Radio telescopes around the globe have provided scientists with data on astronomical phenomena for nearly a century. We have even built telescopes and sent them into orbit, the most recent of which — the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — has provided astronomers with brand new insights into the formation of early galaxies, nebula where stars are born, and the chemical composition of atmospheres of newly discovered worlds.But science doesn't stop. Astronomers have been asking what the next ...read more

The Science Near Me blog is a partnership between Discover magazine and ScienceNearMe.org.If you’re searching for a place to learn, create, and explore all kinds of STEM activities, look no further than a local science festival! These events happen all over the country and offer exciting opportunities to learn about and do science right.Some science festivals are localized enough to be hosted on a college campus, like the Virginia Tech Science Festival, while others span entire cities and stat ...read more

Before the Neolithic Revolution, around 12,000 years ago, Homo sapiens lived scattered about the world in small groups, mostly with their extended families. They hunted, gathered and moved around, living in temporary shelters.They had to follow the food because they didn’t yet know how to grow their own. But gradually, over generations, agriculture began sprouting up across the globe, and the world began to change. Early H. sapiens could finally stay in one place because they cultivated th ...read more

Because of adverse weather conditions and city lights, a major migration collision killed 960 birds after they crashed into the McCormick Place convention building in Chicago on Oct. 5, 2023, according to Cornell Lab experts on BirdCast.“Prior to this, the highest number [of birds] I've ever found at McCormick in one night is 250, which seems massive to start with,” says David Willard, a retired collection manager at Chicago’s Field Museum, who is still involved with the institution.How Ma ...read more

Humans have sophisticated senses that have been well-developed over time. We have an excellent sense of sight — thanks to retinal photoreceptors (rods and cones). We also have a strong sense of hearing that ranges between 20 to 20,000 hertz. Along with that, we have a robust sense of smell that helps us detect dangers such as fire and if food has gone bad. While we have sharpened senses, there are many animals that surpass us. In fact, animals possess some impressive senses that people don’ ...read more

When you buckle up for a road trip or brace for takeoff, the deep connection you’ve formed with your furry sidekick can stay intact as they accompany you for adventures. But what happens when some modes of transportation pose a health risk for your four-legged friend? Are Some Pet Breeds at Greater Travel Health Risks?(Credit:OlgaOvcharenko/Shutterstock) Certain dog and cat breeds are at greater health risks during air travel. Breeds with snubbed noses tend to have short nasal passages, which ...read more

Sending humans to Mars has always seemed a distant dream. But in recent years, cheap access to space, the steady arrival of Mars rovers to explore the surface and the ambitions of billionaires like Elon Musk have made the Red Planet feel almost within reach.All concerned are aware of the huge challenges — from developing the technology to support life during the journey and to safely deliver them to the surface, to bringing them home again. This will be one of the greatest expeditions in human ...read more

Our senses of self are tricky things to pin down. We all appear to possess intuitive notions of our own identities. We're all sure there's something — whether it be our personalities, our principles, our abilities or our ambitions — that sets us apart. But our senses of self arise out of an assortment of cognitive processes, which, if altered, can change our perceptions of ourselves and our worlds.Take your awareness of your own body, for instance. A significant part of your sense of self is ...read more

Virtual reality (VR) is becoming more popular in corporate offices, thanks in part to the rise of remote work in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. VR headsets offer many potential employee benefits, from a more private and customizable virtual office to more engaging training sessions. According to Deloitte, by 2025, around 70 percent of employee training will include a VR headset. But this increase in virtual training is already driving up the number of hours employees wear a headset, cau ...read more

For many urban dwellers, large animals like bears or tigers are only glimpsed during a visit to the local zoo. Or they’re viewed on the zoo’s live camera doing tame activities like sunning themselves or enjoying an icy treat on a warm day.As they aren’t part of everyday life for many people, the idea that these animals could be man-eating predators can seem hard to fathom. One anthropologist described it as a “bizarre realization” for people to consider they aren’t always at the to ...read more