Space and Tech News
-
"Ping-Pong" Planets Can Bounce From Star to Star
February 6, 2012
A planet in a two-star system can chaotically bounce between its stars for thousands of years before being ejected, a new study suggests.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Hubble Galaxy, Poet Nebula, More
February 3, 2012
Hubble captures a Milky Way "twin," winds shape Mars lava fields, stars carve a nebula's face, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
New "Super Earth" Found at Right Distance for Life
February 2, 2012
The likely rocky planet orbits squarely in its star's habitable zone, making it a prime candidate for life, astronomers report.
-
Two New Moons Found Orbiting Jupiter
February 2, 2012
Two tiny satellites add to the planet's swarm of "backward" moons and bring the full Jovian family up to 66 natural satellites.
-
New Life-Forms Found in Blue Holes—Clues to Life in Alien Oceans?
February 2, 2012
Bacteria in water-filled Caribbean sinkholes could offer clues to what might live on icy moons such as Europa, scientists say.
-
Best Science Pictures of 2011 Announced
February 1, 2012
A spiny cucumber and a nanotube ''city'' feature among the winners of the 2011 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.
-
Pictures: Civil War Sub Finally Revealed
February 1, 2012
See the wreck of the <em>Hunley—</em>the world's first submarine to sink an enemy ship—finally unveiled after 11 years in a steel truss.
-
"Alien" Particles Found Invading Our Solar System—A First
January 31, 2012
For the first time, a NASA spacecraft has directly observed particles that came from beyond our solar system, astronomers announced.
-
"Solar Systems" Common Across the Galaxy, NASA Probe Hints
January 31, 2012
A new analysis of Kepler data hints that scientists can add more than 400 new worlds to the NASA mission's confirmed discoveries.
-
First Picture of Alien Planet … Isn't?
January 30, 2012
The first picture of a planet outside our solar system may actually depict a swirl of space dust, a new study suggests.
-
Hottest Thing on Earth: X-rays Heat Metal to 3.6 Million Degrees
January 27, 2012
By zapping a scrap of metal with superpowerful x-rays, scientists created plasma that rivals the sun for heat.
-
Hyperactive Sun Helping to Clear Out Space Junk
January 27, 2012
The recent uptick in solar flares and other sun activity has been causing orbiting debris to fall faster, a NASA scientist reports.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Sun Loops, Blue Marble, More
January 27, 2012
Plasma arcs over the sun, Earth shines in high resolution, a colorful halo surrounds the moon, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Giant Veil of "Cold Plasma" Discovered High Above Earth
January 26, 2012
Clouds of slow-moving charged particles reach from the top of Earth's atmosphere to a quarter of the distance to the moon, new data show.
-
New Aurora Pictures: Solar Storms Trigger Northern Lights
January 25, 2012
Intense northern lights displays dazzled sky-watchers this week as the strongest solar storm since 2003 swept over Earth.
-
Biggest Solar Storm in Eight Years Now Pummeling Earth
January 24, 2012
The strongest solar storm since 2003 is hitting our planet. Find out why planes are being rerouted and what other effects are predicted.
-
Rare Pictures From the Dawn of NASA Spaceflight
January 23, 2012
Newly released digital scans offer a rare high-resolution glimpse into NASA's Project Gemini, the precursor to the Apollo moon missions.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Italy Shipwreck, Squashed Moon
January 20, 2012
The<em> Costa Concordia</em> from above, a rusty dead star, a "fresh" Mars crater, and a sinking moon are among the week's best space pictures.
-
Unknown "Structures" Not Tugging on the Universe After All?
January 20, 2012
Unseen structures on the edges of creation most likely aren't tugging on our universe, according to a new study that found a slower flow.
-
Comet Seen Vaporizing in Sun's Atmosphere—A First
January 19, 2012
For the first time, a NASA craft has watched as a "suicide" comet breaks apart in the sun's upper atmosphere.
-
Injections Could Lift Venice 12 Inches, Study Suggests
January 19, 2012
Pumping billions of gallons of water under the sinking Italian city could save it from worsening floods as seas rise, a new study says.
-
How Diamond-Studded Magma Rises From Earth's Depths
January 19, 2012
New experiments show how molten material can carry gems scraped from Earth's depths to the surface without destroying the precious cargo.
-
Mystery Deepens Over Where Sun Was Born
January 17, 2012
The star cluster M67 has been knocked out of the running, bringing the quest for the solar system's origin back to square one, experts say.
-
New Calendar Would Add Extra Week to December
January 17, 2012
If a new annual calendar is adopted, you'd get an extra week off at the end of 2017, experts say.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Hubble Bubble, Dusty Dwarf, More
January 13, 2012
A "soap bubble" in space, stellar royals in hiding, and a new look at an old galactic neighbor are among this week's best space pictures.
-
Russian Mars Probe to Crash Sunday—Visible as "Surreal Comet"?
January 12, 2012
Visible to the naked eye, the failed Mars probe Phobos-Grunt will soon crash into Earth like a "surreal comet," experts say.
-
Smallest Exoplanets Found—Each Tinier Than Earth
January 11, 2012
Three new planets found outside our solar system are each tinier than Earth, astronomers announced today.
-
Tons of Tatooines: Planets With Two Suns Common?
January 11, 2012
The discovery of two new "Tatooines" suggests there are millions of double-sun planets in our galaxy.
-
Black Hole Caught Pulling Trigger on Gas "Bullets"
January 10, 2012
New ultrasharp pictures show the exact moment a black hole fired knots of gas at a quarter the speed of light, scientists say.
-
"Tatooine" Planet With Two Suns Could Host Habitable Moon?
January 9, 2012
A cold, Saturn-like planet orbiting two stars could host an Earthlike moon, and that world may have the right conditions for life, a new study says.
-
Old Mice Made "Young"—May Lead to Anti-Aging Treatments
January 6, 2012
Aging mice injected with stem cells lived three times as long, according to findings one scientist found initially unbelievable.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Cosmic Cigar, Solar Spout, More
January 6, 2012
The sun spews hot gas, a meteor shower lights up New Jersey, stars shine in a rosy nebula, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
"Time Cloak" Created; Can Make Events Disappear
January 4, 2012
A new experiment bent light to make a hole in time—albeit one that lasted only about 40 trillionths of a second.
-
2012 Pictures: 6 Maya Apocalypse Myths Debunked
January 3, 2012
See six good reasons why the world (probably) won't end in the new year, despite supposed warnings in the Maya calendar.
-
First Meteor Shower of 2012 to Peak Wednesday
January 3, 2012
Named for a "lost" constellation, the Quadrantid shower is considered one of the year's best, with meteors visible even from the suburbs.
-
Pictures We Love: Best of December
December 29, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month—a winter swimmer, burned Egyptian treasures, and more.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Blue Moon, Wreath Nebula, More
December 28, 2011
A Saturn moon shows its colors, a nebula shines like a holiday wreath, a new island emerges, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
New Comet Pictures: Lovejoy Dazzles Holiday Sky-Watchers
December 27, 2011
After surviving a close encounter with the sun, comet Lovejoy became visible to the naked eye in the Southern Hemisphere's predawn skies.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Cosmic Ornament, Pulsing Star
December 22, 2011
A starry bauble, a space shuttle decked with lights, and a rare warped galaxy feature among this week's best space pictures.
-
New "Deep Fried" Planets Found—Survivors of Star Death
December 21, 2011
Two new Earth-size planets are probably the charred survivors of a near-death encounter with their fading parent star, scientists say.
-
Winter Solstice 2011: Facts on Shortest Day of the Year
December 21, 2011
Find out why the first day of winter always falls around December 21 and how the shortest day of the year is marked by cultures worldwide.
-
NASA's Kepler Finds Two Earth-Size Planets Around Sunlike Star
December 20, 2011
Two planets orbiting a sunlike star are the first truly Earth-size worlds discovered by NASA's Kepler mission, scientists said today.
-
Top Ten Discoveries of 2011: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
December 20, 2011
An Earth-like planet and the biggest great white shark are among National Geographic News's most visited coverage of 2011 discoveries.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Rebel Angel, Sloshed Galaxies
December 16, 2011
A stellar "angel" spreads its wings, a dead star blooms, a galaxy cluster gets sloshed, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Comet "Harpoon" Being Test Fired in NASA Lab
December 15, 2011
The space agency is working on an explosive-powered harpoon for collecting samples from deep inside comets, researchers said this week.
-
Supermassive Black Hole About to Eat Gas Cloud?
December 14, 2011
A long-lasting flare could soon erupt in our galaxy's heart as the Milky Way's supermassive black hole feeds, astronomers say.
-
Water Ice on Mercury? NASA Probe Close to Proof, Teams Say
December 14, 2011
Move over, Mars: Evidence is mounting that water exists on the solar system's innermost planet, Mercury, astronomers say.
-
Hints of Higgs Boson Seen at LHC—Proof by Next Summer?
December 13, 2011
Data from a European atom smasher could be closing in on the "God particle"—and one expert thinks we'll know if the Higgs exists by 2012.
