Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Post-mortem of a comet
Researchers at the University of Leicester are examining extraterrestrial material from a comet to assess the origins of our Solar System...
"Comets" Found Orbiting Monster Black Hole
Ghostly, comet-shaped clouds of gas have been spotted orbiting near the mouth of a supermassive black hole, a new study says. ...
Palin to receive $75,000 for Cal State Stanislaus appearance, sources say
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will receive $75,000 to appear at a California State University campus fundraiser next month, two sources at the university have confirmed.
WISE telescope has Heart and Soul
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has captured a huge mosaic of two bubbling clouds in space, known as the Heart and Soul nebulae. The space telescope, which has...
Obama's Oil and Energy Opportunity
What should President Obama say about energy when he visits the soiled gulf on Friday?
National Briefing | Science: Goodbye to a Silent Phoenix
NASA has ended efforts to regain contact with its Phoenix Mars Lander near the planet’s north pole.
Launch of Mars500 mission on 3 June in Moscow
(PhysOrg.com) -- The first full-duration simulation of a human mission to Mars is about to begin. After closing the hatch, the crew of six will remain in their 'spacecraft' for...
High-energy project in high desert
The sprawling solar installations gobbling up California's deserts have a new competitor, one that claims to generate more energy at lower costs while using less open space. Known as concentrator...
Pyrophosphite: Energy Source For Early Life?
Researchers at the University of Leeds have found that a compound known as pyrophosphite may have been an important energy source for primitive lifeforms.The findings, published in the journal Chemical...
The Northern Lights: Illuminating near-Earth space
The beauty of the Northern Lights has been chronicled for centuries, but new research at the University of Leicester offers insight into the science behind the spectacle...
Chott el Jerid, Tunisia: Closest thing to Mars on Earth?
Scientists are analyzing one of the most Mars-like places on Earth -- Chott el Jerid in South West Tunisia -- in preparation for future missions to the Red Planet.
Weird orbits of neighbors can make 'habitable' planets not so habitable
New findings from computer modeling indicate some exoplanets might fluctuate between being habitable and being inhospitable to life because of forces exerted by giant neighbors with eccentric orbits.
Planets Found With Crisscross Orbits—A First
A "super Jupiter" and its sibling have unusual, crisscross orbits—the first time anyone has seen such a configuration, scientists say.
Flying Telescope Escapes 13-Year Purgatory to Glimpse Heavens
After cost overruns and delays that threatened to keep it grounded forever, a NASA...
South African Astronomical Observatory selected as host for the IAU Office for Astronomy Development
At its 88th meeting, on Thursday, 13 May 2010 in Baltimore, USA, the International Astronomical Union selected a proposal submitted by the Director of the SAAO, Professor Phil Charles, from...
New Global 'Thermometer' System Is Unveiled
A new way to use satellite instruments to get reliable surface temperatures over most of the world's land area has been presented by scientists from The University of Alabama in...
Out of whack planetary system offers clues to a disturbed past
Astronomers are reporting today the discovery of a planetary system way out of tilt, where the orbits of two planets are at a steep angle to each other. This surprising...
'Zombie-sat' prompts space waltz
Two spacecraft are set for an unusual orbital dance high above the Earth to evade interference from a failed satellite.
Cosmic Bullet Fired by Exploding Star
Bullet-shaped object seen ejected from supernova remnant by Chandra.
SETI Redux: Joining the Galactic Club
In this essay, David Schwartzman, a biogeochemist at Howard University in Washington D.C., explains why he thinks the aliens are out there, despite the fact that the search for extraterrestrial...
Owner: US cable service unhurt by rogue satellite
(AP) -- The owner of a satellite that transmits programming to all U.S. cable systems says it avoided interference from another, out-of-control satellite that was drifting into its path.
Backyard Star Wars
Lasers haven't yet been able to shoot swarms of missiles out of the sky, but they sure can zap mosquitoes.
NASA develops enhanced search and rescue technologies
GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA, which pioneered the technology used for the satellite-aided search and rescue capability that has saved more than 27,000 lives worldwide since its inception nearly three...
Heat wave has seniors homes on alert
With the mercury forecast to top out at 32 C on Tuesday and Wednesday, some Montreal seniors homes are on alert to make sure their residents don't dehydrate.
NASA TV to cover Soyuz landing
WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- NASA TV says it will telecast the June 1 return to Earth of three International Space Station crew members aboard the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft.
The Far Infrared Galaxy
(PhysOrg.com) -- Our Milky Way galaxy, like other spiral galaxies, has copious amounts of dust in its spiral arms. The dust absorbs starlight, thereby blocking our optical views, but...
Solar Panels Advance on Camp Lejeune
The United States military will have solar panels for hot water installed in 900 homes at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Herschel telescope unveils icy debris ringing sunlike stars
New images may reveal analogues of the solar system's frozen Kuiper belt