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'Magic square' math puzzle has gone unsolved since 1996

Think you can solve it? One mathematician has already offered about $1,000 and a bottle of champagne to whoever cracks it first.

Can't stop unwanted thoughts? Poor sleep may be to blame, study says

The study sheds new light on the relationship between sleep and mental health.

Viewing nature in VR or on television boosts wellbeing, study finds

"Interacting" with nature through virtual reality applications had especially strong benefits, according to the study.

Vitamin D may lower risk of contracting COVID-19, says new research

A series of recent studies found that people with healthy levels of vitamin D were less likely to contract COVID-19 and suffer severe complications from it.

Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to 3 scientists for black hole discoveries

Roger Penrose used mathematics to show black holes actually exist. Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel helped uncover what lies at the center of our galaxy.

This interactive face recognition tool measures your attractiveness, BMI and age

A new interactive documentary "How Normal Am I?" helps reveal the shortcomings of facial recognition technology.

Study: 33% of people fantasize about being in a sexually open relationship

Most said they want to act on their desire someday. But do open relationships actually work?

‘Global democratic recession’ has been eroding freedoms since 2006, says study

The 20th century was marked by waves of pro-democracy revolutions. Now, the future of democracy looks uncertain.

Study reveals alarming link between binge-drinking and anxiety

New research conducted on mice suggests repeated heavy drinking causes synaptic dysfunctions that lead to anxiety.

Elon Musk promises $25,000 electric car at Tesla's 'Battery Day'

The electric car manufacturer says updates to its battery design and manufacturing process will help lower production costs.

Can we resurrect the dead? Researchers catalogue potential future methods

From cryonics to time travel, here are some of the (highly speculative) methods that might someday be used to bring people back to life.

Study: Do people trust governments less when ‘fake news’ proves real?

People remember when governments lie to them and it lowers their satisfaction in government officials.

'Viking' was likely a job title among diverse people, says DNA study

"The results change the perception of who a Viking actually was," said project leader Professor Eske Willerslev.

Almost 300,000 guns sold without background checks as pandemic overwhelmed system

The 'Charleston Loophole' has likely allowed thousands of guns to end up in the hands of people who would have failed a federal background check.

Jon Stewart: Congress is abandoning veterans exposed to toxic 'burn pits'

Stewart is supporting a new bill that aims to extend health care and disability benefits to veterans who served alongside burn pits.

Venus' clouds may harbor 'aerial' aliens, MIT scientists say

Scientists have detected within the Venusian atmosphere a chemical known to be a byproduct of life.

Study: 'Mighty mice' stayed strong in space with gene treatment

Targeting a signaling pathway in mice helped them retain muscle and bone mass aboard the International Space Station, according to a new study.

NASA-funded scientist says 'MEGA drive' could enable interstellar travel

The drive would provide enough thrust for a spacecraft to travel near the speed of light using only electricity, says physicist Jim Woodward.

The ​'Motte & Bailey' meme reveals what's wrong with political arguments in 2020

This medieval-themed meme highlights a shady yet all too common rhetorical move people make in arguments.

Andrew Yang backs California’s data privacy campaign

"Our data should be ours no matter what platforms and apps we use," Yang said.

Study: Viewing religion, science as incompatible is uniquely American

In some countries, religiosity and pro-science attitudes are actually positively correlated, according to the results of a recent study.

New ‘bullet plane’ aims to make private flights affordable

Otto Aviation says the hourly cost of flying the new Celera 500L is about six times cheaper than conventional aircraft.

Elon Musk's Neuralink successfully implanted chips in pig brains

"It's kind of like a Fitbit in your skill with tiny wires," Musk said.

NASA scientists propose sending a submarine to explore Titan's seas

The mission could launch as soon as the 2030s, the researchers said.

3,000-pound Triceratops skull unearthed in South Dakota

"You dream about these kinds of moments when you're a kid," said lead paleontologist David Schmidt.

​Why is anxiety spiking in young people but not older adults?

A new study shows that anxiety has been rapidly increasing among young adults in the U.S. from 2008 to 2018.

New Google AR exhibits let you see prehistoric creatures up close

Google's Arts & Culture app just added a suite of prehistoric animals and NASA artifacts that are viewable for free with a smartphone.