-
Lunar Eclipse Pictures: See Last Weekend's Red Moon
December 12, 2011
See what you may have missed: the moon going red for Earthlings in the right places at the right times last weekend.
-
Geminid Meteor Shower to Peak Tuesday; Visible Despite Moon
December 12, 2011
The annual shower should produce colorful meteors—and maybe fireballs—that'll be visible despite glare from the moon, astronomers say.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Sinking Moon, Frosty Leo, More
December 9, 2011
A starlight reserve, a warped moon, record-breaking black holes, and an icy nebula feature among the week's best space pictures.
-
4 Ways Your Phone Could Change How You Travel in 2012
December 9, 2011
From augmented reality to a handheld translator, see how the smart phone will become an even more vital traveling companion.
-
Solar Storms Are "Sandblasting" the Moon, NASA Study Hints
December 9, 2011
Solar eruptions can strip up to 200 tons of lunar material—but footprints from the moon landing won't erode anytime soon, experts say.
-
Pictures: Lunar Eclipse "Preview"—What You'll See Saturday
December 9, 2011
See lunar eclipses that resemble the upcoming moon show—the last total lunar eclipse until 2014.
-
Total Lunar Eclipse This Weekend—Last One Until 2014
December 9, 2011
The full moon will be painted red on Saturday during the last total lunar eclipse until 2014. Find out when and where to see it.
-
Rover Finds "Bulletproof" Evidence of Water on Early Mars
December 8, 2011
A vein of gypsum found by a NASA rover is the "single most powerful piece of evidence" early Mars had liquid water, an expert says.
-
People Can Hallucinate Color at Will
December 7, 2011
People can hallucinate color just with the power of suggestion, a finding that may help those fearful of hypnosis therapy, a new study says.
-
Lightning Sprites, Elves Caught on Camera
December 7, 2011
Flying above the U.S. Midwest, scientists have made the first 3-D video of mysterious bursts of energy that appear high over thunderstorms.
-
Earthlike Planet Found Orbiting at Right Distance for Life
December 5, 2011
The new planet Kepler-22b is the first alien world to be confirmed orbiting in the middle of its star's habitable zone, NASA has announced.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Cosmic Pinwheel, Mountain Meteor
December 2, 2011
A Swedish rocket launch, a glowing spiral galaxy, and a meteor streak over Iran feature among the week's best space pictures.
-
Best News Pictures of 2011: Your Picks From Nat Geo News
December 2, 2011
Japan's tsunami aftermath, an Area 51 spy plane, and a huge crocodile feature among the most viewed Nat Geo News photo galleries of 2011.
-
Voyager Probes Detect "Invisible" Milky Way Glow
December 1, 2011
For the first time, NASA's twin Voyager probes have glimpsed light from our galaxy that's effectively invisible from Earth.
-
Best Space Pictures of 2011: Editors' Picks
December 1, 2011
An arcing aurora, a blood-red eclipse, and a warped galaxy feature among Nat Geo News's picks for the best space pictures of the year.
-
NASA Mars Rover Set for Launch This Weekend
November 25, 2011
The huge, "power hungry" robot Curiosity is slated to being its trek to the red planet to search for signs of Mars's ability to host life.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Green Flash, Saturn Storm, More
November 25, 2011
An astronaut homecoming, a star called Jabbah, and a rare double flash over the sun feature among the week's best space pictures.
-
Why Does Evolution Allow Some People to Taste Words?
November 23, 2011
The neural tangling known as synesthesia may have survived evolution because it offers benefits in creative thinking, a new study hints.
-
Pictures: Five "Cursed" Mars Missions
November 23, 2011
The Mars curse has claimed roughly two thirds of all human attempts to reach the red planet—will NASA's Curiosity rover be next?
-
Louis Daguerre: Pictures Illuminate Google's Man of the Day
November 18, 2011
Go behind the lens of Louis Daguerre—honored today, his 224th birthday, with a Google doodle.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Pink Nebula, Moon Map, More
November 18, 2011
See an hourglass-shaped nebula, a space "garbage truck," and an "amazing" new map of the moon—among this week's best space pictures.
-
Pictures: Giant Walls of Plasma Seen on Sun
November 17, 2011
Eight Earths tall and looking like giant walls of fire, loops of plasma have recently been spotted by sun observers worldwide.
-
Sky Show Thursday: Leonid Meteor Shower to Peak
November 15, 2011
Peaking this week, the 2011 Leonids may be easy to locate but hard to see, thanks in both cases to a bright moon.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Mars Volcano, Eagle Nebula, More
November 11, 2011
A "broken" Mars volcano, a Mercury crater full of hollows, and a neighboring star cluster feature among this week's best space pictures.
-
Giant Sunspot Now Aimed Directly at Earth
November 10, 2011
An active region on the sun wider than Jupiter is pointed at our planet, carrying potential for intense aurorae and damaging radiation.
-
Can Russia's Stuck Mars Spacecraft Be Saved?
November 9, 2011
A failed star sensor is the most likely reason the Phobos-Grunt probe is now stuck in Earth's orbit, mission managers say.
-
Russia Launches Mission to Mars Moon; Probe to Send Back Dust
November 8, 2011
After 20 failed missions to Mars and no attempts since 1996, Russia has successfully launched the Phobos-Grunt sample-return spacecraft.
-
Giant Asteroid to Buzz Earth Tuesday; When and How to See It
November 7, 2011
As big as an aircraft carrier, 2005 YU55 will pass inside the moon's orbit, the first asteroid this size to get so close since 1976.
-
Meteor Shower to Peak This Weekend—Fireballs Expected
November 4, 2011
Get ready for a Taurid affair: The meteor shower, peaking this weekend, is known for producing spectacular fireballs.
-
New Meteor Pictures: Orionids Light Up Aurora and More
November 4, 2011
See shots of the falling pieces of Halley's comet that streaked through starry skies, and even auroras, in late October.
-
Pictures: Mock Mars Mission "Returns" to Earth
November 4, 2011
After 520 days of isolation, the crew of the Mars500 mission has "returned" to Earth. See what the six men got up to during the trip.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Gamma-Ray Burst, Chile Volcano, More
November 4, 2011
The space station gets a delayed delivery, a brilliant explosion lights up the early universe, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Uranus Has a Bright New Spot, Picture Shows
November 2, 2011
In a surprise to astronomers, Uranus recently presented onlookers with a bright new spot on its northern hemisphere.
-
Planets Being Pulverized Near Giant Black Holes?
November 1, 2011
Planets and asteroids could be colliding close to supermassive black holes, generating dust clouds that have long puzzled astronomers.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Red Auroras, Mars Avalanche
October 28, 2011
A mysterious "guest star," southern auroras, and a toothy nebula feature among this week's best space pictures.
-
Halloween Pictures: Ten Spooky Objects in Outer Space
October 27, 2011
A hellish planet, cannibal black holes, and zombie stars are among the top ten scary space objects, as chosen by Nat Geo editors.
-
Pluto's "Twin" Has Frozen Atmosphere
October 26, 2011
The dwarf planet Eris is not only close to Pluto in size, it also appears to have a frozen version of Pluto's atmosphere, new data hint.
-
Aurora Pictures: Rare Northern Lights Seen in U.S. South
October 25, 2011
In a rare treat for sky-watchers, an intense geomagnetic storm Monday spawned blood-red auroras as far south as Georgia.
-
Youngest Planet Picture: Gas Giant Seen in Throes of Creation
October 21, 2011
A new picture of a Jupiter-like world is a direct image of what may be the youngest planet yet seen, astronomers say.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Baby Planets, "Magic" Mirrors, More
October 21, 2011
Hints of planets being born, reflections of swirling stars, and a massive comet storm feature among the best space pictures this week.
-
Pictures: NASA Lands on Underwater "Asteroid"
October 20, 2011
At an underwater laboratory in the Florida Keys, the NEEMO 15 mission will test ways humans might one day visit asteroids.
-
Orionid Meteor Shower to Peak This Weekend
October 20, 2011
Although the meteors may be modest, the Orionid shower has a claim to fame: The sky show is the product of Halley's comet.
-
Another Dead Satellite to Fall to Earth This Weekend
October 19, 2011
The European ROSAT orbiter is slated to make an uncontrolled reentry this Saturday or Sunday, prompting a few worries—and even a wake.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Pulsing Crab, Moon Halo, More
October 14, 2011
Gamma-ray pulses from a nebula, a ring around the moon, and newfound "failed" stars feature among this week's best space pictures.
-
Weird Form of Carbon Acts as "Reversible" Diamond—A First
October 13, 2011
A strange form of glassy carbon can go from soft to diamond-hard and back again, depending on the pressure, a new study shows.
-
Picture: Asteroid Has Mountain Three Times as Tall as Everest
October 12, 2011
The asteroid Vesta hosts a peak that's three times as tall as Mount Everest, seen in a new picture from a NASA spacecraft.
