Richard Leakey, whose discoveries helped prove mankind began in Africa, is dead at 77 Famed Kenyan conservationist and fossil hunter Richad Leakey has died at age 77. His discoveries helped prove Africa was the cradle of civilization. Jackie Northam
Famed fossil hunter and conservationist Richard Leakey dies at 77 Leakey made important contributions to our understanding of human origins through his fossil finds. He later gained fame for taking on poachers who threatened to wipe out Kenya's elephants and rhinos. Scott Neuman
The James Webb Space Telescope has started unfurling its giant sunshield The deployment of the shade on the $10 billion telescope began Tuesday with the successful lowering of two arms known as Utilized Pallet Structures. Scott Neuman
Biologist E.O. Wilson, who influenced how people see evolution and nature, dies at 92 Biologist and environmental activist E.O. Wilson died on Sunday at the age of 92. Wilson advocated for biodiversity and conservation. Geoff Brumfiel
The James Webb Space Telescope is on its trek to a spot a million miles from Earth The James Webb Space Telescope is on its ways to its parking place a million miles from Earth. What do scientists plan to do with it once it is operational? Joe Palca
E.O. Wilson, famed entomologist and pioneer in the field of sociobiology, dies at 92 The influential and sometimes controversial Harvard professor first made his name studying ants. He later broadened his scope to the intersection between human behavior and genetics. Scott Neuman
A fossilized dinosaur embryo shows a link to modern birds The embryo fossil was discovered in rocks in east China around the year 2000 and housed in the Yingliang Stone Natural History Museum in Fujian Province, where it was dubbed "Baby Yingliang." The Associated Press
Why some astronomers once feared NASA's James Webb Space Telescope would never launch NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is waiting at its launch site, after years of repeated delays and cost overruns. At one point, the giant new observatory was threatened with cancellation. Nell Greenfieldboyce
A brain circuit linking pain and breathing may offer a path to prevent opioid deaths Opioids can kill because they reduce breathing along with pain. Now brain scientists have made a discovery that could lead to potent pain drugs that don't affect breathing. Jon Hamilton
Why the most powerful space telescope ever needs to be kept really, really cold The James Webb Space Telescope will give a glimpse of the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang — but only if the telescope is kept frigid. That's why there's a tennis court-sized sunshield. Rebecca Ramirez