Children raised near greener areas have higher IQs, study finds

Spending time in green spaces seems to yield many health benefits, most of which researchers are only beginning to understand.

First case of COVID-19 reinfection reported in Hong Kong

The patient's second infection was asymptomatic, suggesting that subsequent infections may be milder.

Study: Black babies are less likely to die when cared for by a Black doctor

Why do Black newborns have a relatively high mortality rate in the U.S. — and how does the race of the doctor factor in?

Study: Unattractive people far overestimate their looks

The finding is remarkably similar to the Dunning-Kruger effect, which describes how incompetent people tend to overestimate their own competency.

Humans could merge with AI through this specialized polymer

Scientists are seeking ways to safely connect computers to the brain.

Promising COVID-19 studies show hope for long-lasting immunity

The immune system seems able to "remember" the coronavirus, and therefore able to prevent — or minimize the severity of — reinfection.

Face mask study reveals worst material for blocking COVID-19

A study published Friday tested how well 14 commonly available face masks blocked the emission of respiratory droplets as people were speaking.

NASA bounces laser beams off of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

After a decade of failed attempts, scientists successfully bounced photons off of a reflector aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, some 240,000 miles from Earth.

Self-driving cars to race for $1.5 million at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ​

So far, 30 student teams have entered the Indy Autonomous Challenge, scheduled for October 2021.

New guidelines redefine 'obesity' to curb fat shaming

Is focusing solely on body mass index the best way for doctor to frame obesity?

Why ‘Christian nationalists’ are less likely to wear masks and social distance

In a recent study, researchers examined how Christian nationalism is affecting the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dinosaurs suffered from cancer, study confirms

A recent analysis of a 76-million-year-old Centrosaurus apertus fibula confirmed that dinosaurs suffered from cancer, too.

Chernobyl fungus could shield astronauts from cosmic radiation

A recent study tested how well the fungi species Cladosporium sphaerospermum blocked cosmic radiation aboard the International Space Station.

How face masks are fooling facial recognition software

A new study explores how wearing a face mask affects the error rates of popular facial recognition algorithms.

U.S. to disclose UFO findings from Pentagon task force

A new report from The New York Times describes a Pentagon task force's long-standing project to collect data on unidentified aerial phenomena and a Pentagon consultant who says the U.S. has collected crashed "off-world vehicles."

Scientists create 'non-cuttable' material 85% less dense than steel

Proteus could someday be used to create extremely strong and lightweight armor and locks.

Opioid deaths surge as pandemic spreads across U.S.

How exactly is COVID-19 affecting the opioid crisis?

3 highlights from Penn Jillette's Big Think interview on 2020, cancel culture, and friendship

The renowned magician recently joined Big Think CEO and cofounder Victoria Brown for a wide-ranging discussion.

This is your brain on smells

A new study explores how the brain encodes different scents — a topic which scientists know relatively little about, compared to our other senses.

COVID-19 brain study to explore long-term effects of the virus

A growing body of research suggests COVID-19 can cause serious neurological problems.

Bubonic plague case reported in China

Health officials in China reported that a man was infected with bubonic plague, the infectious disease that caused the Black Death.

How #Unity2020 plans to end the two-party system, bring back Andrew Yang

The proposal calls for the American public to draft two candidates to lead the executive branch: one from the center-left, the other from the center-right.

NASA astronaut drops mirror during spacewalk outside ISS

Watch as the small mirror joins millions of other pieces of space junk currently orbiting the planet.

Can the U.S. fix unemployment with 'Universal Basic Jobs'?

What would happen if the U.S. guaranteed every citizen a job with a living wage and benefits?

Man unable to 'see' numbers after suffering rare brain disease

He can't identify the numbers 2 through 9. But strangely, he can still see ones and zeros.

Europe to ban American travel as U.S. struggles to contain pandemic

The European Union is debating over two lists of nations from which it will accept travelers starting July 1.

NASA videos show what sunsets look like elsewhere in the galaxy

On other planets, blue skies and red sunsets aren't the norm.

This wearable robot arm can hold fruit and punch through walls

Researchers are making progress in the effort to develop safe and practical supernumerary robotic limbs.