-
Uranus Got Knocked Over by One-Two Punch
October 10, 2011
The planet Uranus got knocked on its side not by a single, massive blow but by two powerful impacts, new computer simulations hint.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Mars Landing, Solar Flare, More
October 7, 2011
Colliding galaxies, a planned Martian touchdown, and a star with "hidden" planets feature among this week's best space pictures.
-
Seven Supernovae Found in Single Galaxy—A First
October 6, 2011
In a galaxy 250 million light-years from Earth, astronomers have spotted a record-breaking number of supernovae found at the same time.
-
Meteor Shower This Weekend: Space Station at Risk?
October 6, 2011
This year, the Draconids could see peak rates of 600 meteors an hour, posing possible risks to the space station and other satellites.
-
Photos: Life-Changing Nobel Chemistry Breakthroughs
October 5, 2011
Quasicrystals today joined scores of Nobel prize-winning chemistry advances that have changed how we live—from radiology to neon signs.
-
What Created Earth's Oceans? Comet Offers New Clue
October 5, 2011
The group of comets that delivered water to early Earth likely came from Pluto's home, the Kuiper belt, a new study says.
-
Pictures: Saturn Moon Coated in Fresh Powder
October 4, 2011
The ice geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus coat the surface in "the finest powder a skier could hope for," scientists say.
-
Physics Nobel Explainer: Why Is Expanding Universe Accelerating?
October 4, 2011
The prize-winning discovery of universal acceleration still has many experts trying to solve "the most profound problem" in modern physics.
-
Picture: New ALMA Telescope Peers Into Galaxy Smashup
October 3, 2011
A psychedelic view of the Antennae Galaxies is the first release from a new telescope array being built high in Chile's Atacama Desert.
-
New Aurora Pictures: "Severe" Sun Storm Brightens Skies
September 30, 2011
A huge solar storm this week sparked auroras around the globe, including some unusually colorful displays.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Star Gems, Galaxy Bubbles, Fogbow
September 30, 2011
A glittering nebula, auroras from above, a fogbow at sea, and a strange super-Earth feature among this week's best space pictures.
-
Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Wasabi Alarm, Odd Beetle Sex, More
September 30, 2011
Wasabi as a wake-up call, beetles that mistook bottles for mates, and failed doomsday prophets were among this year's research honorees.
-
Mercury "Hollows" Found—Pits May Be Solar System First
September 29, 2011
The planet Mercury is dotted with holes that appear to be unlike anything else yet seen in the solar system, new NASA pictures show.
-
"Dark" Supermoon Tomorrow: New Moon Gets Closest to Earth
September 26, 2011
The new moon will make a close approach to Earth Tuesday, giving rise to a nearly invisible "supermoon," astronomers say.
-
NASA Satellite Debris Likely Fell in Ocean, May Never Be Found
September 24, 2011
The UARS satellite most likely splashed harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean, and its final resting place may never be known, NASA says.
-
NASA Satellite Falls to Earth, But Debris Location Still a Mystery
September 24, 2011
The doomed UARS satellite plummeted out of orbit over the Pacific Ocean, but no one yet knows where debris may have landed, NASA says.
-
Particles Moved Faster Than Speed of Light?
September 23, 2011
A claim that neutrinos traveled faster than light would be revolutionary if true, but "I would bet against it," physicist says.
-
Autumnal Equinox 2011: Sky Show Caps First Day of Fall
September 23, 2011
Stars and planets are lining up for the change of seasons during the Northern Hemisphere's autumnal equinox this year.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Sun Halo, Galaxy Swarm, More
September 22, 2011
Astronauts come home, colorful rings encircle the sun, galaxies gather like fireflies, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
NASA Satellite Falling Faster Due to Solar Activity
September 21, 2011
The six-ton UARS spacecraft is due to crash-land on Friday—sooner than anticipated, due to increased solar radiation, experts say.
-
Solar Megastorm Could Cripple Satellites for a Decade
September 20, 2011
Earth-orbiting satellites may take a hit if the sun unleashes a megastorm, scientists warn.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Saturn Quintet, Star Blob, More
September 16, 2011
A Saturnian "group portrait," a cosmic lagoon, and a sparkling cluster of stars feature among the week's best space pictures.
-
Pictures: NASA's New Rocket—And 4 "Lost Launchers"
September 15, 2011
NASA's new rocket design for sending humans into space comes from a lineage of rockets that have been drastically redesigned or abandoned.
-
New Saturn-Like Planet Has Two Suns, NASA Says
September 15, 2011
Like the <em>Star Wars</em> world Tatooine, a Saturn-like planet 200 light-years away orbits two stars, NASA announced today.
-
Colossal Storm May Rage on Jupiter-like "Failed Star"
September 13, 2011
A colossal tempest even bigger than Jupiter's Great Red Spot appears to be raging on a cool brown dwarf, astronomers say.
-
Fifty Exoplanets Found—Largest Haul Yet
September 12, 2011
The largest new planet haul yet announced at one time includes 16 Earthlike planets—one of which is potentially habitable, astronomers say.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Hidden Aurora, Mars Devil, More
September 12, 2011
Northern lights tint the clouds, an icy moon hangs out, a dust devil towers on Mars, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Pictures: Best Astronomy Photos of 2011 Named
September 9, 2011
A sharp Jupiter, brilliant auroras, and a moon "hunt" are among the winners of the 2011 Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest.
-
Space Debris: Five Unexpected Objects That Fell to Earth
September 9, 2011
As NASA eyes a 6.5-ton satellite due to fall from orbit, get a roundup of notable objects that previously made it back to Earth.
-
Saturn Moon Has Thin Atmosphere, Astronomers Discover
September 9, 2011
Magnetic "fingerprints" reveal that the icy body Dione has an atmosphere—and it's possibly made of oxygen, a new study says.
-
9/11: Six Tech Advances to Prevent Future Attacks
September 7, 2011
Remote-control airliners and "dazzlers" are among proposed tech to tackle airline terrorism—because "someone will attack airplanes again."
-
Meteors Delivered Gold to Baby Earth, New Study Hints
September 7, 2011
New clues from some of the world's oldest rocks support the notion that space rocks carried precious metals to our planet, scientists say.
-
See-Through Mouse Brains Created; May Aid Medical Scans
September 2, 2011
A new chemical may soon allow scientists to see exactly what's on your mind—because the substance turns brain tissue totally transparent.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Sun Halo, Saturn Crater, More
September 2, 2011
Star jets in Orion, a ring around the sun, a black hole pair, and a "titanic" crater feature among the week's best space pictures.
-
Pictures: "Walking" Fish a Model of Evolution in Action
September 1, 2011
The first close look at the Pacific leaping blenny may offer clues to how ancient fish first made the transition to land, a new study says.
-
New Hubble Videos Show Star Jets in Action—A First
August 31, 2011
Vivid new time-lapse Hubble movies reveal the behavior of stellar jets—many times wider than our solar system—in unprecedented detail.
-
Pictures: New Views of Saturn's "Sponge" Moon Hyperion
August 31, 2011
New pictures from a recent flyby of Hyperion may help scientists decipher the body's oddly cratered surface and "tumbling" rotation.
-
Dark Matter Is an Illusion, New Antigravity Theory Says
August 31, 2011
The mysterious substance may not be needed, according to a new theory of gravitational interactions between matter and antimatter.
-
Blackbeard's Ship Confirmed off North Carolina
August 30, 2011
A shipwreck off the North Carolina coast is definitely that of the infamous 18th-century pirate Blackbeard, state officials say.
-
New Planet May Be Among Most Earthlike—Weather Permitting
August 30, 2011
An alien world 36 light-years away may be one of the most Earthlike known—if it has enough clouds, a new study predicts.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Mars Pit, Warped Galaxy, More
August 25, 2011
NASA probes a Martian ''skylight,'' a galaxy gets bent, a meteor falls on the Andes, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Huge Asteroid Impact Formed "Rubble Pile" Space Rock
August 25, 2011
A Frankenstein's monster, the asteroid Itokawa is made from parts of a space rock that broke up in a cataclysmic impact, a new study says.
-
"Diamond" Planet Found; May Be Stripped Star
August 25, 2011
The planet—most likely made of carbon crystals—is a former star that got transformed by its orbital partner, a new study says.
-
Space Station Crew Not Stranded, Despite Russian Crash
August 24, 2011
Despite the accident, the space station crew has ways home and could live for up to a year with no deliveries, officials say.
-
Oldest Antarctic "Sea Monster" Found
August 24, 2011
The Loch Ness monster-like creature swam warm Antarctic seas 85 million years ago, a new study says.
-
Should Pluto Be a Planet? New Finds Drive Debate
August 24, 2011
Discoveries made since the 2006 ruling have astronomers divided over whether the definition of a planet passes scientific muster.
-
Hurricane Irene Headed for U.S. East Coast
August 23, 2011
A strengthening Hurricane Irene could make landfall on the North Carolina coast this weekend as a major hurricane, experts say.
-
Sunspots Can Now Be Predicted Days in Advance
August 18, 2011
A new technique using sound waves can "see" the spots rising inside the sun, possibly improving forecasts of solar storms, scientists say.
-
Why Giant Space Blob Is Glowing—Mystery Solved?
