Space
- 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.”
- Science & Society
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.
- Oceans
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.
- Planets
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.
- Space
Like Tatooine in ‘Star Wars,’ this planet has two suns
Scientists have found the tenth planet with two suns. Such planets might be more common than single-sun planets, like our own, a new survey suggests.
- Physics
Stephen Hawking says his group has solved a black hole puzzle
Physicist Stephen Hawking says light sliding along the outside of a black hole holds the key to understanding what’s inside.
- Physics
Fade to black? The universe is in decline
One of the largest sky surveys ever made has found that the universe is in decline. And after losing even more energy over the next 100 billion years, it will be dark, empty and boring.
- Planets
Scientists Say: Exoplanet
Eight planets orbit our sun. We give a slightly different name to the millions of similar bodies orbiting other stars.
- Planets
News Brief: Venus may have active volcanoes
The Venus Express spacecraft detected flashes of infrared light that may be from hot lava erupting from active volcanoes.
