Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Spirit problems still baffle scientists
WASHINGTON, April 27 (UPI) -- U.S. space agency scientists say they have not yet solved the mysterious cause of several glitches in the Mars exploration rover Spirit.
Scientists Find Earth-Sized Planet
Scientists have discovered a planet outside our solar system that is close to Earth in size - far different from the behemoths previously detected, researchers said.
NASA faces deadline for tough decisions on shuttle
(AP) -- NASA is facing a critical deadline to make its biggest decision in a generation: whether to go forward with plans to retire the space shuttle fleet and...
Scientists to discuss asteroid impacts
PARIS, April 22 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says scientists are getting ready for an international meeting to discuss preparations for a near-Earth flyby of asteroid Apophis.
Galaxies grow fat on 'big blob' meals
Discovery of a glowing gas cloud casts doubt on theories of galaxy formation.
Students Find Jupiter-sized Oddball Planet
Student astronomers in England have discovered that an exotic world passes directly in front of the Sun-like star it orbits, revealing for the first time that it is about the...
10 technologies on the 'green' frontier'
Technology helped humans blast off from Earth and circle the moon in the 1968, giving astronauts the chance to make this iconic image of planet Earth. Scientists and environmentalists are...
Most Earthlike Planet Yet Found May Have Liquid Oceans
New measurements suggest that the planet known as Gliese 581d has a lot more in common with Earth than first thought—and it has a previously unknown sister planet that is...
Researcher discover two highly complex organic molecules detected in space
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn, Germany, Cornell University, USA, and the University of Cologne, Germany, have detected two of the most...
Hubble celebrates 19th anniversary with fountain of youth
Over the past 19 years Hubble has taken dozens of exotic pictures of galaxies going "bump in the night" as they collide with each other and have a variety of...
The search for unusual alien life on Earth and life that can survive on Mars
Questions such as "How to search for weird alien life?" and "Would Earth microbes survive if delivered to the surface of Mars?" are addressed in articles that are part of...
Obama Taps Physicist To Head DOE Science Office
William F. Brinkman is the latest scientist asked by the President to serve within the Department of Energy
Primitive Interstellar Dust Samples Provide Pre-solar Time Capsules
Scientists have found some of the most primitive matter containing abundant interstellar material analyzed to date amongst dust particles collected from the upper atmosphere by NASA aircraft. The samples were...
Features Of Early Martian Environment And Presence Of Water Drive Search For Life Forms
Solar energy and winds, collisions with asteroids and comets, and changing magnetic fields have all altered the environment of Mars, a planet that may have been able to support life...
Ballutes Studied For Hypersonic Space Vehicles
Global Aerospace has been given NASA funding to study the use of ballutes in planetary atmospheric entry and descent.
Telescope upgrade turns data stream into a torrent
A major upgrade of CSIRO's radio telescope near Narrabri in NSW, which will turn the instrument's data stream into a torrent, is almost completed. CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark...
India launches satellite
SRIHARIKOTA, India, April 20 (UPI) -- India successfully launched a radar imaging satellite Monday, the country's space agency said.
Physicists See The Cosmos In A Coffee Cup
Scientists have discovered a universal principle that unites the curious interplay of light and shadow on the surface of your morning coffee with the way gravity magnifies and distorts light...
Aerodynamics on Land: Aiming for 800 M.P.H.
A group of volunteers intends to take a modified fighter jet to the hardpan desert at Black Rock, Nev., to set a new land speed record.
Scientists monitor developing Mars dust storm
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at Arizona State University's Mars Space Flight Facility are using the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter to monitor a new dust storm...
Ares I Five Segment Development Motor on the Move
(PhysOrg.com) -- On April 16, NASA moved the first segment of the Ares I rocket's five segment development motor, or DM-1, from ATK Space System's production facility in Promontory, Utah,...
Rare Sight: Twin Shuttles at Launch Pad for Last Time
The rare sight of twin space shuttles atop their launch pads ended on Monday.
Cyclone Bijli's rainfall -- from birth to death (w/Video)
Before satellites, meteorologists had no way to estimate or measure how much rain tropical cyclones generated where there were no buoys with rain gauges. The satellite managed by NASA and...
Bottling moonshine... do lunar cycles affect the taste of wine?
Supermarkets are arranging wine tasting sessions around "good" and "bad" days as dictated by the lunar calendar. So does the moon really change the taste of wine?
Sea Launch Deploys Military Spacecraft for Italy
An Italian military communications satellite launched into orbit early Monday.
Can R2 gravity explain dark matter?
(PhysOrg.com) -- "In many ways, the standard model of cosmology works very well," Jose Cembranos tells PhysOrg. "However, there are very basic features that we just do not know. We...
Adobe extends Flash to TVs, Blu-ray players
(AP) -- Adobe Systems Inc. is extending its Flash platform to digital home entertainment devices like TV sets, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes.