Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Waiter, there's metal in my moon water
Bring a filter if you plan on drinking water from the moon. Water ice recently discovered in dust at the bottom of a crater near the moon's south pole is...
Solar storms could create $2tn 'global Katrina', warns chief scientist
GPS systems and electricity networks are increasingly vulnerable to damage by turbulent solar weather, scientists say• Solar flares herald rare glimpses of northern lights over UKThe threat of solar storms that could wreak...
Google Lunar X Prize competition teams aiming for the Moon
(PhysOrg.com) -- The final list of competitors for the robotic Moon explorer prize has been announced. The Google Lunar X first prize total of $20 million will be awarded to...
"Habitable" alien planet find ignites debate
Co-discoverer of Planet Gliese 581g defends its status as "first potentially habitable" alien world
Podcast: A Global Katrina?
Science deputy news editor Robert Coontz explores extreme space weather
Astrophysicist Adam Riess Wins the 2011 Einstein Medal
Adam Riess, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and a professor in physics and astronomy at The Johns Hopkins University, today was awarded the 2011 Einstein Medal...
SpaceX to focus on astronaut capsule
HAWTHORNE, Calif., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Commercial space company SpaceX says it has put off development of its Falcon rocket to focus on its Dragon capsule intended to take...
Predicting the Next Egypt
While no one can predict the future of violent revolution, four societal factors make certain countries far more likely to go down the same road as Egypt and Tunisia.
Saturn to Form Sky Triangle with Moon, Bright Star
The "Saturn Triangle" is returning to the night sky for late-night skywatchers.
Astronaut rookie gets his chance
Italian Luca Parmitano will be the first of the European Space Agency's new astronauts to go into orbit, in 2013.
New Aurora Pictures: Solar Storms Light Up Arctic Night
Shimmering curtains of neon color added sparkle to Valentine's Day, as bursts of particles from the sun triggered brilliant auroras.
FYI: If I Fell Through The Earth, What Would Happen In The Center?
Just getting to the center of the Earth and surviving is impossible. The Earth's core is about 9,000°F-as hot as the sun's surface-and would instantly roast anyone who found himself there. Then there's...
ATV Johannes Kepler operating flawlessly
Following a spectacular launch on 16 February, Europe's space freighter is now in its planned orbit. Mission controllers are preparing to match its trajectory with that of the International Space...
Cassini to sample magnetic environment around Titan
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Cassini spacecraft is set to skim close to Saturn's moon Titan on Friday, Feb. 18, to learn about the interaction between Titan and Saturn's magnetosphere, the magnetic...
Engineering atomic interfaces for new electronics
Most people cross borders such as doorways or state lines without thinking much about it. Yet not all borders are places of limbo intended only for crossing. Some borders, like...
Experiment volunteers take 2nd 'walk on Mars'
Astronauts on a simulated flight to Mars made a second walk on a mock-up of the Red Planet's surface in Russia Friday, collecting soil samples for analysis.
Back to the roots of the solar system
Planets form in disks of dust and gas that surround young stars. A look at the birth places means a journey into the past of the earth and its siblings....
Planetary exploration robots to be featured on science program ‘WaveLengths’
TUCSON, Ariz. (February 18, 2011) -- A University of Arizona College of Engineering researcher and his team who are developing intelligent robots for planetary exploration will be featured in a...
Sony booming in India on strong brand image
(AP) -- Sony is doing booming business in India, dominating in flat-panel TVs and digital cameras, and is in good shape to keep growing in coming years, a top...
Catching space weather in the act
Special cameras aboard the Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, spacecraft have snapped the first shots of a complex space environment. Instead of recording light, these two large single-pixel cameras detect...
NASA Shuts Down Prolific Sky-Mapping Space Telescope
NASA's WISE space telescope received its last command today (Feb. 17).
Cyberwarfare Called Fifth Domain of Battle by Pentagon
Cyberspace joining land, sea, air and space as legitimate battlefield.
The Best Images from the 2010 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge
The World's Most Detailed 3-D Model of HIV Created from a variety of sources in virology, X-ray analysis, and NMR spectroscopy, the spatial configurations of the the proteins are depicted in accordance with...
Cosmic Log: Visions of science go viral
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: The winners of one of the world's most prestigious contests for scientific images include views of nasty viruses as well as cool viral videos.
Glory promises new view of perplexing particles
Climatologists have known for decades that airborne particles called aerosols can have a powerful impact on the climate. However, pinpointing the magnitude of the effect has proven challenging because of...
Small Particle Means Big Research for International Physics Project
Glenn Horton-Smith, associate professor of physics, is leading the Kansas State University portion of the exploration on the Double Chooz neutrino detector, located in the Ardennes region of northern France....
Global solar observatory flares into life
Home-built e-CALLISTO network provides real-time data on Sun's radio emissions.
Flocculent spiral has relatively low star formation rate
The galaxy NGC 2841 -- shown in a new Hubble Space Telescope image -- currently has a relatively low star formation rate compared to other spirals. It is one of...