Pluto was discovered 75 years ago this week and remains the only planet never visited by an Earth probe. Now a new NASA mission looks to change that.

As humans prepare to court their valentines, spare a thought for some bird species, where it's the males that are left holding the baby.

If you're smart, you'll never come within spitting distance of a cobra. A new study confirms they deliberately, and accurately, aim for the eyes.

Self-censorship may play a greater role in suppressing scientific research than laws or regulations, according to a new study.

Octopuses often bend their boneless arms to form "joints" like those in human arms, a new study says—information that could drive the next wave of robot arms.

An astronomy conference is buzzing with announcements of possible diamond planets, pint-size solar systems, and the smallest known planet (so far).

Israeli scientists have developed a test that they say can measure brain waves to objectively determine the level of a person's sexual desire.

Why do sunspot cycles, when plotted on a graph, look like butterfly wings? The answer could help predict solar storms, which can cause blackouts on Earth.

At the world's deepest spot, the pressure is like having 50 jumbo jets atop you. Yet even here life thrives, according to a recent expedition.

Archaeologists hope to prove a skeleton is that of the first leader of the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia. The answer may lie in the DNA of two of Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold's relatives—and the search begins today.

Are obese people who are sedentary intentionally lazy? Not according to a new study, which says some people are natural-born couch potatoes.

People around the world are loaning the unused power on their PCs to help scientists model Earth's past and future climate.

Scientists are working to develop a handheld scanner that can instantly identify plant and animal species by their DNA "bar codes."

Mice with human brain cells and humans with pig tissue are only two real-life examples of chimeras—creatures that are part human, part animal. But is it safe—and ethical?

More than 50 nations plan to link their networks of satellites and other Earth observation sensors to create an early warning system for natural disasters.