Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
The Universe’s First Molecule Is Found at Last
Portal origin URL: The Universe’s First Molecule Is Found at LastPortal origin nid: 443650Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2019 - 13:00Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: Scientists detected the first type of molecule...
Breaking Records: How Astronaut Christina Koch's Extended Space Mission Will Make History
Christina Koch has a(n out-of-this) world record in her future.
Universe’s First Molecule Detected in Space for the First Time Ever
Researchers just found evidence of the universe's very first molecule swirling around a dead star in a distant nebula.
Why lightning often strikes twice: Study reveals needle-like structures in positively charged lightning leaders
In contrast to popular belief, lightning often does strike twice, but the reason why a lightning channel is 'reused' has remained a mystery. Now, an international research team led by...
Watch live: ISS resupply mission to launch from Virginia's Eastern Shore
Northrop Grumman is ready for its 11th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station, which is set to launch Wednesday afternoon from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Manual Command Likely Caused Israeli Moon Lander's Crash
A preliminary investigation puts the apparent blame for Beresheet's April 11 moon crash on a "manual command" that was entered into the spacecraft's computer.
USS Fitzgerald leaves dry dock amid repairs
The USS Fitzgerald launched from dry dock and is moored pier-side in Mississippi this week as the guided-missile destroyer took a step closer to being fully repaired after a 2017...
Boom! Another Neutron-Star Crash Spotted
Astronomers have apparently spotted another epic neutron-star crash — and they didn't need gravitational waves to do it.
A closer look at Mercury's spin and gravity reveals the planet's inner solid core
How do you explore the interior of a planet without ever touching down on it? Start by watching the way the planet spins, then measure how your spacecraft orbits it—very,...
Powerful particles and tugging tides may affect extraterrestrial life
Two new studies, one on high-energy particles and the other on tidal forces, may bring into question the habitability of TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets.
Five planets revealed after 20 years of observation
To confirm the presence of a planet, it is necessary to wait until it has made one or more revolutions around its star. This can take from a few days...
What Happened Before the Big Bang?
The Big Bang is commonly thought of as the start of it all: About 13.8 billion years ago, the observable universe went boom and expanded into being. But what were...
Asteroid Hunting Mission Releases 5th Year of Data
If the idea of an asteroid slamming into Earth keeps you up at night, spare a thought for a mission called NEOWISE, which reincarnated a former astrophysics spacecraft to hunt...
A Rocket Launch to the Space Station Today Could Be Visible Along US East Coast!
Today, Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket will launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Check for it in the afternoon sky.
Blastoff! How to See a Rocket Launch In Person This Year
It's not just for the pros: With a little planning and flexibility, anybody can go watch a rocket blast off. Our in-depth guide goes through each of this summer's U.S....
Bitcoin entrepreneurs to gather in North Korea, group says
North Korea is hosting a conference on blockchain and cryptocurrency in Pyongyang, a Spain-based organization said Wednesday.
US astronaut to spend 11 months in space, set female record
A NASA astronaut will spend nearly a year at the International Space Station, setting a record for women.
Watch: Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits homer from knee vs. Diamondbacks
Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. did his best Adrian Beltre impression by hitting a home run from his knee against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
John Cusack to star in Amazon's 'Utopia'
Amazon Prime Video has announced John Cusack will star in its new drama series, "Utopia."
A new signal for a neutron star collision discovered
A bright burst of X-rays has been discovered by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in a galaxy 6.6 billion light years from Earth. This event likely signaled the merger of two...
How to defend the Earth from asteroids
The Chelyabinsk meteor caused extensive ground damage and numerous injuries when it exploded on impact with Earth's atmosphere in 2013; to prevent another such impact, scientists plan to use a...
Watch: Julia Louis-Dreyfus says 'Veep' is 'more extreme' due to political climate
Julia Louis-Dreyfus discussed on "Late Night" how she feels President Donald Trump's administration has made political comedy "Veep" seem quaint by comparison.
NASA Astronaut Christina Koch Will Spend Nearly a Year in Space
NASA astronaut Christina Koch is going to break a record on her first spaceflight, the agency announced yesterday (April 16).
Drop test proves technologies for reusable microlauncher
Spain's PLD Space, supported by ESA, has demonstrated the technologies for a reusable first stage of their orbital microlauncher, Miura 5.
Image: Partial Gravity Simulator practice
In preparation for his Beyond mission, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano was at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, in March 2019. Here he is strapped to the Partial Gravity...
Possible evidence of an extrasolar object striking the Earth in 2014
A pair of researchers has found possible evidence of an extrasolar object striking the Earth back in 2014. In their paper uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, Amir Siraj and...
Explosion on Jupiter-sized star 10 times more powerful than ever seen on the sun
A stellar flare ten times more powerful than anything seen on our sun has burst from an ultracool star almost the same size as Jupiter.
Image: Mirror array for LSS
The giant 121-segment mirror array used to reflect simulated sunlight into the largest vacuum chamber in Europe seen being hoisted into position within ESA's technical heart back in 1986.