August 17, 2011
Like fireflies in a mason jar, galaxies inside a huge cloud of gas make the distant object shine brightly, a new study says.
-
Texas and Antarctica Were Attached, Rocks Hint
August 16, 2011
About 1.1 billion years ago, what are now El Paso, Texas, and Antarctica appear to have existed side by side, scientists say.
-
Darkest Planet Found: Coal-Black, It Reflects Almost No Light
August 12, 2011
It may be hard to imagine a planet blacker than coal, but astronomers say they've found one—and it reflects almost no light.
-
Perseid Meteor Shower to Peak This Weekend
August 11, 2011
If you know when and where to look, this year's Perseid meteor shower can still be a crowd pleaser despite glare from the full moon.
-
Three New "Plutos"? Possible Dwarf Planets Found
August 11, 2011
Relatively bright space rocks found in Pluto's neighborhood may be new members of the dwarf planet family, astronomers say.
-
New Meteor Shower Discovered; May Uncover New Comet
August 10, 2011
They won't rival the upcoming Perseids, but the February Eta Draconids may help us find a potential danger to Earth, scientists say.
-
Antimatter Found Orbiting Earth—A First
August 10, 2011
For the first time, antiprotons have been found in Earth's magnetic field, offering a rare chance to study the particles outside the lab.
-
Mutated DNA Causes No-Fingerprint Disease
August 9, 2011
A genetic mutation causes a very rare few to be born without fingerprints, a new study says.
-
Other Universes Finally Detectable?
August 9, 2011
A new method for detecting bruises from collisions with other cosmoses could "forever change how we view our own universe," experts say.
-
Space Station to Fall to Earth—Find Out How and Where
August 8, 2011
While reports of its demise in 2020 were somewhat exaggerated, the International Space Station will have a watery end one day, experts say.
-
How Planets Can Survive a Supernova
August 5, 2011
Putting a twist on fundamental physics, a new study predicts what happens to planets when a star explodes.
-
NASA's Juno Spacecraft Headed to Jupiter Friday
August 4, 2011
The Juno spacecraft is about to launch toward the gas giant planet, where it will study Jupiter's climate, auroras, and deep interior.
-
Japan Earthquake Vibrations Nearly Reached Space
August 4, 2011
The Japan earthquake and tsunami were so strong that their vibrations made it to Earth's upper atmosphere, a new study says.
-
Earth Had Two Moons, New Model Suggests
August 3, 2011
Our moon once had a smaller companion, but it was destroyed in a slow-motion collision that left one side of the lunar orb lumpy, scientists say.
-
Trojan Asteroid Found Sharing Earth's Orbit—A First
July 28, 2011
A tiny space rock that's partially tethered to Earth by a gravitational leash is our planet's first known Trojan asteroid, astronomers say.
-
Bats Drawn to Plant via "Echo Beacon"
July 28, 2011
A Cuban plant that depends on bat pollination evolved a special leaf that acts as an "amp" for bats' sonar, new research says.
-
Drug Could Make Aging Brains More Youthful?
July 28, 2011
You can't teach an old brain new tricks—but you can restore its ability to remember old ones, a new monkey study suggests.
-
Ancient Sacrificer Found With Blades in Peru Tomb?
July 28, 2011
With ceremonial knives at his side, an elite 14th-century executioner has been uncovered in a Peruvian tomb, archeologists suggest.
-
Black Hole Hosts Universe's Most Massive Water Cloud
July 27, 2011
A black hole 12 billion light-years away hosts a cloud of water that's 40 billion times Earth's mass, astronomers say.
-
"Soccer Ball" Nebula Discovered by Amateur Astronomer
July 27, 2011
Found by an amateur astronomer, the sporty stellar remnant may shed light on how so-called planetary nebulae form, scientists say.
-
"Spectacular" Double Meteor Shower This Week
July 25, 2011
A celestial traffic jam may be on tap Friday as two meteor showers combine forces to put on a brilliant sky show.
-
Heat Wave Due to "Exceptionally Strong" Air Mass
July 22, 2011
A stubborn high-pressure system is causing sweltering temperatures in much of the U.S—and there's no relief in sight, experts say.
-
Neighboring Galaxy Caught With Stolen Stars
July 21, 2011
A large galaxy spirited away hundreds of stars from its neighbor about 1.2 billion years ago, new stellar sleuthing reveals.
-
Longest Polar Bear Swim Recorded—426 Miles Straight
July 20, 2011
A polar bear has swam a record nine days straight, covering the distance between Washington, D.C., and Boston, a new study says.
-
New Moon Discovered Orbiting Pluto
July 20, 2011
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found a fourth moon around the dwarf planet, and a spacecraft is already on its way to help investigate.
-
"Death Dance" Stars Found—May Help Prove Einstein Right
July 19, 2011
Before they collide in nearly a million years, two newfound stars may offer insight into supernovae and Einstein's gravity.
-
Snails Survive Being Eaten by Birds—A Mystery
July 19, 2011
Tiny snails can travel through a bird's digestive tract and mysteriously emerge perfectly healthy, a new study says.
-
Cocaine Addiction Uses Same Brain Paths as Salt Cravings
July 19, 2011
Drugs such as heroin and cocaine may owe some of their addictive powers to an ancient instinct—our appetite for salt.
-
Giant Undersea Volcanoes Found Off Antarctica
July 15, 2011
Large undersea volcanoes off Antarctica—some Mount Fuji-size—were recently discovered via sonar, scientists say.
-
NASA's Dawn Spacecraft to Reach Asteroid This Weekend
July 14, 2011
The Dawn spacecraft will settle into orbit around the asteroid Vesta this weekend, kicking off a year-long survey of the space rock.
-
Rainbow Toad Rediscovered, Photographed for First Time
July 14, 2011
After 87 years, an "extinct," toxic toad has been rediscovered in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
-
"Dark Fireworks" Seen on Sun—Blast as Big as Ten Earths
July 14, 2011
New videos of a solar flare as big as ten Earths show strange plasma blobs in the sharpest detail yet.
-
Afghanistan Bright Spot: Wildlife Thriving in War Zones
July 12, 2011
Surprisingly, Afghanistan's bears, wolves, and big cats have survived decades of war—but they're not out of the woods yet, conservationists say.
-
Neptune Discovered a Year Ago Today*
July 12, 2011
It's been one Neptunian year—or about 165 Earth years—since astronomers first observed the most distant planet from the sun.
-
Space-Time Cloak Possible, Could Make Events Disappear?
July 11, 2011
It's no illusion: Science has found a way to make not just objects but entire events disappear, experts say.
-
After Space Shuttle, Does U.S. Have a Future in Space?
July 8, 2011
With the final space shuttle mission underway, NASA is under pressure to unveil the next innovation in U.S. spaceflight.
-
Watch Final Shuttle Launch: Replay of Atlantis Liftoff
July 8, 2011
See NASA video of today's launch of the space shuttle Atlantis—the final shuttle launch in the program's 30-year history.
-
Last Chance to See Orbiting Shuttle With Naked Eyes
July 7, 2011
Can't make it to the final shuttle launch? You may still be able to see the iconic spacecraft fly above your backyard—find out how.
-
Earth Has "Spare Tire"—And Ice Melt's Keeping It That Way
July 6, 2011
Our oblong planet's waistline bulge has stopped slimming, thanks to massive ice melt, according to new research.
-
Shuttle Astronaut's Four Most Extraordinary Moments
July 6, 2011
From an embarrassing spill to a stranding, U.S. astronaut David Wolf has had some unforgettable experiences, thanks to the shuttle program.
-
Star Caught Eating Another Star, X-Ray Flare Shows
July 5, 2011
A tiny cannibal has been caught in the act, thanks to a superbright flash of x-rays recently spied by cosmic hunters.
-
Earth Farthest From Sun on Fourth of July—So Why So Hot?
June 30, 2011
Earth will be at its maximum distance from the sun Monday—but Northern Hemisphere dwellers shouldn't expect relief from the summer heat.
-
Secrets of Giant Cloud Holes Revealed
June 30, 2011
Mysterious cloud formations made by aircraft may owe their huge sizes to a little bit of heat, a new study suggests.
-
Asteroid Just Buzzed Earth—Came Closer Than the Moon
June 27, 2011
The school bus-size space rock could have made a "decent-size crater" if it had been on a collision course, an expert says.
-
How Gulf Spill Estimates Got It So Wrong
June 23, 2011
How much oil spilled into the Gulf last year? An engineer explains how he caused estimates to rise sharply practically overnight. Video.
-
New Comet Found; May Be Visible From Earth in 2013
June 22, 2011
There's a newfound comet closing in on the sun, and when it gets here in 2013, you may be able to see it with your naked eye, experts say.
-
Pluto to Make a Star "Wink Out" Twice This Week
June 22, 2011
The dwarf planet and its moons will pass in front of bright stars twice this week, and astronomers are moving out to catch the rare events.
-
Oldest Art in Americas Found on Mammoth Bone
June 22, 2011
The Americas' oldest known artist has been confirmed as an Ice Age hunter in what is now Florida, according to a new study.
