Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Mars Rover Opportunity Ascends to Level Ground
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has climbed out of the large crater that it had been examining from the inside since last September.
Antarctic Research Helps Shed Light On Climate Change On Mars
Eroded gullies on the flanks of Martian craters may have been formed by snowmelt as recently as a few hundred thousand years ago and in sites once occupied by glaciers....
Nasa considers shuttle shelf-life
Nasa will study whether the space shuttle can operate beyond its planned retirement in 2010, reports say.
Integral locates origin of high-energy emission from Crab Nebula
(PhysOrg.com) -- Thanks to data from ESA's Integral gamma-ray observatory, scientists have been able to locate where particles in the vicinity of the rotating neutron-star in the Crab Nebula are...
Dnepr Rocket Launches Satellite Quintet into Orbit
A Dnepr rocket launched five new Earth-watching satellites to orbit Friday.
Cluster Watches Earth's Leaky Atmosphere
Oxygen is constantly leaking out of Earth's atmosphere and into space. Now, ESA's formation-flying quartet of satellites, Cluster, has discovered the physical mechanism that is driving the escape. It turns...
Arctic Ice On Verge Of Another All-time Low
Following last summer's record minimum ice cover in the Arctic, current observations from ESA's Envisat satellite suggest that the extent of polar sea-ice may again shrink to a level very...
Cosmic Log: Fusion effort in flux
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Researchers are waiting for the verdict on the first phase of their unconventional nuclear fusion research project before moving on to the next step.
Czech firm plans giant wind farm
Czech power firm CEZ is to build what it says will be Europe's largest onshore wind farm, in a £1.1bn-euro project.
Dead Star Shines Bright
Gamma rays observed in the Crab Nebula may shed light on the intense environment around the dead star inside.
How Puzzling Stars Formed near Galactic Black Hole
Researchers say they have figured out how a mysterious clutch of massive stars could have come into existence a few trillion miles from the supermassive black hole at the center...
Rocket Racing League Tests New Engine
A rocket racer tests its new engine for a possible demo race.
Tiny Galaxies Shed New Light on Dark Matter
Dwarf galaxies of varying brightness orbiting the Milky Way have a common central mass, says a new study that suggests dark matter can provide the minimum mass required for galaxies...
Wind-powered 'Ventomobile' Places First in Race
The solely wind-driven Ventomobile constructed by a team of students in aerospace engineering came in first at the Aeolus Race in the Dutch town of Den Helder last Friday. Racing...
Computer virus infects orbiting space station
Virus may have been inadvertently carried into space on an astronaut's USB drive
One small hitch for FAA, one giant mess for fliers
(AP) -- When a computer system that distributes flight plans nationwide came rolling to a halt this week because of a software glitch, so did airplanes on tarmacs from...
Ice Cold Sunrise on Mars
(PhysOrg.com) -- From the location of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, above the Martian arctic circle, the sun does not set during the peak of the Martian summer.
Taking Earth's Temperature Via Satellite
Imagine adding a thermometer to Google Earth. That's the vision of Agricultural Research Service scientists Martha Anderson and Bill Kustas, who see the need for high-resolution thermal infrared imaging tools...
New Nikon SLR camera shoots high-def movies, too
(AP) -- Nikon Corp. on Wednesday launched the first digital still camera with interchangeable lenses that also shoots movies.
Feature: All aboard the time giant
With access to the world’s largest and most powerful optical telescopes, Swinburne astrophysicists are journeying back in time to the earliest phases of the universe. They hope to take Swinburne...
IKEA To Sell Solar Panels?
IKEA plans to pour $77 million into clean-technology start-ups within the next five years and could add "green" goods such as solar panels to its inventory, according to Cleantech Group.
"Condom, Condom" Ringtone A Hit In India
Ever heard a safe-sex promo sung in multipart harmony? Have a listen to the "condom a cappella" ringtone, just launched in India.
Cold atoms explode like cloverleafs
Spectacular exploding 'bosenovas' seen in clouds of chromium atoms
New Probe's First Gamma Ray Sky Map Unveiled
Officials working with the spacecraft formerly known as GLAST celebrated the probe's new name, Fermi, with the release of its first image of the full gamma ray sky.
NSF Taps Tiny CubeSats for Big Space Science
The NSF is looking to tiny satellites for big science in space.
Japanese physicists aim to unlock universe's mysteries
As the world's scientists try to unzip mysteries about the universe, Japan is set to open its largest atomic science park to study the world at its smallest level.
Cow Compass
Lost in drive-by country? Look for a cow. It will probably be pointing north—or south. After analyzing satellite photos of 8,000 cows in 308 different locations, German scientists have found...
TV's 'Mythbusters' Tackle Moon Landing Hoax Claims
TV's 'Mythbusters' tackle the hoax claims linked to Apollo moon landings.