Feb 4th, 2026 - Quantum decryption may be a decade or more away, but healthcare organizations should take steps now to protect patient data. It could take a supercomputer 149 million years to decrypt data that has been encrypted with the RSA-2048 public-key encryption system. A quantum computer might be able to crack that data in eight hours. While quantum computers with this capability don't yet exist, experts predict they may become available roughly over the next decade. But the power of quantum computing represents an issue that healthcare organizations should start addressing now. "Cryptographers have ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - A string of surprising advances suggests usable quantum computers could be here in a decade. Just a few years ago, many researchers in quantum computing thought it would take several decades to develop machines that could solve complex tasks, such as predicting how chemicals react or cracking encrypted text . But now, there is growing hope that such machines could arrive in the next ten years. A 'vibe shift' is how Nathalie de Leon, an experimental quantum physicist at Princeton University in New Jersey, describes the change. "People are now starting to come around." The pace of progress in ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - moon mission engulfed by debate over its controversial heat shield As NASA ramps up the preparation to send four people on a trip around the moon and back, a debate is raging among experts and former astronauts over whether the mission's spacecraft is as safe as the space agency claims. As soon as March, NASA could launch . After being lofted into space by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, NASA's Orion capsule will ferry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen in a record-breaking loop around the moon. NASA is confident that the mission will be successful ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - The order outlines a widespread effort to plan for increased quantum innovation, private sector cooperation and international partnership in pursuit of a quantum computer for scientific applications and discovery. The White House is currently developing a landmark executive order focused on quantum information sciences and technology, which is expected to establish a whole-of-government approach to bolstering the U.S. quantum ecosystem. Detailed in a draft document obtained by Nextgov/FCW titled "Ushering In The Next Frontier Of Quantum Innovation," the pending order tasks the director of ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. . E ver since he found a fossilized parrot mandible in 1983, Flinders University paleontologist Trevor Worthy has wondered about the backstory of fossils in Moa Eggshell Cave, North Island, New Zealand. The country is rife with fossil deposits dating to the Late Pleistocene, showing what lived in New Zealand when humans arrived about 750 years ago. Humans played a role in more than 50 species going extinct over just a few hundred years, but whether other provocations caused species turnover earlier in the Pleistocene has been unclear. Nautilus ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - For decades, driving on Mars meant humans squinting at rocks 140 million miles away. NASA's Perseverance rover just took a historic leap for interplanetary exploration. The rover successfully navigated the rugged, wheel-shredding terrain of Jezero Crater using routes planned entirely by Anthropic's Claude AI. On December 8 and 10, 2025, Perseverance crunched across 456 meters of alien rock and sand. The waypoints (the digital breadcrumbs the rover follows) were generated by an AI that "studied" the terrain from orbit. It Looks Like AI Has a Future in Space NASA has sent six rovers to Mars. ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - Scientists are always making fascinating discoveries, some of which are right beneath our noses. Recently, beneath Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, scientists discovered two extinct predators in the world's longest cave. These two fossils belonged to ancient sharks that lived 325 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. With this discovery, scientists are now getting a look at the marine life that was alive and thriving during that time. Scientists Discovered Two Extinct Predators In The World's Longest Cave Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is known for its impressive ... [Read More]

Feb 3rd, 2026 - It's quick and easy to access Live Science Plus, simply enter your email below. We'll send you a confirmation and sign you up for our daily newsletter, keeping you up to date with the latest science news. Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Get the Live Science Newsletter Get the world's most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful ... [Read More]