-
Summer Solstice 2011: Why It's the First Day of Summer
June 21, 2011
Find out why the summer solstice is the first day of summer, and why it's the longest day of the year—but not the hottest.
-
Garbage-Filled Spaceship to Fall to Earth Tuesday
June 21, 2011
Filled with waste from the International Space Station, the unmanned Johannes Kepler spacecraft will soon disintegrate over the Pacific.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Galaxy Tendrils, Star Glob
June 16, 2011
Hubble sees a cosmic briar patch, a supernova shows its age, volcanic ash spews over Chile, and more in this week's best space pictures.
-
Black Hole Caught Eating a Star, Gamma-Ray Flash Hints
June 16, 2011
A huge "belch" of radiation from a supermassive black hole indicates that the cosmic monster recently devoured a star, scientists say.
-
Giant Black Holes Found at Dawn of the Universe
June 15, 2011
Long gazes into deep space have turned up signs of supermassive black holes at the hearts of the universe's first galaxies, scientists say.
-
Lunar Eclipse NOW—Watch Live Video of Longest in Decade
June 15, 2011
Out of the lunar eclipse-viewing area? Watch a live video feed, courtesy of Google—and get the facts behind the "rare event."
-
Sun Headed Into Hibernation, Solar Studies Predict
June 14, 2011
When the current solar cycle wraps up, the sun is going to take a breather, according to a suite of studies forecasting a solar lull.
-
"Rare" Lunar Eclipse Wednesday—Longest in a Decade
June 14, 2011
Will you be able to see the longest, deepest total lunar eclipse in more than a decade? Get the facts behind the "rare event."
-
Star Found Shooting Water "Bullets"
June 13, 2011
Firing epic quantities of water at Superman speeds—faster than a speeding bullet—a young star may be helping other stars to grow.
-
Highest Flying Bird Found; Can Scale Himalaya
June 10, 2011
The bar-headed goose can flap to heights of 21,120 feet on its migration over the Himalaya, a new study finds.
-
"Vampire" Stars Found in Heart of Our Galaxy—A First
June 9, 2011
Cannibals that drain life from other stars have been discovered for the first time in the heart of our galaxy, new research shows.
-
Frothy Magnetic-Bubble Sea Found at Solar System's Edge
June 9, 2011
Long seen as a shield, the edge of our solar system may really be a sea of magnetic "bubbles" that lets in dangerous rays, NASA says.
-
Coelacanths Can Live Past 100, Don't Show Age?
June 9, 2011
An ancient lineage of fish also have long life-spans, a new study suggests.
-
New Type of Exploding Supernova Found—Brightest Yet
June 8, 2011
The new, superbright class of exploding supernovae may cast a radioactive glow, astronomers announced this week.
-
Solar Flare Sparks Biggest Eruption Ever Seen on Sun
June 8, 2011
A sun storm has shot perhaps the largest amount of particles into space ever recorded, scientists say.
-
Spiders Evolved Spare Legs
June 7, 2011
Scientists may have uncovered why spiders are so creepy-crawly—they have more legs than they actually need, a new study says.
-
World's Fastest Bird? Chubby Snipe Snaps Nonstop Record
June 6, 2011
An unlikely speed demon, the rotund great snipe has completed the animal world's fastest long-distance, nonstop flight, a new study says.
-
New "Devil Worm" Is Deepest-Living Animal
June 1, 2011
Found miles under the Earth, a newfound worm species is the deepest-dwelling animal yet discovered, a new study says.
-
Wormlike Parasite Detected in Ancient Mummies
June 1, 2011
A tiny parasite that plagues people worldwide also infected ancient Africans, new mummy analyses reveal for the first time.
-
Solar Eclipse Tonight: Sun to Smile on Arctic
June 1, 2011
That's right, not today—tonight. Viewers in the Arctic land of the midnight sun should see a solar smile hugging the horizon.
-
Mini Black Holes Zip Through Earth Every Day?
May 26, 2011
One or two primordial black holes smaller than atoms pass unnoticed through the planet each day, according to a new theory.
-
NASA Asteroid Mission Set for 2016
May 25, 2011
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has been selected for launch in 2016 and will bring samples of an asteroid back to Earth by 2023, officials said.
-
Densest Matter Created in Big-Bang Machine
May 24, 2011
Besides black holes, an exotic form of matter made in the Large Hadron Collider is the densest stuff yet observed, scientists announced.
-
Revealed: How Area 51 Hid Secret Craft
May 20, 2011
Veterans of the secret U.S. base reveal how they shielded futuristic prototypes—and jury-rigged low-tech decoys.
-
Big Hurricane Season Predicted—Has U.S. Run Out of Luck?
May 19, 2011
Up to six major hurricanes could form in the Atlantic—and the U.S. may not be as lucky this year, forecasters say.
-
Giant Saturn Storm Revealed; Wider Than Earth
May 19, 2011
New techniques have uncovered the full ire of a storm so big it completely circles Saturn, a planet nearly ten times bigger than Earth.
-
Japan Earthquake Shifted Seafloor by 79 Feet
May 19, 2011
For the first time, scientists have directly measured how an earthquake moves land underwater.
-
Space "Egg," Meteorite Yield All-New Minerals
May 19, 2011
Two new minerals that formed at the birth of our solar system have been found inside meteorites, new research shows.
-
Alien Planets Outnumber Stars, Study Says
May 18, 2011
No matter how innumerable the stars may seem, there are far more planets lurking out there in the darkness, a new study suggests.
-
Species Extinctions Overestimated by 160 Percent?
May 18, 2011
Dire predictions of mass animal and plant die-offs may be overblown, but extinctions are still a critical problem, a new analysis suggests.
-
Superhuman Hearing Possible, Experiments Suggest
May 17, 2011
Vibrating the ear bones could create shortcuts for sounds to enter the brain, thus boosting hearing, according to new research.
-
Tarantulas Shoot Silk From Feet, Spider-Man Style
May 16, 2011
The big, hairy spiders spin silk from "spigots" in their feet to climb slippery surfaces, scientists have found for the first time.
-
Deep Magma Ocean Fuels Hundreds of Volcanoes on Jupiter Moon
May 13, 2011
The Jupiter moon's record volcanic action is driven by an extensive layer of "slushy" molten rock, a new study says.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Vibrant Lagoon, Mock Mars
May 6, 2011
A nebula swirls with color, a Mars mission gets a trial run, satellites see a Russian eruption, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
New Species of Tiger Stingray Named
May 6, 2011
An orange-black stingray with a tiger-like tail has finally earned its scientific stripes, a new study says.
-
Einstein Theories Confirmed by NASA Gravity Probe
May 5, 2011
A NASA spacecraft has done what Einstein himself didn't think possible: measure his predicted effects of Earth's gravity on space and time.
-
Dense, Hot Super-Earth Is "New Class of Planet"
May 5, 2011
While mystery swirls around the exact size of 55 Cancri e, two independent teams agree that it's one of the most exotic planets ever seen.
-
Women Can Sniff Out Men Without Knowing—And Vice Versa
May 4, 2011
Sniffing sexual chemicals can trick people into thinking an ambiguous human figure is male or female, a new study says.
-
Sea Urchin Body Is One Big Eye
May 2, 2011
Sea urchins may use their entire bodies—from the ends of their "feet" to the tips of their spines—as huge eyes, a new study says.
-
NASA Delays Space Shuttle Launch Until Next Week
April 29, 2011
After weathering heavy rains and lightning, the space shuttle Endeavour saw its final flight postponed due to a heater malfunction.
-
Space Shuttle Launch to Put Giant Ray Detector in Space
April 29, 2011
NASA's Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer—a $1.5 billion cosmic ray detector—will blast off with Friday's Endeavour shuttle launch.
-
Monster Alabama Tornado Spawned by Rare "Perfect Storm"
April 28, 2011
The monster tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Wednesday was spawned by unusual "perfect storm" conditions, experts say.
-
Time Travel Impossible, Mini "Big Bang" Hints
April 27, 2011
A new material that simulates the motion of particles after the big bang shows that time can move in just one direction, physicists say.
-
Marijuana Trade Threatens African Gorilla Refuge
April 27, 2011
Forests in Africa's Virunga National Park are literally going to pot—sparking renewed conflicts between rangers and rebels.
-
Bacteria Grow Under 400,000 Times Earth's Gravity
April 25, 2011
Some bacteria can even reproduce under the same crushing gravity found on massive stars or in supernova shock waves, a new study says.
-
Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend
April 22, 2011
Nature will be putting on a light show this Earth Day, with the peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower coming on Friday night.
-
Alien Auroras to Aid Hunt for New Planets?
April 21, 2011
Radio signals from alien auroras may help expand the search for new planets outside the solar system, astronomers suggest.
-
Pluto Has Toxic Carbon Monoxide in Its Atmosphere
April 19, 2011
In addition to being cold and distant, the dwarf planet Pluto has highly toxic carbon monoxide gas in its atmosphere, new data confirms.
-
Europe Starting to Dive Under Africa?
