Earth's Place in the Universe
- Physics
Mysteries about the universe abound, from its beginning to its end
Scientists have a good understanding of the laws that make our universe tick. But they still don’t quite know how it began — or will end.
- Physics
Cosmic timeline: What’s happened since the Big Bang
Energy, mass and the cosmos' structure evolved a lot over the past 13.82 billion years — much of it within just the first second.
- Physics
It all started with the Big Bang — and then what happened?
Scientists explain what really puzzles them about how our universe became what it is today — and what its future may hold.
- Space
NASA’s DART spacecraft successfully bumped an asteroid onto a new path
The spacecraft’s intentional crash into an asteroid changed the space rock’s orbit by more than 30 minutes — far more than expected.
- Space
A missing moon could have given Saturn its rings — and tilt
The hypothetical moon is being called Chrysalis. It could have helped tip the planet over before getting shredded to form Saturn’s rings.
- Physics
Let’s learn about ‘ghost particles’
Ghostly particles called neutrinos are so lightweight that for a long time, they were thought to have no mass at all.
- Tech
NASA’s DART spacecraft crashed into an asteroid — on purpose
This mission could provide a blueprint for how to deflect a killer asteroid, if one is ever found headed for Earth.
- Earth
Not one, but two asteroids might have ended the age of dinosaurs
A craterlike structure found off the coast of West Africa might have been formed by an asteroid that struck around the time dinosaurs went extinct.
- Physics
Let’s learn about gravitational waves
Gravitational waves offer scientists a new way to view extreme objects such as black holes and neutron stars.
- Space
My 10 years on Mars: NASA’s Curiosity rover describes its adventure
Did life evolve on Mars? NASA’s Curiosity rover spent the last 10 years trying to answer that question. Here’s the story from the rover’s point of view.
- Earth
Amateur astronomers reveal clues to a mysterious double aurora
Stunning images from citizen scientists show an unusual pattern in ‘Northern Lights.’ They offer clues that may help astronomers better understand a curious red glow.
- Physics
Scientists used lasers to make ‘smoke rings’ of light
Physicists had a bright idea: Make light into swirling, ring-shaped vortices, similar to smoke rings or bubble rings.
