Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
VIDEO: Life beyond earth in '10 to 20 years'
Astronomer Michael Merrifield says we are 'Pretty close' to finding life outside Earth
Private light sail spacecraft to launch by 2016
Bill Nye and The Planetary Society plan to launch an inexpensive solar sail powered spacecraft, a technology that could one day power interplanetary travel
A first direct glimpse of photosynthesis in action
An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, has just a reported a major step in understanding photosynthesis, the process by...
Iraq's Maliki ousts Kurdish foreign minister Zebari, installs Shiite replacement
JC FinleyBAGHDAD, July 11 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki confirmed Friday he replaced Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, with Hussain Shahristani, a Shiite.
Forces of martian nature
The surface of Mars is pocked and scarred with giant impact craters and rocky ridges, as shown in this new image from ESA's Mars Express that borders the giant Hellas...
Supernova explosion reveals origin of star dust
Astronomers watching a supernova may have found out where the star dust that made up much of our Universe came from.
Hubble spots spiral bridge of young stars linking two ancient galaxies
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has photographed an unusual structure 100,000 light-years long, which resembles a corkscrew-shaped string of pearls and winds around the cores of two colliding galaxies. The unique...
Sun-like stars reveal their ages
A new technique for measuring the age of a star using its spin -- gyrochronology -- is coming into its own. Today astronomers are presenting the gyrochronological ages of 22...
Found! Most Distant Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy
The distance to newly discovered stars at the edge of the Milky Way is almost "too large to comprehend."
Fusion energy facility promises clean energy
The search for star power – fusion – has received a major boost with the launch of the Australian Plasma Fusion Research Facility (APFRF) at The Australian National University.
Cedar Point vows to rename coaster after LeBron James if he returns to Cleveland
Evan BleierSANDUSKY , Ohio, July 10 (UPI) -- Cedar Point amusement park has promised LeBron James that it will rename one of its roller coasters "King James" if he signs...
'Super Venus' in another solar system is not habitable, so why did the media say it was?
In June, the popular press went wild. A planet had been discovered that was so much like Earth it was heralded as our best bet for supporting life. Positioned 16...
Why does Venus' atmosphere rotate sixty times faster than its surface?
Venus is a slowly rotating planet since it takes about two hundred and forty three terrestrial days to complete a round about itself. Its atmosphere is expected to rotate with...
Artificial spacetime experiment could show tantalizing effects of gravitational waves
(Phys.org) —Although the curves and ripples of spacetime are suspected to be full of intriguing secrets about the history of the universe, they are also extremely difficult to study. For...
Beyond a joke: how to study laughter scientifically
Professor Sophie Scott has made it her mission to study laughter. But creating laughter that can be analysed in a scientific setting proves to be alarmingly challenging Continue reading...
British asteroid mapper sent into orbit
UK technology that can create thermal maps of asteroids, giving us vital information about how their trajectories might change, is about to undergo trials in space.
Brown dwarfs may wreak havoc on orbits of nearby planets, causing desolation
Planets that move around their stars in circular orbits are a better bet for life than those in elongated orbits when it comes to creating habitable climate conditions, according to...
Agile aperture antenna tested on aircraft to survey ground emitters, maintain satellite connection
(Phys.org) —The Georgia Tech Research Institute's software-defined, electronically-reconfigurable Agile Aperture Antenna (A3) has now been tested on the land, sea and air.
Space Probe Might Lack Nitrogen to Push It Home
Engineers trying to lasso an aged NASA space probe may have run into an insurmountable obstacle: Tanks once full of nitrogen gas, needed to fire the thrusters, appear to have...
Halos come away with an 8-7 victory against Toronto
Albert Pujols hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Halos came away with an 8-7 victory in Wednesday's rubber match of a three-game...
NameExoWorlds: A contest to name exoplanets and their host stars
For the first time, in response to the public’s increased interest in being part of discoveries in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union is organizing a worldwide contest to give popular...
Celine Dion meets 'All By Myself' viral video star
Kate StantonLAS VEGAS, July 9 (UPI) -- Richard Dunn, the man who filmed himself singing "All By Myself" in an empty airport last month, met his inspiration, Celine Dion, in...
Silver Surprise: Millions of Anchovies in San Diego Surf
A Northern anchovy school was the largest group of anchovies ever seen offshore of La Jolla in the last 30 years.
Name an Alien Planet: Voters Wanted to Christen Strange New Worlds
Do you want to help name an alien planet? Starting next year, space fans around the world will get the chance to vote on their favorite names for exoplanets and...
Hartley, Meesseman lead Mystics past Sky
Bria Hartley scored 16 points to help the Washington Mystics end a three-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Sky 72-65 in a Wednesday matinee.
Russian, Belarus entities discuss defense equipment projects
Richard TomkinsMOSCOW, July 9 (UPI) -- Rosoboronexport eyes defense product deals with Belarus counter-parts.
New delay announced for trial in Aurora, Colo., theater shootings
Frances BurnsAURORA, Colo., July 9 (UPI) -- A psychiatrist has asked for more time to examine accused Colorado theater shooter James Holmes, a judge said Wednesday, announcing another delay for...
Naya Rivera will appear on 'Glee' as a recurring guest star
Annie MartinLOS ANGELES, July 9 (UPI) -- Naya Rivera will appear as Santana Lopez on the final season of "Glee" as a recurring guest star, not a series regular.