April 19, 2011
Colliding tectonic plates along the Algerian and Sicilian coasts are creating a new zone of increased quake and tsunami risks, an expert says.
-
Alien Trees Would Bloom Black on Worlds With Double Stars
April 19, 2011
On worlds with two or more stars, plants would evolve to be black, to move locations, and to secrete sunscreen, new simulations suggest.
-
Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Oiled Beaches Time Line
April 19, 2011
See the evolution of Florida and Alabama beaches blackened by the Gulf oil spill, from the first oiling to a spring-break-ready shore.
-
Some Arctic Coasts Eroding by a Hundred Feet a Year
April 18, 2011
Arctic permafrost is collapsing into the sea by as much as a hundred feet a year in some places, new studies say.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Aurora Sunrise, "Sliced" Moon
April 14, 2011
An aurora lights up Lake Superior, galaxies make a cosmic lens, a tiny moon gets "sliced," and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Yellowstone's Volcanic Plume Even Bigger Than Thought
April 13, 2011
The plume of hot rock feeding Yellowstone's supervolcano is larger than thought, according to a new study of the plume's electric properties.
-
Yuri Gagarin: First Human Space Flight in Pictures
April 12, 2011
On the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first orbit, see pictures of the man, his spacecraft, and the global impact of his flight.
-
What Yuri Gagarin Saw on First Space Flight
April 12, 2011
On the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic first orbit, watch video by a modern astronaut that re-creates what Gagarin saw in 1961.
-
New Aurora Pictures: Deep-Sky Lights Revealed
April 8, 2011
Sometimes invisible to the naked eye, faint auroras as far south as Wisconsin sprang to life in long-exposure pictures taken last week.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Star Jets, Saturn Moons
April 8, 2011
A nebula ''party'' shines in infrared, a star makes twin jets, colors swirl off the French coast, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Solar System's "Nose" Found; Aimed at Constellation Scorpius
April 7, 2011
A NASA craft has uncovered the solar system's "nose," which points in the direction our sun is moving through the Milky Way, a new study says.
-
Ancient "Pickled" Brain Mystery Explained?
April 6, 2011
Scientists may have partially cracked how Britain's oldest known brain was preserved in mud for some 2,500 years.
-
Pictures: 2,500-Year-Old Brain Examined
April 6, 2011
An ancient brain mysteriously preserved in English mud likely belonged to an Iron Age man who was hanged and beheaded, studies show.
-
Space Poison Helped Start Life on Earth?
April 6, 2011
Formaldehyde on asteroids and comets may have helped seed early Earth with complex, carbon-rich molecules, a new study says.
-
New Gravity Map Reveals Lumpy Earth
April 6, 2011
The best map yet of Earth's gravity field can help track ocean currents and study the forces behind major earthquakes, experts say.
-
Martian-Fog Study Finds Thick Haze, "Diamond Dust"
April 4, 2011
Nights on Mars are shrouded in icy fog that turns to scattered precipitation, laser scans by a NASA spacecraft have revealed.
-
Robert Bunsen: Breakthroughs Bigger Than the Burner
March 31, 2011
A lab flame fuels Wednesday's Google doodle for Robert Bunsen's 200th birthday. But the chemist did much more than better his burner.
-
Electric Wand Makes Fire Disappear
March 30, 2011
With a wave of the hand, scientists can now extinguish small fires, and someday firefighters may be able to too—no spells required.
-
Alien "Earths" Less Common Than Expected, Study Says
March 29, 2011
Even at two billion per galaxy, Earthlike worlds are scarcer than expected, according to a new estimate based on NASA data.
-
Earth Getting Mysteriously Windier
March 28, 2011
The world has gotten stormier over the past two decades—but the reason is a mystery, a new study says.
-
Rejection Really Hurts, Brain Scans Show
March 28, 2011
Maybe words can hurt you as much as sticks and stones: Romantic rejection, at least, causes physical pain, a new brain study says.
-
Coldest Star Found—No Hotter Than Fresh Coffee
March 23, 2011
A dim brown dwarf found 75 light-years away has a surface no hotter than a freshly brewed cup of coffee, astronomers say.
-
First Day of Spring: Myths, Facts, and Equinox Science
March 21, 2011
Were day and night equally long on Sunday, the 2011 vernal equinox (or spring equinox)? Get the answer—and other first-day-of-spring facts and oddities.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Stormy Sun, Oldest Galaxies
March 19, 2011
See the "stunning" Tarantula Nebula, before-and-after pictures of the Japan earthquake, and "surreal" star births in this week's best space photos.
-
"Supermoon": Biggest Full Moon in 18 Years Saturday
March 18, 2011
The moon will make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years—making the so-called supermoon the biggest full moon in years.
-
NASA Probe Successfully Orbiting Mercury—A First
March 17, 2011
After more than six years and several million miles, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is now in orbit around the tiny planet Mercury.
-
Spring Rains Darken Saturn's Moon Titan
March 17, 2011
They probably won't bring May flowers, but April showers of methane do fall on Saturn's largest moon, according to a new study.
-
Japan Tsunami, Before & After: Zoomable Satellite Images
March 16, 2011
See satellite zoom pictures of Japan before and after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake spawned a deadly tsunami.
-
Japan Earthquake Shortened Days, Increased Earth's Wobble
March 16, 2011
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck Japan last Friday was powerful enough to shorten Earth's day by 1.8 microseconds, scientists say.
-
Why Transylvanian Chickens Have Naked Necks
March 15, 2011
Scientists have cracked why the Transylvanian naked neck chicken has a featherless neck—and it isn't to give vampires easier access.
-
Japan Earthquake Not the "Big One"?
March 15, 2011
Though Friday's earthquake was the largest in Japanese history, it struck far from where experts had predicted the "big one," experts say.
-
Space Pictures This Week: "Runaway" Star, Shuttle Flyby
March 11, 2011
A French island becomes a world awash in stars, <em>Discovery</em> streaks over Earth for the last time, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
"Sleeping" Volcanoes Can Wake Up Faster Than Thought
March 10, 2011
Dormant volcanoes can stir to life in mere days instead of hundreds of years, according to a new volcano model.
-
"First Skyscraper" Built to Fight Solstice Shadow?
March 10, 2011
Built below the mountain where Satan is said to have tempted Christ, the Tower of Jericho may shielded against the peak's solstice shadow.
-
Earth-Size "Lone Wolf" Planets May Host Life
March 9, 2011
Rocky planets ejected from their star systems may still have enough internal heat to support liquid water—and thus life, a new study says.
-
Huge Impact Crater Found in Remote Congo
March 8, 2011
A circular depression deep in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been confirmed as the first known impact crater in central Africa, a new study says.
-
What If the Biggest Solar Storm on Record Happened Today?
March 2, 2011
If this solar cycle produces a flare like the 1859 Carrington Event, we may face trillions in damages and year-long blackouts, experts say.
-
Elusive Clouded Leopard Captured on Film—a First
March 2, 2011
A camera trap has caught one of the world's most elusive cats on film for the first time, conservationists say.
-
Rockies Mystery Solved by New Mountain-Creation Theory?
March 2, 2011
A tough hunk of rock that may be under Wyoming could explain why the Rockies seem to be out of place, a new mountain-formation theory says.
-
3 Surprising Ways Global Warming Could Make You Sick
March 1, 2011
Global warming may cause human health problems due to microbes, bacteria, and toxic algae blooms in coming decades, new research suggests.
-
Little Fish Exploding in Number, Models Show
February 25, 2011
There are still plenty of fish in the sea—they're just the little ones, according to new models of fish decline.
-
Space Pictures This Week: Woolly Galaxy, Solar Flare, Shuttle
February 24, 2011
An island draped in sea ice, flares spurting from the sun, and dark landslides on the moon are featured among the week's best space pictures.
-
Pictures: Five Forerunners of NASA's Robot Astronaut
February 24, 2011
See some of the forerunners of NASA's first android in space, Robonaut 2, which blasts off today aboard the space shuttle Discovery.
-
New Zealand Earthquake Spurs Giant Glacier Collapse
February 23, 2011
The powerful magnitude-6.3 temblor cast off an iceberg the size of 20 football fields from the country's longest glacier.
-
Heaviest Antimatter Found; Made in U.S. Atom Smasher
February 22, 2011
In a kind of reverse alchemy, physicists turned gold into samples of the heaviest antimatter particle yet found, researchers announced.
-
Three Theories of Planet Formation Busted, Expert Says
February 22, 2011
The more new planets we find, the less we seem to know about how worlds are actually born, a leading planet hunter says.
-
New Aurora Pictures: Solar Storms Light Up Arctic Night
February 18, 2011
Shimmering curtains of neon color added sparkle to Valentine's Day, as bursts of particles from the sun triggered brilliant auroras.
-
Amelia Earhart Spit Samples to Help Lick Mystery?
February 18, 2011
Geneticists plan to mine DNA from envelope seals to help identify remains of aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific in 1937.
-
Hibernating Bears Keep Weirdly Warm
February 17, 2011
Hibernating black bears can dramatically lower their metabolism without major drops in body temperature, a surprising new study says.
