks—perhaps as sustenance for the afterlife. Over a decade after this dairy discovery emerged from the Taklamakan Desert's dry grasp, researchers have
Scientists sequence DNA from 3,600-year-old cheese
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Scientists report colossal jets of matter from a black hole outsize the biggest galaxies
Join CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter for the latest updates. Dive into the wonders of the universe with exciting news on groundbreaking discoveries, scientific advancements, and much more. Astronomers have detected a colossal pair of jets emerging from a supermassive black hole located 7.5 billion light-years from our planet. Stretching across an impressive 23 million light-years, these jets are the largest ever observed, according to cutting-edge findings published in a recent study.
Scientists report colossal jets of matter from a black hole outsize the biggest galaxies
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Fresh DNA study sheds light on the enigma of the ‘lost prince’ Kaspar Hauser
Subscribe to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter for a journey into the cosmos, with insights on groundbreaking discoveries, scientific innovations, and more. "His origins unknown, his death a mystery." This is the (translated) inscription on the tombstone of Kaspar Hauser, a similarly mysterious figure who passed away in 1833. Almost two centuries later, researchers have at last resolved a long-standing riddle concerning Hauser’s rumored connections to German nobility. On May 26,
Fresh DNA study sheds light on the enigma of the ‘lost prince’ Kaspar Hauser
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"Scientists suggest they may have uncovered potential evidence of ‘Dyson spheres,’ originally proposed as a method for detecting alien civilizations"
Subscribe to CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Engage in a journey through the cosmos with updates on groundbreaking discoveries, scientific progress, and more. What could provide the ultimate solution to energy challenges for an advanced civilization? Freeman Dyson, a celebrated British-American physicist, postulated such a solution: a massive shell made up of mirrors or solar panels surrounding a star, capturing all of its energy output. “Within a few thousand years of
"Scientists suggest they may have uncovered potential evidence of ‘Dyson spheres,’ originally proposed as a method for detecting alien civilizations"
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