Space
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SpaceEarly moon may have had metallic skies and gale-force winds
A glowing infant Earth could have heated the early moon’s metals to create an atmosphere.
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PlanetsSmall, distant worlds are either big Earths or little Neptunes
The Kepler space telescope data are in. They split Earth-like exoplanets into two groups and reveal 10 new rocky planets in the ‘Goldilocks’ zone.
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PlanetsJupiter may be the solar system’s oldest planet
Jupiter’s early existence may explain the odd arrangement of planets in the solar system, a new study suggests.
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PlanetsHot, hot planet sets sizzling new record
Astronomers have discovered an odd new exoplanet. Called KELT 9b, is the hottest non-star known.
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PhysicsGravitational waves detected yet again
For the third time in 16 months, scientists have announced detection of gravitational waves washing over the spacetime environment in which Earth resides. This seems to show that such waves may not be rare.
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PlanetsJupiter gets surprisingly complex new portrait
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has sent back unexpected details about Jupiter, giving scientists their first close-up of this gas giant.
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SpaceHow the solar system’s tail disappeared
A bubble envelops the planets and other material in the solar system. New data show it does not have a long tail but is round.
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PhysicsAfter 30 years, this supernova is still sharing secrets
It’s been 30 years since astronomers first witnessed the stellar explosion known as SN 1987A. Today, researchers are still learning from this cataclysmic phenomenon.
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SpaceScientists Say: Supernova
When a star has too much mass, it can explode. The explosion is called a supernova.
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PhysicsGetting ready for the solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse will race across the continental United States in August 2017. Scientists and the public are preparing to watch and learn.
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SpaceCitizen scientists wanted to make an eclipse megamovie
A solar eclipse will cross the United States on August 21, 2017. Video capture by people in the eclipse’s path can help with scientific research.
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PhysicsEclipses come in many forms
Eclipses are one of nature’s most awesome spectacles, and scientists have learned a lot by observing them and related celestial alignments — occultations and transits.
By Sid Perkins