Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Comet Makes Spectacular Galactic Flyby (Video)
A NASA probe recently spotted the dazzling Pan-STARRS comet as it hurtled through space against the backdrop of a distant galaxy.
Forecasting the development of breakthrough technologies to enable novel space missions
A new report, Technological Breakthroughs for Scientific Progress, has been published today by the European Science Foundation. The five Overwhelming Drivers identified in this exercise are to reduce mass, maintain...
Earth-like planets Gliese 581 g and d likely don't exist, study says
Another study has cast doubt on the existence of two of the first Earth-sized planets "discovered" outside our solar system that could potentially host liquid water, and therefore life.
OCO-2 takes the A-Train to study Earth's atmosphere
(Phys.org) —Every day, above our planet, five Earth-observing satellites rush along like trains on the same "track," flying minutes, and sometimes seconds, behind one another. They carry more than 15...
Upgrade for European light source
One of Europe's premier scientific research laboratories - the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility - is to go through a 150m-euro (£120m) upgrade.
Dropship offers safe landings for Mars rovers
The dramatic conclusion to ESA's latest StarTiger project: a 'dropship' quadcopter steers itself to lower a rover gently onto a safe patch of the rocky martian surface.
ESA image: Mount Pinatubo, Philippines
This image from the Sentinel-1A radar satellite on 6 June shows part of the Philippine island of Luzon with Mount Pinatubo.
FEATURE: An infographic to show how big the Earth really is
Ever wondered how big parts of the Earth are relative to nearby objects in our Solar System? This cartoon has got you covered.
Chinese moon rover designer shooting for Mars
The man who designed China's Jade Rabbit moon rover hopes a more advanced version of his creation will be sent to Mars, state media reported, underscoring Beijing's increasingly ambitious space...
Researchers propose a new theory of star formation
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology in the US have discovered that one in every 10,000 stars may be made out of metal.
36-Year-Old NASA Probe's Engines Fired Up Again
An old NASA spacecraft under the control of a private team fired its thrusters this week for the first time in a generation.
Controversial clues of two 'Goldilocks planets' that might support life are proven false
Mysteries about controversial signals from a star considered a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial life now have been solved. The research proves, for the first time, that some...
Ultrasound for astronomers? A young star's age can be gleamed from nothing but sound waves
Determining the age of stars has long been a challenge for astronomers. Astronomers now show that 'infant' stars can be distinguished from 'adolescent' stars by measuring the acoustic waves they...
How Astronauts in Space Celebrate the 4th of July
While people around the United States are barbecuing, drinking cold beverages and enjoying the summer sun, NASA astronauts on the International Space Station will also get the chance to celebrate...
Long-retired space probe restarted successfully
Now no longer space junk, the spacecraft hadn't fired its engines since 1987
How Do You Age a Star? Check Its 'Heartbeat' (Video)
Watching the 'heartbeat' of young stars could help researchers more precisely determine the stars' ages, a new study says, which in turn would help astronomers better understand how stars are...
Are 2 Potentially Habitable Alien Planets Just Cosmic Illusions?
What astronomers thought were a pair of potentially life-friendly alien worlds are illusions, apparitions conjured up by a star's intense magnetic activity, a new study suggests.
Tom Hardy to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Revenant'
Annie MartinLOS ANGELES, July 3 (UPI) -- Tom Hardy joins Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Revenant," a revenge thriller set in the 1800s frontier.
'Full House' cast members reunite at Dave Coulier's wedding
Annie MartinPARADISE VALLEY, Mont., July 3 (UPI) -- Bob Saget, John Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber and creator Jeff Franklin reunited Wednesday at Dave Coulier and Melissa Bring's wedding.
Space History Photo: Materials Science Experiments Conducted at MSFC
The first all-female crew of scientific experimenters prepare experiments that were used during the Space Shuttle/Spacelab missions.
Pictures: Celebrating the Fourth of July and America
A patriotic pup takes flight, fireworks light up the night, and flags flutter in the wind.
Inside Independence: First Look at Houston Space Shuttle's New Cockpit
For the first time, Space Center Houston is offering a look inside its space shuttle Independence.
Presence of serpentine on Vesta suggests exogenic origin
(Phys.org) —Rocks are silent storytellers: because each mineral is created only under certain conditions, they provide insight into the evolution of the body on which they are found. Scientists from...
Spanish instrument reveals how magnetic structures in the Sun are born and evolve
The IMaX magnetograph, an instrument entirely developed in Spain, has revealed how flux tubes are formed and evolve in the Sun. These tubes are considered to be the building blocks...
Earth Is Farthest from the Sun for 2014 Today
Despite the summer heat in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is actually at its farthest point from the sun today, July 3. Here's how Earth's orbit and its aphelion work.
2-D model may help explorers find reservoirs of the 'ice that burns'
(Phys.org) —A decade of research by Rice University scientists has produced a two-dimensional model to prove how gas hydrate, the "ice that burns," is formed under the ocean floor.
Iron 'fingerprints' point astronomers to supernova suspects
(Phys.org) —An international team of astronomers using data from the Japan-led Suzaku X-ray observatory has developed a powerful technique for analyzing supernova remnants, the expanding clouds of debris left behind...
The telescope that beamed the moonwalk now faces a budget blackhole
Fears for the future of Parkes's CSIRO radio telescope as the budget axe looms over the NSW towns famous observatory Continue reading...