Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
South Pole Worker Stranded After Stroke
Renee-Nicole Douceur, a worker at the isolated Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole, has been awaiting a rescue plane since she suffered a stroke on Aug. 27.
Moons around asteroids studied
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- That planets have moons is old news to most people but a U.S. planetary scientist says up 20 percent of asteroids also have...
ESA To Collaborate with NASA on Solar Science Mission
On October 4, 2011, the European Space Agency announced it's two next science missions, including Solar Orbiter, a spacecraft geared to study the powerful influence of the sun. Solar Orbiter...
Astronaut's Tribute To Steve Jobs From Space Station
NASA astronaut Mike Fossum reflects on the indelible mark left behind by the technology icon.
Space Rocks Like This One Probably Helped Deliver Earth's Oceans
Comet Hartley 2 NASA/JPL Earth's oceans likely started out as space snowballs born far beyond the orbit of Pluto, a new study says. Water-rich comets collided with the young planet after hurtling through...
3 Questions: Greg Chamitoff on the final frontier
On May 27, Space Shuttle Endeavour astronaut Greg Chamitoff PhD ’92 was part of the last-ever spacewalk by a space shuttle crew. The penultimate flight of the space shuttle program — followed...
Near-record arctic ice loss observed
GREENBELT, Md., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- New data from NASA satellites show summertime sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean narrowly avoided a new record low, the space agency...
Titan's Surprisingly Earth-like Surface Revealed - in Color
Peaking under the thick atmosphere using Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, an international team has composed a global color map of Titan. This mosaic was compiled from imagery taken...
Little Ice Age Shrank Europeans, Sparked Wars
The Little Ice Age's coldest snap, around 1600, eventually sparked upheavals across the Northern Hemisphere, a new study says.
Rendering engine built to generate high-quality images of brain simulations
Researchers have developed a high-quality cerebral cortex image rendering engine. The rendered images are used to generate 3D videos and movies.
How to Spot China's New Space Laboratory in Night Sky
Skywatchers have a chance to watch the newly launched Tiangong 1 module streak across the night sky.
‘Bullets’ spewed from supermassive black hole
Working as part of an international team, astronomers at the University of Southampton have revealed some striking features in the gases emitted from the regions close to one of the...
Video: Rihanna wax figure unveiled in London
CBS News RAW: Madame Tussaud's of London has debuted its latest installment, a full-size replica of hit R&B star Rihanna.
Astronomers Debate Where 1st Interstellar Starship Should Visit
The nearest star, Alpha Centauri, is one of the top contenders.
First Vega starts journey to Europe’s Spaceport
The first elements of Europe’s new Vega small launcher left Italy last Thursday to begin their long journey to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking the final step towards its...
Space Pictures This Week: Star Gems, Galaxy Bubbles, Fogbow
A glittering nebula, auroras from above, a fogbow at sea, and a strange super-Earth feature among this week's best space pictures.
New Aurora Pictures: "Severe" Sun Storm Brightens Skies
A huge solar storm this week sparked auroras around the globe, including some unusually colorful displays.
Rocket City Rednecks: Redneck Recon Pictures
Travis and the guys team up to build a simple ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) platform — basically, a balloon with cameras attached to it — that they hope can...
Weird Bubble-Blowing Dwarf Galaxy Spotted by Hubble Telescope
The bubbles are signs of massive star explosions known as supernovas.
Stellar performance nets physics prize
Stellar performance nets physics prizeNature News , 04102011 doi: 10.1038/478014aGeoff BrumfielNobel for supernovae signals of accelerating Universe.
Universe's 'standard candles' are white dwarf mergers
(PhysOrg.com) -- The largest survey to date of distant exploding stars is giving astronomers new clues to whats behind the Type Ia supernovae they use to measure distances across the...
STAR TRAK for October
As the short nights of summer give way to the longer nights of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, Jupiter will come into view above the southeastern horizon as the sun...
Planet Jupiter mistaken for flare
A rescue search is carried out off the coast of Tynemouth Longsands after a member of the public mistook the planet Jupiter for a distress flare.
EDRS: an independent data-relay system for Europe becoming reality
ESA PR 24 2011 - A public–private partnership contract signed with Astrium means that ESA is moving ahead with an independent, European satellite system that will speed up the transmission...
Dream is over for Virgin Galactic space tourist
Venture capitalist Alan Walton has trekked to the North Pole, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and skydived over Mount Everest. A hop into space to enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness would...
Molycorp to Announce Rare Earth Deposit at California Site
Seeking to reassure manufacturers on supplies of heavy rare earths, Molycorp is to announce its rediscovery of a forgotten ore deposit in Southern California.
Electric plane wins $1.35 million
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: NASA says it has awarded the largest prize in aviation history, $1.35 million, to Pipistrel-USA for pushing the envelope on electric-powered flying.
NASA selects science investigations for concept studies
NASA has selected 11 science proposals for evaluation as potential future science missions. The proposals outline prospective missions to study Earth's atmosphere, the sun, the Milky Way galaxy, and Earth-like...