-
Best Science Pictures of 2010 Announced
February 17, 2011
A horror-movie virus and a forest of fungi feature among the winners of the 2010 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.
-
Watson Wins Jeopardy!—6 Artificial Intelligence Milestones
February 17, 2011
IBM's Watson seemingly came from out of nowhere to win Jeopardy! But the computer is just the latest artificial intelligence sensation.
-
Biggest Solar Flare in Years—Auroras to Be Widespread Tonight?
February 16, 2011
Magnetic instability has sparked a flare and aimed a "firehose" of charged gas at us—which could mean auroras far south tonight, NASA says.
-
Astronauts Walk on "Mars," Start Experiments
February 14, 2011
After months of simulated space travel, three astronauts have ventured into a darkened, sand-filed room designed to look like Mars.
-
NASA Probe Has a Valentine's Date With a Comet
February 14, 2011
The aging Stardust space probe will have one last tryst for Valentine's Day, offering scientists new views of the battered comet Tempel 1.
-
How Do Fleas Jump? New Video Solves Mystery
February 14, 2011
It was no small task, but researchers have used high-speed video to solve how the insects jump—by taking off from their toes.
-
11 Thomas Edison Predictions That Came True—Or Didn't
February 11, 2011
Celebrated Friday with a Google doodle, Thomas Edison was the "nation's inventor philosopher." See how his predictions hold up in 2011.
-
On Thomas Edison Bulb Anniversary, Lighting Breakthrough
February 11, 2011
On the anniversary of Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb, companies in October announced a reading-quality LED to fit existing lamps.
-
Squid Get Violent After Touching Eggs, Study Says
February 11, 2011
A chemical on longfin squid eggs causes males to rapidly shift from calm swimming to extremely aggressive fighting, scientists say.
-
Astronauts Could Ride Asteroids to Mars, Study Says
February 10, 2011
Astronauts could reach the red planet inside asteroids, which would shield crews from damaging cosmic rays, a new study says.
-
8 Jules Verne Inventions That Came True (Pictures)
February 8, 2011
See eight real-life inventions dreamed up decades earlier by Jules Verne—whose 183rd birthday is honored Tuesday with a Google doodle.
-
Galaxy "Crumbs" Found in Milky Way—Proof of Recent Feeding
February 7, 2011
A newfound stream of stars is all that's left of a smaller galaxy recently gobbled up by the Milky Way, a new study says.
-
Venomous New Pseudoscorpion Found in Colorado Cave
February 4, 2011
Unless you've been living in a cave, you probably haven't run across the poisonous, nearly blind pseudoscorpion described in a new study.
-
Bat Uses Pitcher Plant as Toilet; Plant Benefits
February 2, 2011
It's no load of crap—a carnivorous plant in Borneo survives mostly off of bat feces, a new study says.
-
"Killer" Winter Storm Seen From Space; U.S. Blanketed
February 2, 2011
A new NASA picture shows just how big the current U.S. winter storm is. Hitting at least 30 states, it's among the worst in 50 years.
-
Six New Planets: Mini-Neptunes Found Around Sunlike Star
February 2, 2011
NASA's Kepler spacecraft has spied the most tightly packed planetary system yet, filled with odd worlds dubbed mini-Neptunes.
-
New Invisibility Cloak Closer to Working "Magic"
January 28, 2011
Unlike earlier systems, the new cloak works in visible light and can hide objects big enough to see with the naked eye, scientists say.
-
Gulf Spill Dispersants Surprisingly Long-lasting
January 28, 2011
Massive amounts of chemical dispersants pumped into the Gulf of Mexico to break up the BP oil spill lingered in the deep ocean for months, new research shows.
-
"Gooey" New Mud Volcano Erupts From Arabian Sea
January 26, 2011
The "gooey" dot of land off the coast of Pakistan appeared in November but will likely wash away within a few months, experts say.
-
New Hybrid Whale Discovered in Arctic
January 25, 2011
Antarctic minke whales desperate for food may be swimming north and mating with their Arctic cousins, a scientist suggests.
-
"Nightmare" Star Flares Dim Odds for Alien Life?
January 24, 2011
Many of the known planets outside the solar system are orbiting stars that may be too dangerous for life, new research suggests.
-
Smallest Farmers Found? Amoebas Carry, Plant "Seeds"
January 19, 2011
In lean times, amoebas can pack up "seeds," migrate, and start fresh in greener pastures, a new study says.
-
Yellowstone Has Bulged as Magma Pocket Swells
January 19, 2011
Some parts of the ground around Yellowstone's simmering supervolcano rose by ten inches between 2004 and 2010, experts report.
-
"Suicide" Comet Storm Hits Sun—Bigger Sun-Kisser Coming?
January 17, 2011
A recent swarm of small comets that bombarded the sun may herald the coming of a much larger icy visitor, astronomers say.
-
Dark-Matter Galaxy Detected: Hidden Dwarf Lurks Nearby?
January 14, 2011
Galaxy X: An entire galaxy—made mainly of dark matter—may be lurking just outside our own, scientists say.
-
Thunderstorms Shoot Antimatter Beams Into Space
January 11, 2011
An orbiting spacecraft was recently hit by an intense beam of positrons that was traced back to a thunderstorm in Namibia, astronomers say.
-
Fastest Spinning Dust Found; Solves Cosmic "Fog" Puzzle
January 11, 2011
Tiny space specks that twirl billions of times a second are the source of a mysterious microwave "fog" in our galaxy, astronomers say.
-
NASA Finds Smallest Earthlike Planet Outside Solar System
January 10, 2011
NASA's Kepler spacecraft has confirmed the discovery of a rocky world just 1.4 times the size of Earth circling a sunlike star.
-
Glowing, Green Space Blob Forming New Stars, Hubble Shows
January 10, 2011
The odd cloud of gas known as Hanny's Voorwerp is unexpectedly giving birth to stars, a new Hubble Space Telescope picture has revealed.
-
Huge Black Hole Found in Dwarf Galaxy
January 10, 2011
A supermassive black hole in a tiny, oddly shaped galaxy may help solve a chicken-and-egg mystery in galaxy evolution, a new study says.
-
Gulf Oil Spill Surprise: Methane Almost Gone
January 7, 2011
Bacteria have dispatched with most of the methane released during the Gulf of Mexico spill—in just four months, a new study says.
-
Weird Asteroid Really a Crusty Old Comet?
January 3, 2011
An asteroid known since 1906 recently started spewing gases like a comet, hinting that the body may belong to a mysterious group of hybrids.
-
Solar Eclipse Tomorrow: Europe to See Crescent Sunrise?
January 3, 2011
The moon will appear to take a bite out of the sun Tuesday during the first of four partial solar eclipses slated to occur in 2011.
-
Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight: How to See 2011 Quadrantids
January 3, 2011
Slated to be one of the best meteor showers of the year, the 2011 Quadrantids will be especially bright thanks to a moonless sky.
-
New Prehistoric Crocodile Found in "Kitchen Counters"
December 30, 2010
Fossils of a new species of ancient crocodile cousin have been found in limestone once destined for Italian kitchen countertops, a new study says.
-
Bee Viruses Spread via Flower Pollen, Study Says
December 29, 2010
Viruses that could play a role in the recent decline in honeybee colonies may be spreading through flower pollen, new research finds.
-
Rock-Chewing Sea Urchins Have Self-Sharpening Teeth
December 28, 2010
A very close look at sea urchins has uncovered the mystery of how the animals can literally chew through stone without dulling their teeth.
-
"Chilling" Child Sacrifices Found at Prehistoric Site
December 23, 2010
Eighty-two child victims of a "chilling" bloodletting ritual have been discovered in Peru, a new study says.
-
Solar-Powered Hornet Found; Turns Light Into Electricity
December 22, 2010
The oriental hornet's "skin" pigments trap light and generate electricity, according to a new study.
-
Life Ingredients Found in Superhot Meteorites—A First
December 20, 2010
NASA astronomers were surprised to find amino acids—the fundamental foundation for life—in meteorites that had been naturally superheated.
-
Chimp "Girls" Play With "Dolls" Too—First Wild Evidence
December 20, 2010
Wild young female apes use sticks as dolls, but males rarely do—suggesting there's at least some biological basis to gender-based toy choices, a new study says.
-
Lunar Eclipse + Winter Solstice—First in 372 Years
December 20, 2010
In 2010, for the first time in 372 years, a total eclipse of a full moon falls on the winter solstice. Find out whether you might be able to see the lunar eclipse before dawn Tuesday.
-
Winter Solstice + Lunar Eclipse—First in 372 Years
December 20, 2010
In 2010, for the first time in 372 years, a total lunar eclipse falls on the winter solstice. Find out whether you might be able to see it before dawn Tuesday.
-
Mummified Forest Found on Treeless Arctic Island
December 17, 2010
"Surreal" remnants of a prehistoric forest have been discovered on a now treeless island in the Canadian Arctic.
-
Pluto Has Oceans Under Ice?
