'It's either aliens or a swarm of comets': scientists baffled by bizarre star
Marcus Strom A star that some think might be home to high-tech aliens has scientists asking 'WTF?'.
Latest science news
Major Tim Peake, Russian, American arrives at ISS
7:11 AM A Soyuz spacecraft successfully delivered British Major Tim Peake, a Russian, and an American to the International Space Station on Tuesday after blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Distant worlds may be hiding water behind their thick clouds
Amina Khan 7:43 PM As astronomers discover more gas giants around distant stars, they've increasingly wondered: Where's the water?
Social
Australia's sky-gazers spot shooting stars
Kieran Gair 9:24 AM A moonless Monday night saw Australian sky-gazers light up social media with photos of the year's strongest celestial fireworks.
Science
Nuclear fusion breakthrough opens door to clean, cheap and safe energy
Peter Spinks Powering our planet using the kind of energy produced by the sun is a dream that may come true sooner than expected.
Why drinking with friends may prevent death from Alzheimer’s
Sarah Knapton Moderate drinking appears to lower the risk of dying from Alzheimer's and scientists think it might be because people are socialising more.
Fewer young people are drinking and driving, study says
Mike McPhate Far fewer young Americans are drinking and driving than they once did, according to a new survey.
Science
Full moon to light up Christmas for first time in decades
Outdoor Christmas gatherings should, weather willing, be able to last well after the sun has set this year, with a rare full moon set to shine on December 25th.
How to shoot a meteor shower
Karleen Minney Canberra skies on Monday evening offer a rare challenge for our photographic community.
Science
Spectacular shooting-stars show to light up moonless night sky
Peter Spinks This year's Geminid space-rock showers are best watched after midnight, peaking sometime between 2am and 4am on Tuesday morning.
A new space race: satellites could verify nations' emissions
Barbara Lewis, Richard Valdmanis and David Stanway Improved satellite technology may allow greenhouse gas emissions to be monitored from space.
Space
What killed the dinosaurs? Dark matter, says theoretical physicist Lisa Randall
Dominic Basulto For the first time a theory involving dark matter and meteors has been advanced to explain what killed the dinosaurs.
Science
Bacterial body clocks mimic sleep and activity in humans
Peter Spinks Microbes created in the laboratory that synchronise their metabolisms could lead to new biological and electronic devices.
Cheap and lethal: The navy's new long-range 'pulse' gun
Futuristic destroyer will be testing high-tech weapons never before seen at sea.
Sci-tech
Meet the XSTAT 30: a sponge syringe that could prevent shooting fatalities
Samuel Roberts The rate of fatalities from bullet wounds could drop significantly after the approval of a sponge-filled syringe for civilian use in America.
Guinea pig nuclear scientist reveals stone age
Bridie Smith Little was known about kidney stones until a Sydney scientist was struck with the painful condition and decided to experiment on himself.
WTF 001 'alien megastructure' continues to not be aliens in latest study
Rachel Feltman That thing that scientists suggested could maybe possibly be aliens continues to not be aliens, as expected.
Next-gen water condom 'like human skin'
Bridie Smith Researchers are using brain scanning technology to test the "pleasure" attributes of the next generation of condoms.
Scientists detect the magnetic field that powers our galaxy's supermassive black hole
Rachel Feltman These wonky magnetic fields may give black holes the power to shape galaxies.
What if fathers pass down more than just genes?
Carl Zimmer Scientists are investigating the epigenetics of fatherhood: how a man's experiences can alter his sperm, and whether those changes in turn may alter his children.
As ageing population grows, so do robotic health aides
John Markoff "I'm convinced that within 20 years drones will be today's cellphones," says a US roboticist who is working to develop aides for elderly people to enable them to stay in their own home for longer.
Features
Science is Golden
Listen to our podcast series about science and scientists.
Scientists find echoes of Big Bang
An experiment at the South Pole leads to what is potentially one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the past two decades.
The secret to running repairs
Scientists think the Mexican walking fish may hold the key to regeneration in humans.
Alive as a dodo
Bringing animals back from extinction is no longer science fiction. But the question is, should we do it?
Videos
Navy reveals Antarctic secrets
Australian Navy hydrographers on their boat the Wyatt Earp map the seafloor off Casey Station in Antarctica.
Cycling out of intensive care
World leading research is under way to rehabilitate ICU patients - some unconscious - with horizontal exercise bikes. Producer - Tom McKendrick
Furry Facts
Why onions make you cry
Ever wonder why chopping onions is such a tear jerking event?
Vaccines
Needles aren't a whole lot of fun, but why is immunisation so important? Cartoonist John Shakespeare and Science Editor Nicky Phillips explain.
El Nino and La Nina
Have you ever found it hard to understand why Australia's swings between drought and floods?
Tornadoes
They're some of the most destructive forces on the planet, but what's the difference between a tornado and a cyclone?
Sinkholes
What is a sinkhole? What causes them? Furry Facts explains.
