Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Bias found in rulings of tennis referees
DAVIE, Calif., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have discovered tennis referees are more likely to make an error calling a ball "out" than "in" because...
American astronauts cast votes in space
Two American astronauts currently in space already have voted and urged their Earth-bound compatriots to do the same in a message broadcast by NASA Tuesday.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Cleared for Nov. 14 Launch
NASA cleared the shuttle Endeavour for a Nov. 14 launch to the space station.
NASA-funded study shows methane increasing
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A U.S. space agency study shows the amount of methane in the Earth's atmosphere increased during 2007, ending approximately a decade of...
Space Tourist: Open Space Station to All
The latest U.S. space tourist, Richard Garriott, urged government space agencies like NASA and Roscosmos to give private entrepreneurs broader access to the orbiting station and encourage private space travel.
Astronauts Ride in Style in New Moon Truck
NASA's moon truck prototype is proving to be the ultimate lunar RV.
New minerals point to wetter Mars
A new class of minerals found on Mars suggests liquid water stayed on the planet's surface a billion years later than first thought.
Study: NASA dust storm predictions helpful
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A five-year U.S. space agency study shows NASA satellite data can improve dust storm forecasts in the U.S. Southwest to benefit public health...
ESA: Arctic sea ice down by 19 percent
LONDON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says satellite data shows the thickness of sea ice in large parts of the Arctic declined by as much...
Double the rubble: Nearby star system has two asteroid belts
Epsilon Eridani hosts an inner asteroid belt and planet arranged like those in the solar system
Intel Capital to invest $20 mln in solar venture
(AP) -- Shrugging off gloom over the economic outlook, Intel Capital on Tuesday announced its first "clean-tech" initiative in China, a $20 million equity investment in Trony Solar Holdings...
Atom smashers at work
Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: American scientists discuss what needs to be done to fix the world's biggest atom smasher — and what they'll be doing when it's back in...
NASA's Spitzer Gets Sneak Peek Inside Comet Holmes
When comet Holmes unexpectedly erupted in 2007, professional and amateur astronomers around the world turned their telescopes toward the spectacular event. Their quest was to find out why the comet...
Victorian Manchester Home To First Youth Gangs
A historian has uncovered extensive archive material detailing the activities of the ‘scuttlers’ - one of Britain’s earliest youth cults.
Space Tech Prosthetic Leg Helps To Reach Long-jump World Record
German athlete Wojtek Czyz, running with a space-tech enhanced prosthetic leg, set a new world record at the Paralympics 2008 in Beijing, reaching an amazing 6.50 m and beating the...
21st Century Detective Work Reveals How Ancient Rock Got Off To A Hot Start
A new technique using X-rays has enabled scientists to play "detective" and solve the debate about the origins of a three billion-year-old rock fragment.
ESA's Lunar Robotics Challenge: A tough task for the student teams
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Teide volcanic peak on the island of Tenerife acted as a mock-up of the Moon landscape last week, with eight European student teams tuning, testing and driving...
Last uncharted Earth areas to be explored
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- U.S., U.K. and Australian scientists will explore two of the last uncharted regions of Earth: the Aurora and Wilkes Subglacial Basins in...
Ice sheet secrets set to be seen
The secrets of the largest ice sheet on earth are to be revealed under plans to map the Antarctic in detail.
Space tourism will weather market crisis: astronaut
STAR CITY, Russia (Reuters) - At over $30 million a ticket it is not cheap, but rich adventurers will still pay for a dream trip into orbit despite a global...
GOCE satellite launch is delayed till 2009
PARIS, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says the launch of its GOCE Earth Explorer satellite will not take place earlier than February due to a...
Is NASA's Ares doomed?
Bit by bit, the new rocket ship that is supposed to blast America into the second Space Age and return astronauts to the moon appears to be coming undone.
Starwatch: November diary
The two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, draw together low down in the SW at nightfall during November. Both have set by our map times as Andromeda and her famous...
Dot Earth: Climate Campaigners Were on Terrorist List
Environmental activists with no criminal record find themselves tracked as possible terrorists.
UK ambitions in space 'at risk'
Scientists and engineers fear the UK is about to turn its back on Kopernikus, one of Europe's flagship space projects.
Cosmic Log: Rocket racers target space
Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: Armadillo Aerospace and the Rocket Racing League are taking their rocket-powered partnership to the next level in a suborbital space tourism venture.
Italian satellite launched from California
(AP) -- A rocket carrying an Italian Earth-observation satellite blasted off Friday evening from the California coast.
U.S. space tourist, Russians return to Earth
NEAR ARKALYK, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - A Soyuz capsule carrying a U.S. space tourist and two Russians bumped down safely in Kazakhstan on Friday, ending a string of mishaps on previous...