Space
- Physics
How to catch a gravity wave
Physicists have just announced finding gravity waves. The phenomenon was predicted a century ago by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Here’s what it took to detect the waves.
- Math
Hunt is on for new Planet Nine
Lots of clues point to the likelihood that a mystery planet lurks in the outer suburbs of our solar system. Math and the screening of old photos may turn it up.
- Planets
Beyond Pluto: A new 9th planet?
A giant planet, perhaps 10 times Earth’s mass, may be orbiting the sun from a great distance. Its existence, orbit and size are all surmised, based on strange effects seen in objects within the distant Kuiper Belt.
- Space
An alarm system for Earth crashers
The ATLAS telescope could be a last-minute warning system for asteroids just days away from hitting Earth.
- Space
New recipe for monster black holes
The conventional idea for how black holes form would not easily allow for huge ones to develop in the early universe. Yet they did. Now a scientist offers a new view: galaxy mash-ups!
- Physics
Zombie stars: A source of gravitational waves?
Scientists have found indirect evidence that the dense cores of dead stars are making ripples in space, known as gravitational waves. These waves have been predicted but never yet directly “seen.”
- Earth
The most important stories of 2015
From Pluto to gene editing, the year saw a number of notable research discoveries, advances and insights.
- Planets
Weird Pluto gives up its secrets
The New Horizon spacecraft spent almost a decade getting to Pluto. Its first few months of data reveal this dwarf planet is far stranger than scientists had imagined.
- Planets
Cool Jobs: Exploring the solar system
Meet three scientists who explore the solar system. Their jobs range from steering a spacecraft to chasing solar eclipses around the world.
- Animals
Scientists identify plankton from space
Plankton are often too tiny for our eyes to see. But when huge numbers bloom at once, they now can be ID’d from space, a new study shows.
- Space
Pollution may give ‘first’ stars a youthful look
The oldest stars should be made of only light elements. But these suns may have sucked up heavier elements, giving them a more youthful appearance, a new study finds.
- Chemistry
Picture This: Evidence of liquid water on Mars
Mars hosts surface salt deposits. They appear to come from seasonal water flows on the Red Planet, a new study concludes.
