Discover Magazine

Mysterious Virus Hiding Inside Common Gut Bacterium Linked to Colorectal Cancer A previously unknown virus may be the key to assessing the risk of colorectal cancer and improving diagnosis.

A previously unknown virus may be the key to assessing the risk of colorectal cancer and improving diagnosis. www.discovermagazine.com/mysterious-v...

Like Dolphins, This Tiny Reef Fish Sees and May Be Experimenting With Its Reflection Learn how cleaner wrasse used a mirror and even dropped food to test their reflections, a behavior linked mostly to mammals.

Learn how cleaner wrasse used a mirror and even dropped food to test their reflections, a behavior linked mostly to mammals. www.discovermagazine.com/like-dolphin...

Boomerang Earthquakes Don’t Just Move Forward — They Bounce Back Learn more about “boomerang” earthquakes and why scientists say they may be more common than previously believed.

Learn more about “boomerang” earthquakes and why scientists say they may be more common than previously believed. www.discovermagazine.com/boomerang-ea...

The World May Face Population Decline Later This Century — What Does This Mean for Society? Learn more about why the human population seems to be in decline and what that could mean for the future.

Learn more about why the human population seems to be in decline and what that could mean for the future. www.discovermagazine.com/the-world-ma...

Cosmic Snowmen Gained Their Unique Shape After Gently Spiraling Into Each Other Learn why some icy objects inhabiting a remote region beyond Neptune look like snowmen.

Learn why some icy objects inhabiting a remote region beyond Neptune look like snowmen. www.discovermagazine.com/cosmic-snowm...

New Blood Test May Forecast Alzheimer’s Symptoms Years in Advance Learn how a simple blood test measuring a key Alzheimer’s protein may help estimate when symptoms are likely to begin, potentially reshaping prevention research.

Learn how a simple blood test measuring a key Alzheimer’s protein may help estimate when symptoms are likely to begin, potentially reshaping prevention research. www.discovermagazine.com/new-blood-te...

Ultramarathon Running Could Rapidly Age and Breakdown Red Blood Cells Learn more about the impact ultramarathon running has on red blood cells and how it may do more harm than good for the body.

Learn more about the impact ultramarathon running has on red blood cells and how it may do more harm than good for the body. www.discovermagazine.com/ultramaratho...

Your Cat May Share the Same Cancer Genes as You, and Offer Clues for Treatment Learn how cats and humans can share key cancer mutations — and why those similarities could guide future treatment research.

Learn how cats and humans can share key cancer mutations — and why those similarities could guide future treatment research. www.discovermagazine.com/your-cat-may...

Deadliest U.S. Avalanche in Decades Raises Alarms About Changing Climate Conditions Learn more about the massive avalanche near Lake Tahoe that killed eight skiers and is exposing how snow droughts and climate change are increasing avalanche risk.

Learn more about the massive avalanche near Lake Tahoe that killed eight skiers and is exposing how snow droughts and climate change are increasing avalanche risk. www.discovermagazine.com/deadliest-u-...

Newly Discovered 95-Million-Year-Old Spinosaurus Was a "Heron-Like Beast" Learn how a newly discovered 95-million-year-old Spinosaurus mirabilis used interlocking teeth to catch fish in an ancient inland river system.

Learn how a newly discovered 95-million-year-old Spinosaurus mirabilis used interlocking teeth to catch fish in an ancient inland river system. www.discovermagazine.com/newly-discov...

200,000-Year-Old Teeth Reveal Hidden Climate Stress in Grey Wolves Learn how warming winters are making life harder for grey wolves, a struggle that the species has faced at least once before.

Learn how warming winters are making life harder for grey wolves, a struggle that the species has faced at least once before. www.discovermagazine.com/200-000-year...

Optical Illusions Can Trick Artificial Intelligence, Just Like They Fool Us Fooled by an optical illusion? You're not the only one. Learn how these illusions can fool AI, too.

Fooled by an optical illusion? You're not the only one. Learn how these illusions can fool AI, too. www.discovermagazine.com/optical-illu...

Establishing a Moon Time Zone Could Benefit Future Missions to Mars Learn more about lunar time zones and future NASA and ESA missions, which are working to create a safer environment for astronauts.

Learn more about lunar time zones and future NASA and ESA missions, which are working to create a safer environment for astronauts. www.discovermagazine.com/establishing...

Is Asteroid Mining the Next Gold Rush or Just Science Fiction? — Here's What We Know While the technology still needs significant work, a new analysis of meteorites points to valuable targets in the solar system. Learn more about the possibility of asteroid mining.

While the technology still needs significant work, a new analysis of meteorites points to valuable targets in the solar system. www.discovermagazine.com/is-asteroid-...

Drugs Behind Ozempic and Wegovy Are Being Repurposed — Here Are 5 Others Learn more about modern pharmaceuticals and how sometimes they are able to treat more than one type of illness.

Learn more about modern pharmaceuticals and how sometimes they are able to treat more than one type of illness. www.discovermagazine.com/drugs-behind...

