There’s ‘alien soil’ growing deep underground

How a major American museum gave its exhibits a dye job — for authenticity’s sake

See a handful of the incredible photos Astronaut Don Pettit has taken through the space station’s windows

A start-up is imagining how mushrooms may be turned into leather

Next time you’re walking in the woods, look out for ‘Dead Man’s Fingers’

An artist finds inspiration in the celestial frustrations of astronomer Charles Messier

A group of endangered island foxes are breaking records for bouncing back from the brink of extinction

Eating the ‘Carolina Reaper’ pepper is ‘like eating molten lava’

There’s a whole lot more color in that bucket of sand than you think

Meet a renowned astronomer who is still searching for ET, 50 years later

How art and design students think about the future of biotech

Here’s one tomato you definitely don’t want to eat

How scientists are creating a vegan alternative that cooks like and feels like ground beef

These ghostly blue lights aren’t your imagination — they’re a particular kind of firefly

How a Kindle’s e-ink system works

Laser-scanning our culture to preserve it

He stunk at math. He learned calc for his girlfriend. Now? He’s America’s chief data scientist.

What a young scientist found when he started researching a famous ‘boiling river’ in Peru

What the man who inspired Jurassic Park’s science thinks about the future of wildlife research

The Great Salt Lake has a pretty awesome earthen spiral

Watercolor? Look closer. It’s a climate change graph!

How a particular type of cheese captured the minds — and tongues — of fans

This giant stick insect is so rare only three females have ever been found in the wild

New research reveals how our own voice influences our moods

A new coloring book highlights the visual beauty of mathematics

The bacterium that causes ulcers and stomach cancers is disappearing — but hold your celebrations

Photographer takes a look at the (legal and otherwise) drugs we pop

For one New York cidermaker, a variety of flavorful blends keeps the drink interesting

Picture of the Week: LUX’s Photomultipler Tubes

10 questions with Dava Newman, the new deputy NASA administrator

10 Questions for…Dava Newman

An expanding volume of research suggests sound has a significant impact on taste

Does Sound Affect the Way We Taste?

Picture of the Week: Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds

This endangered salamander can regrow limbs — or even parts of its brain

Picture of the Week: Axolotl

Picture of the Week: Cock-Eyed Squid

Picture of the Week: The Green Rose

Picture of the Week: Sun Halo, With Sundog Companions

Earth’s biggest living thing might be a tree with thousands of clones

Picture of the Week: Pando, One of Earth’s Largest Living Organisms

AI robots, Steve Jobs and other highlights of the year in science films

The Year Ahead in Science Film

Picture of the Week: Lion’s Mane Mushroom

At LA’s Institute for Art and Olfaction, the science and history of perfume takes center stage

Overheard at SXSW 2015

The Art of Scent in Los Angeles

Picture of the Week: Plastiglomerate

In Memory of Leonard Nimoy

Picture of the Week: Electric Eel

How to make sure those are American chestnuts roasting on your fire

Picture of the Week: Cranberries

Q&A With Emily Graslie

Picture of the Week: ‘Engagement Ring’ in Space

Picture of the Week: Death Under Glass

Picture of the Week: Fukang Pallasite

Science suggests MSG really isn’t bad for your health after all

Is MSG Bad for Your Health?

Picture of the Week: Fused Staghorn Coral

Solve the Science Friday Crossword Puzzle!