COVID-19 shutdown prevented 60 million infections in U.S., study says

The study also estimated that international lockdown efforts prevented more than 500 million infections worldwide.

This spreadsheet lists 1,000+ cases of alleged police brutality amid George Floyd protests

The videos raise serious legal and moral questions about police crowd-control tactics.

Facebook finally adds option to delete old posts in batches

Got any embarrassing old posts collecting dust on your profile? Facebook wants to help you delete them.

England rolls out 'Test and Trace' program to combat COVID-19

The program aims to notify people after they've come in close contact with someone who tested positive.

Dr. Fauci: 'Good chance' we have COVID-19 vaccine by end of 2020

Currently, more than 100 COVID-19 vaccines are being developed worldwide.

WATCH: Neil deGrasse Tyson to commentate SpaceX's historic mission to ISS

The Demo-2 mission represents a new era for American spaceflight.

NASA renames telescope after 'Mother of Hubble' Nancy Grace Roman

The Roman Space Telescope will study the expansion of the universe and search for distant planets.

Why nature vs. nurture is ‘zombie idea’ we need to kill

Why do some people still believe that behavior is caused solely by genes or environment? A new paper offers some answers.

27 million Americans may have lost employer health insurance amid pandemic

In the near future, most unemployed Americans will have access to government-subsidized programs. But that's set to change in 2021.

These 7 countries and companies are going to Mars in the 2020s

Here's what the world's space agencies hope to learn about the Red planet.

Tom Cruise is going to space to film an action movie

The 57-year-old is teaming up with NASA and SpaceX for the film project, which is to be set aboard the International Space Station.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shooting. Here's what happened.

On May 4, 1970, the National Guard shot and killed four students during an anti-war protest. The massacre went on to change American culture forever.

Scientists create COVID-19 treatment using llama antibodies

An antibody produced by llamas seems particularly effective at neutralizing a key protein of the novel coronavirus.

Ancient 'crazy beast' mammal classified as new species

It's likely the most complete skeleton that's ever been discovered of the strange Gondwanatheria mammal group, which roamed the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana alongside dinosaurs.

Coursera offers 3,800 free online classes for unemployed workers

The coronavirus pandemic offers online education companies a chance to prove themselves.

Harvard group: Here's how the U.S. economy can reopen by August

A bipartisan group of economists, technology and public health experts, and ethicists developed a three-part plan to swiftly and safely reopen the American economy. Could it work?

This AI tool measures social distancing. But is more surveillance worth the risk?

The system can even be designed to send alerts to employees when they've come too close to a coworker.

Early marijuana use 'primes' the brain to enjoy cocaine, study suggests

A new study on rats suggests that using marijuana as an adolescent "reprograms the initial behavioral, molecular, and epigenetic response to cocaine."

New AI improves itself through Darwinian-style evolution

AutoML-Zero is a proof-of-concept project that suggests the future of machine learning may be machine-created algorithms.

Researchers stop COVID-19 drug trial after 11 patients die

A recent clinical trial in Brazil highlights the dangers of two potential COVID-19 treatments: chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

Chernobyl forest fires spike radiation levels 16 times above normal

Fires pose a major health risk to people living near irradiated sites.

'Super Pink Moon': Biggest full moon of 2020 rises tonight

Need a distraction during these stay-at-home times? Look up tonight to see the first supermoon of spring.

Less pollution during COVID-19 is not a 'silver lining', says UN environment chief

The environmental benefits of the coronavirus pandemic are only temporary, warns the head of the UN Environment Programme.

'Misleading marketing': Zoom video meetings may not be as secure as you think

Video meetings on the popular platform don't seem to offer end-to-end encryption as advertised.

'Gender Pay Scorecard' grades 50 major U.S. companies

What factors explain the gender pay gap?

Edward Snowden warns 'bio-surveillance' may outlast coronavirus

Amid the panic of the COVID-19 pandemic, are we building the surveillance states of tomorrow?

Who should get coronavirus treatments first? Doctors face ethical dilemmas

Facing a shortage of medical resources, doctors in the U.S. may have to make difficult moral decisions over how to allocate care.

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