Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Cosmic Log: Who’s X’d out for X Prize?
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Some teams have already fallen by the wayside in a $10 million contest for ultra-efficient cars — and other teams are working hard to stay...
'Monster' Black Holes Activate When Galaxies Collide
Enormous black holes, some of the most powerful sources of radiation in the universe, apparently switch on after galaxies collide.
Hubble scrutinizes site of mysterious flash and missing cloud belt on Jupiter
New and detailed observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have provided insights into two recent events on Jupiter: the mysterious flash of light seen on June 3 and the...
Hundreds of Possible Alien Planets Found by NASA Spacecraft
NASA's Kepler spacecraft hunting for Earth-like planets around other stars has found 706 candidates for potential alien worlds while gazing at more than 156,000 stars packed into a single patch...
City Tech to Host International Solar Sailing Symposium July 20-22
Top scientists from 14 countries will convene at New York City College of Technology (City Tech) from July 20 through July 22 for the Second International Symposium on Solar Sailing....
Camera Survives 1,100-Mile Ocean Odyssey to Fla.
After Nikon Washes Up on Key West, Internet Sleuthing of Images, Video Help Track Down Source to Aruba
Swiss team plans to fly solar plane all night
(AP) -- A Swiss team hoping to fly a solar-powered plane around the world in 2012 says it plans to take a prototype for an all-night spin later this month.
China Launches New Research Satellite Into Orbit
China successfully shot a scientific research satellite into orbit on a Long March rocket Monday, marking the country's fourth space launch of the year.
Opportunities at light source and neutron facilities
New intense sources of radiation at national facilities in Chicago, New York, and Tennessee coupled with the next generation of sensitive detectors are allowing geochemists like John Parise to gather...
Enigmatic star could emerge from its gassy cocoon
A dramatic drop in Eta Carinae's stellar winds could herald a bright future.
Rock stars, Hollywood take a look at Iowa State researcher's unique 3-D technology
William Lohry took a seat before a projector-camera combination and offered his best smile.
Olbers paradox is explained by cosmic dust instead of the Big Bang
Background The German astronomer Heinrich Olbers in 1823 is credited with the paradoxical observation that the night sky is dark, but in a static infinite universe the night sky should be...
NASA Contractor Cries Foul as Space Agency Moves To Curb Constellation
A NASA contractor says the space agency is trying to prematurely halt work on the Constellation program, which the Obama administration wants to cancel.
Sharper than Hubble: Large Binocular Telescope achieves major breakthrough
(PhysOrg.com) -- The next generation of adaptive optics has arrived at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona, providing astronomers with a new level of image sharpness never before seen....
Comet-Chasing Spacecraft to Fly By Asteroid
A European comet-chasing spacecraft will zip by a large asteroid next month, snapping pictures all the way and potentially unlocking some of the mysteries surrounding the space rock.
Autonymous Satellites
Autonomous Satellites How smart does a satellite have to be to function? I'm working on the design of the Project Calliope satellite, and near as I can tell, it doesn't need...
MSSL designs 'eyes' of robot scientist bound for Mars
(PhysOrg.com) -- A planetary scientist from University College London is designing the 'eyes' of a rover that will search for signs of life on Mars.
NASA announces research award recipients
WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- NASA says it has awarded $16.8 million to fund 24 research proposals from U.S. colleges and universities in areas of importance to the space...
Solar System Baby Photos Help Reveal How Planets Form
Baby solar systems in the making have been observed in unprecedented detail to help reveal how planets are formed.
Hayabusa asteroid mission comes home
The Hayabusa capsule and bus entered the Earth's atmosphere over Woomera, Australia, on June 13 at 11:21 p.m. local time. From the perspective of NASA's DC-8 airborne observation team, the...
Next Mars Rover's Landing Site Narrowed to 4 Choices
The latest Mars robot may be dead, but NASA scientists have plenty to keep them busy as they scout out four potential stomping grounds for an ambitious new rover pegged...
Space Station keeps watch on world’s sea traffic
As the ISS circles Earth, it has begun tracking individual ships crossing the seas beneath. An experiment hosted by ESA’s Columbus module is testing the viability of monitoring global traffic...
Video Shows Soyuz Spaceship Landing Like Never Before
A new video of the recent landing of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft shows the touchdown on the Central Asian steppes of Kazakhstan from a rare ground-based view of the space...
Houston, We (Finally) Have an Astronaut
Houston may have been the home to NASA's Mission Control and the hub of U.S. human spaceflight program for more than 40 years, but the Texas metropolis has never produced...
The Atmosphere of Io
(PhysOrg.com) -- Io is one of the four moons of Jupiter that Galileo discovered after he turned his new telescope heavenward. They shocked him and his contemporaries because they demonstrated...
Observatory: The Bubbles Bursting in Air
Researchers shed new light on what happens when a hemispheric bubble goes pop.
SETI Institute Names New Chief Alien Life Hunter
A new director has stepped up to lead the Carl Sagan Center for Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Institute, taking the reins from previous long-time director...
Earth's Colorful Atmospheric Layers Photographed from Space
Layers of Earth's atmosphere illuminated by sunset; seen by ISS astronauts.