Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Images Reveal Clues to Universe's Friskiest Black Holes
A new survey found that super-active black holes are comparatively rare.
Magnetic fields on O-Class stars
The primary method by which astronomers can measure magnetic field strength on stars is the Zeeman effect. This effect is the splitting of spectral lines into two due to the...
Cosmic Log: Fun stuff for science fans
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Get a look at snakes on a (geometric) plane, contraptions built from Lego blocks and other geeky goodies on YouTube.
NASA to test Discovery repairs
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- NASA says a test at Kennedy Space Center Friday could help clear the way for the planned February launch of space shuttle...
U.S. eyes major solar energy advances
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Six states in the western United States were identified by the federal government as potential solar energy zones, two Cabinet officials announced.
Fuel error cost Russia three navigation satellites: official
The costly launch failure that caused Russia to delay the deployment of its own satellite system was the result of a fuel miscalculation, a commission charged with probing the accident...
The many galaxy 'flavors'
(PhysOrg.com) -- This collage of galaxies from NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, showcases the many "flavors" that galaxies come in, from star-studded spirals to bulging ellipticals to those...
Russia in contact with shuttle after glitch
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it was in full contact with the international space station and its Soyuz shuttle after a brief loss of contact with the craft...
Whopping Celestial Baby Boom Revealed in Early Universe
The young universe was an engine of fast-paced star birth, according to new research.
NASA set to resume balloon science flights
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- NASA says its scientific balloon program will resume following an extensive evaluation of safety protocols following a mishap at an April launch in Australia.
Famous deep-sea submersible to get upgrade
WOODS HOLE, Mass., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Alvin, one of the world's best-known submersible research craft, is about to get an upgrade that will transform its capabilities, U.S. scientists...
SORCE's solar spectral surprise
Two satellite instruments aboard NASA's Solar Radiation & Climate Experiment (SORCE) mission -- the Total Solar Irradiance Monitor (TIM) and the Solar Irradiance Monitor (SIM) -- have made daily measurements...
New Telescope in Chile to Witness Birth of Galaxies
Astronomers at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., are leading the design and engineering efforts on a planned telescope facility in Chile that will probe the universe for new galaxies and...
Pluto Has Oceans Under Ice?
Frigid Pluto may harbor a deep liquid ocean beneath its miles-thick ice shell, a new model of the dwarf planet's radioactive core heat suggests.
Surprises found in study of asteroid remnants
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Scientists analyzing leftovers from an asteroid that harmlessly plunged through the sky in 2008 say there's great diversity in the meteorites recovered....
Strange Quarks Episode 6: David Aaronovitch
David Aaronovitch chats with Martin Robbins and Michael Marshall about conspiracy theories, touching on the MMR controversy, Wikileaks, and the suicide of David Kelly.Strange Quarks: Series 1, Episode 6Subscribe (RSS)...
Sun's Gravity Could Be Tapped to Call E.T.
Magnifying radio signals using the gravity of the sun and other stars might enable us to communicate with interstellar probes, distant colonies and even aliens
Mary Roach: NASA Research on Zero Gravity Sex?
What happens when you've been in space for a year? And is it possible for a human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? From the space...
NASA's Speediest Probe Gains on Far-Out Pluto
A NASA Pluto probe may be slumbering at the moment, but it's still tearing through space at a blistering pace, closing in on the orbit of Uranus.
Field Report: Astrobiologists Drill Into Antarctic Ice
NASA's IceBite team was in Antarctica this month testing a new drill built by Honeybee Robotics for use on a possible future mission to Mars.
Light dawns on dark gamma-ray bursts
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), fleeting events that last from less than a second to several minutes, are detected by orbiting observatories that can pick up their high energy radiation. Thirteen years...
Dot Earth: U.S. Energy Choices and Global Climate Plans
A new forecast of American energy choices reveals opportunities and challenges ahead.
Congress, Spaceport Propose Display Plans for Retired Space Shuttles
Plans are moving forward for the display of two of NASA's soon-to-be-retired space shuttles at the Smithsonian and Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
Arianspace to launch ESA’s first Sentinel satellite
ESA and Arianspace have signed a contract for the launch of Sentinel-1A, the first Earth observation satellite to be built for Europe’s Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme.
Earth images help you dream on Lufthansa flights
Passengers can now select between informative and relaxing ESA channels on Lufthansa flights. ESA’s new relaxation channel features Our Colourful Planet, a collage of spectacular Earth images set to meditative...
Citizen scientists join search for Earth-like planets
(PhysOrg.com) -- Web users around the globe will be able to help professional astronomers in their search for Earth-like planets thanks to a new online citizen science project called Planet...
Lunar dust transport still a mystery
There are times when Moon appears to have a tenuous atmosphere of moving dust particles that are leaping up from and falling back to the Moons surface. First seen during...
No asteroid particles found in second Hayabusa compartment, but more in first
No visible material from asteroid Itokawa was found inside the second compartment of a canister returned to Earth by the Hayabusa spacecraft.