Astronomy
The Northeastern United States Gets To See a Rocket Launch Today
At 5 p.m. today, a huge rocket will blast off from a base in Virginia
April 17, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
No, You Can’t Officially Rename a Planet. But No One Can Stop You From Trying
This contest to name exoplanets isn't official. But does that really matter?
April 16, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Did We Just Find Dark Matter?
The physics world is buzzing over new evidence for dark matter. We break it down for you
April 04, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Michael Benson’s Awe-Inspiring Views of the Solar System
A photographer painstakingly pieces together raw data collected by spacecraft to produce color-perfect images of the Sun, planets and their many moons
April 02, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
What Major World Cities Look Like at Night, Minus the Light Pollution
Photographer Thierry Cohen tries to reconnect city dwellers with nature through his mind-blowing composite images—now at New York City's Danziger Gallery
March 29, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Astronomers Discover Baby Supernovae
This new type of mini-supernova doesn't destroy the star
March 28, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Haiku Highlight the Existential Mysteries of Planetary Science
Conference-goers put into verse the ethane lakes on a Saturn moon, the orbital paths of Martian moons and a megachondrule's mistaken identity
March 19, 2013 |
By Mohi Kumar
This Mountain Is What Curiosity’s Whole Mission Is About
Since August, Curiosity has been inching toward Mars' Mount Sharp
March 18, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Are We Ready to Have Babies in Space?
As technology progresses, and people start to talk seriously about trips to Mars or other planets, the questions of love and sex in space become more pressing
March 14, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Pluto May Have Ten More Teeny Tiny Moons
Poor little Pluto could have a dozen moons and some rings, and yet it still isn't a planet
March 13, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Eclipses Look Even More Gorgeous From Outer Space
With roiling red Sun and the black disk of Earth, eclipses don't get much prettier than this
March 12, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Northern Lights—From Scientific Phenomenon to Artists’ Muse
The spectacular aurora borealis is inspiring artists to create light installations, musical compositions, food and fashion
March 12, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Dennis Hope Thinks He Owns the Moon
Dennis Hope claims to own the Moon, and he wants to sell you an acre for just $19.99 plus taxes and fees
March 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Life on Earth May Have Been Seeded by Comets
Researchers at UC Berkeley recently added evidence to the idea that life on earth came from a comet
March 08, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The (Natural) World, According to Our Photo Contest Finalists
From a caterpillar to the Milky Way, the ten finalists in the contest's Natural World category capture the peculiar, the remarkable and the sublime
March 07, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Behold, The First Full Map of Mercury
"Every square meter of Mercury's surface" in one gorgeous map
March 06, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
How to Make a Sandwich in Space
Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield has been described as "the International Space Station's ambassador to the internet." Now, he's showing you how to make a sandwich, in space
March 06, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
E.T. Phone Home: New Research Could Detect Signs of Life in this Decade
Thanks to a proposal by astronomers Avi Loeb and Dan Maoz, we could find evidence of extraterrestrial life very soon
March 01, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The Red Planet Is Only Red on the Outside
A rusty sheen turns Mars red, but beneath the rock is a plain gray
February 26, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
William Shatner Hijacks Contest to Name Pluto’s Moon
For the Vulcan home world, or the Roman god of fire, Pluto's new moon may soon be named Vulcan
February 26, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
