If our solar system were to lose a few moons or even a planet, the difference might be hard to notice—but lose the sun, and everything changes. Despite its role as neighborhood linchpin, however ...

At the top of the cosmic hierarchy, giant groups of galaxies clump into sprawling, matter-rich filaments and sheets around gaping intergalactic voids, but past that, structure seems to peter out.

Here are seven scientific discoveries from this year that could lead to new inventions in the future. Finding love, for a male anglerfish, means looking for the bright lure—or following the ...