Advances

New work pinpoints the origins of the planet Theia, whose ancient collision with Earth likely produced the moon

This lovable Star Wars droid is helping to shed light on why some bird species are better at mimicking sounds than others

Solve a holey shape conundrum in this math puzzle

Data from 11,587 cities show that, rain or shine, some places are just better for bikes and pedestrians

An 18-year dataset from the North Sea reveals that rogue waves are not freak accidents but particular products of ordinary swells stacking up—an insight that could make prediction possible

New research aims to tease out what exactly is happening in the brains of people with schizophrenia who have auditory hallucinations

Researchers spot the “tipping point” before mathematicians’ moments of discovery

Are we the only rational thinkers? New research on our primate cousins suggests otherwise

The noperthedron has a surprising property—which disproves a long-standing conjecture

Cliff-rappelling scientists uncovered a crossbow bolt, part of a slingshot and 25 shoes in ancient vulture nesting sites

For microscopic worms, physical laws we seldom notice take on life-or-death importance

Australian “sleepy” lizards are not so sleepy when it comes to fire