New FDA-Approved Device Uses Electric Fields to Treat Pancreatic Cancer Learn more about the newly approved wearable treatment that disrupts pancreatic cancer tumor growth while letting patients continue daily life at home.

Learn more about the newly approved wearable treatment that disrupts pancreatic cancer tumor growth while letting patients continue daily life at home. www.discovermagazine.com/new-fda-appr...

Wild Parrots May Follow Language-Like Rules — Including Syntax Learn how wild parrots follow language-like syntax and structured vocal rules during territorial duets.

Learn how wild parrots follow language-like syntax and structured vocal rules during territorial duets. www.discovermagazine.com/wild-parrots...

Shipwreck Reveals Over 2,350 Pieces of Yuan Dynasty Blue-and-White Porcelain Learn more about the Temasek Wreck, Singapore’s ancient shipwreck that carried a record cargo of Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain.

Learn more about the Temasek Wreck, Singapore’s ancient shipwreck that carried a record cargo of Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white porcelain. www.discovermagazine.com/shipwreck-re...

Young Martian Volcano Reveals 9 Million Years of Hidden Activity Learn how a young volcano on Mars stayed active for nine million years and what its changing lava reveals about Mars’ interior.

Learn how a young volcano on Mars stayed active for nine million years and what its changing lava reveals about Mars’ interior. www.discovermagazine.com/young-mars-v...

Only Humans Have Chins — and They Emerged as an Evolutionary Accident Learn how the chin became an evolutionary byproduct that's unique to humans.

Learn how the chin became an evolutionary byproduct that's unique to humans. www.discovermagazine.com/only-humans-...

Elephants Have 1,000 Delicate Whiskers on Their Trunks, and They May Transform Robotics Learn more about the unique structure of elephant whiskers that allows them to pick up something as fragile as a tortilla chip and not break it. These delicate whiskers could soon inspire advanced…

Learn more about the unique structure of elephant whiskers that allows them to pick up something as fragile as a tortilla chip and not break it. www.discovermagazine.com/elephants-ha...

Ancient DNA Reveals Migrant Women Helped Some European Hunter-Gatherers Adopt Farming Learn how ancient DNA reveals migrant women helped Europe’s hunter-gatherers adopt farming thousands of years later than the rest of the continent.

Learn how ancient DNA reveals migrant women helped Europe’s hunter-gatherers adopt farming thousands of years later than the rest of the continent. www.discovermagazine.com/ancient-dna-...

Yosemite’s Rare Firefall Returns This February — but the Fiery Glow Will Last Only Minutes Learn more about the science behind Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall, which glows like fire every February, and will return between Feb. 10 and Feb. 26, 2026.

Learn more about the science behind Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall, which glows like fire every February. www.discovermagazine.com/yosemite-s-r...

Humans Abandoned a Bison-Hunting Site Around 1,100 Years Ago — Turns Out, Climate Change Was to Blame Learn more about the Bergstrom site in Montana, which was abandoned by bison hunters in response to their changing climate.

Learn more about the Bergstrom site in Montana, which was abandoned by bison hunters in response to their changing climate. www.discovermagazine.com/humans-aband...

One of The Earliest-Known Vertebrates Navigated the Cambrian Dark Forest with Four Eyes Learn how a second pair of eyes helped this 518-million-year-old fish evade predators.

Learn how a second pair of eyes helped this 518-million-year-old fish evade predators. www.discovermagazine.com/one-of-the-e...

How Amsterdam Island Turned into an Unlikely Haven For Feral Cows Learn about the Amsterdam Island cows, who against all odds took over a subantarctic ocean island deep in the southern Indian Ocean.

Learn about the Amsterdam Island cows, who against all odds took over a subantarctic ocean island deep in the southern Indian Ocean. www.discovermagazine.com/how-amsterda...

This 307-Million-Year-Old Animal May Have Been One of the First Plant Eaters Learn more about Tyrannoroter heberti, a football-shaped land vertebrate who may have enjoyed snacking on plants.

Learn more about Tyrannoroter heberti, a football-shaped land vertebrate who may have enjoyed snacking on plants. www.discovermagazine.com/this-307-mil...

Ancient Fish Fins May Have Given Rise to Human Hands Learn how an ancient fish gene was repurposed to shape the anatomy of human hands.

Learn how an ancient fish gene was repurposed to shape the anatomy of human hands. www.discovermagazine.com/ancient-fish...

Pig–Boar Hybrids Are Evolving in Fukushima — and Rewriting What We Know About Hybridization Learn how boar populations in Fukushima’s evacuation zone are evolving rapidly after mating with abandoned domesticated pigs.

Learn how boar populations in Fukushima’s evacuation zone are evolving rapidly after mating with abandoned domesticated pigs. www.discovermagazine.com/pig-boar-hyb...

Fever Chills Are Linked to the Brain’s Emotional Center, and May Be a Survival Strategy Learn how a fever-related molecule activates emotional brain circuits, which intensify chills and drive warmth-seeking behavior during infection.

Learn how a fever-related molecule activates emotional brain circuits, which intensify chills and drive warmth-seeking behavior during infection. www.discovermagazine.com/fever-chills...