December 16, 2010
Frigid Pluto may harbor a liquid ocean beneath its miles-thick ice shell, a new model of the dwarf planet's radioactive heat suggests.
-
Saturn Moon Has Ice Volcano—And Maybe Life?
December 15, 2010
New NASA pictures suggest Saturn's moon Titan has a giant ice volcano—and perhaps a better shot at harboring life.
-
Mars Has Liquid Water Close to Surface, Study Hints
December 14, 2010
Pools of water may exist just below Mars's surface, according to new research that suggests humans may one day tap into the liquid bounty.
-
"Supernova in a Jar" Offers Peek Inside Star Death
December 14, 2010
A "gentle" chemical reaction in the lab is giving scientists a peek inside powerful star explosions called Type Ia supernovae.
-
Killer Alien Weed May Threaten Biggest Animal Migration
December 13, 2010
An invasive weed found recently in southern Kenya may kill off native vegetation that wild animals and livestock depend on for survival, scientists warn.
-
Saturn's Rings Made by Giant "Lost" Moon, Study Hints
December 13, 2010
A huge moon stripped of its icy shell gave rise to Saturn's famous rings, says a new study that also helps explain Jupiter's four giant companions.
-
Ancient Balloon-Headed Dolphin Found by Fishers
December 13, 2010
A 20-foot dolphin with a bulbous head roamed the North Sea 2.5 million years ago, a newfound fossil reveals.
-
Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight; Best of 2010?
December 13, 2010
With a recent growth in intensity, the annual shower may outshine the August Perseids as the best meteor shower of 2010, experts say.
-
New Bacteria Found on Titanic; Eats Metal
December 10, 2010
The metal-munching bacteria found on the famous wreck may help teach engineers how to protect deep-sea oil rigs, experts say.
-
Huge Asteroids Brought Gold to Infant Earth, Study Says
December 9, 2010
There was no frankincense and myrrh, but huge asteroids may have brought gold and other precious metals to infant Earth, a new study says.
-
New Planet Found; Star's Fourth World Stumps Astronomers
December 8, 2010
A fourth planet found around a sunlike star has its discoverers scratching their heads as to how the oddly spaced system took shape.
-
"Fake Diamond" Star Discovered
December 8, 2010
A glittering blue bauble 2,000 light-years away is the most zirconium-rich star yet seen, astronomers say.
-
Japan Probe Missed Venus—Will Try Again in Six Years
December 8, 2010
The Akatsuki spacecraft sped past Venus yesterday, but the craft will return to the planet to try again in six years, officials say.
-
Best Space Discoveries of 2010: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
December 8, 2010
Bright meteors and mind-bending theories about the universe were among National Geographic News's most viewed space stories of 2010.
-
Ten Weirdest New Animals of 2010: Editors' Picks
December 7, 2010
A fish with "hands," a T. Rex leech, and a self-cloning lizard are among National Geographic News's picks for the weirdest new species in 2010.
-
Japan Probe Arrives at Venus, But Orbit Is Unclear
December 7, 2010
Designed to study weather on Venus, the Akatsuki probe arrived at the planet today, but it's uncertain whether the craft made it into orbit.
-
Ten NatGeo News Stories You Might Have Missed in 2010
December 6, 2010
See our editors' picks of the best stories of 2010 that flew under the radar, including space-time "wrinkles" and squid plastic surgery.
-
New Biggest Volcano in the Solar System?
December 3, 2010
If a new theory holds true, Tharsis Rise on Mars is about to cast down Olympus Mons as the largest known volcano in the solar system.
-
Big Bang Poured Out "Liquid" Universe, Atom Smasher Hints
December 2, 2010
Just after the big bang, the universe was made of a quark-gluon plasma that behaved like a dense, superhot liquid, new data suggest.
-
NASA Life Discovery: New Bacteria Makes DNA With Arsenic
December 2, 2010
No, NASA didn't find life on another world. But scientists did uncover a new species of bacteria that's perhaps the most ''alien'' yet seen.
-
Sleep Cherry-picks Memories, Boosts Cleverness
December 1, 2010
The sleeping brain "calculates" what memories to remember and forget, allowing for sharper thinking, new research suggests.
-
Earth-Size Planet Has Hot and Steamy Atmosphere?
December 1, 2010
An Earth-size planet orbiting a dim, red star either has a blanket of ultrahot steam or a noxious, cloudy haze of hydrogen, new data reveal.
-
New Planet System May Be Most Populated Yet Found
November 30, 2010
A tight group of planets orbiting a sunlike star may be the closest match yet found to our solar system, astronomers say.
-
Best Cosmic Mindblowers of 2010 From Nat Geo News
November 29, 2010
From the end of time to black hole portals, wrap your brain around our editors' picks for some of the odder astrophysics concepts of 2010.
-
Saturn Moon Has Oxygen Atmosphere
November 25, 2010
Saturn's second largest moon, Rhea, has an atmosphere of oxygen and carbon dioxide—but don't hold your breath for human colonization.
-
First Asteroid Dust Brought to Earth Holds Clues to Planet Birth
November 23, 2010
Pieces of an asteroid brought back to Earth by a Japanese probe ''have retained the initial condition of the materials of [the] planets,'' scientists say.
-
Pluto Is the Biggest Dwarf Planet, After All?
November 22, 2010
New pictures of the dwarf planet Eris—whose larger size spurred Pluto's demotion—suggest that Pluto may actually be just a hair bigger.
-
New Satellite Pictures: "Magnificent" Views of Earth
November 19, 2010
See Earth's largest sand sea, swirling ice "galaxies," Van Gogh-ready algae, and more in a new collection of artistic satellite images.
-
Comet Is Cosmic Snow Globe, NASA Flyby Shows
November 18, 2010
New pictures of comet Hartley 2 show that the body is full of dry ice, which drives a "snowstorm" in the comet's halo.
-
Antimatter Atoms Trapped for First Time—"A Big Deal"
November 18, 2010
It's "a big deal" and may help solve a great cosmic mystery, but don’t hold your breath for antimatter bombs or engines.
-
New Planet Discovered: First Spotted Outside Our Galaxy
November 18, 2010
A Jupiter-like world orbiting a bloated red star is the first planet we know of that was born in another galaxy, astronomers say.
-
Full Moons Get Electrified by Earth's Magnetic "Tail"
November 18, 2010
Passing through the charged particles in Earth's magnetic field causes the full moon to build up an electrostatic charge, scientists say.
-
Sky Show Wednesday: Leonid Meteor Shower to Peak Predawn
November 16, 2010
The best views will be in the early morning for North American sky-watchers, with peak rates of 20 shooting stars an hour, experts say.
-
Baby Black Hole Found—Are You Older Than a Cosmic Monster?
November 16, 2010
Just 50 million light-years from Earth sits a black hole that astronomers saw being ''born'' in 1979, x-ray observations reveal.
-
Bats Crash More Often When They Use Vision
November 15, 2010
Being blind as a bat has its benefits: Wild bats that rely on vision are more likely to crash, a new study says.
-
Billion-Pixel Image Tool Probes Science Mysteries
November 12, 2010
Ultra-zoomable panoramas give scientists new tools to explore prehistoric rock art, mysterious bee die-offs, and more. <i>With interactives.</i>
-
Mysterious Structures Balloon From Milky Way's Core
November 10, 2010
Huge gamma-ray bubbles are billowing from the core of our home galaxy, and the energy source creating them is a mystery, a new study says.
-
Sea Turtle Herpes Tumors Linked to Sewage?
November 9, 2010
Herpes tumors that have plagued green sea turtles worldwide for decades may be caused by pollution, a new study says.
-
Photos: X-Ray History—Hidden Kittens, Quackery, and More
November 8, 2010
See some of the most important—and oddest—images associated with x-rays, whose 115th anniversary is marked Monday with a Google doodle.
-
New Self-Cloning Lizard Found in Vietnam Restaurant
November 8, 2010
A popular dish on Vietnamese menus is made from a newly discovered lizard that reproduces via virgin birth, scientists say.
-
X-Rays on Google: Surprising Ways the Rays Are Used Today
November 8, 2010
Feted with a Google doodle on its 115th anniversary, x-ray tech is now used in lasers, astronomy, microscopes, and more.
-
Space Shuttle Discovery Launch Delayed till November 30
November 5, 2010
Discovery's final flight is now slated for the end of the month, as engineers investigate a "significant" gas leak and cracks in the external fuel tank.
-
Giant Coral Die-Off Found; Gulf Spill "Smoking Gun?"
November 5, 2010
Huge colonies of dead coral found near the Deepwater Horizon wellhead points to the Gulf oil spill as a smoking gun, scientists announced this week.
-
Comet Photos: First Close-ups of Peanut-Like Hartley 2
November 5, 2010
Initial pictures from the EPOXI mission to comet Hartley 2 show an odd ''peanut'' spewing jets of carbon dioxide and cyanide gas.
-
Electric Jolt to Brain Boosts Math Skills
November 5, 2010
Stimulating the brain with a nonpainful electrical current can jump-start peoples' math skills, scientists say.
-
Space Photos This Week: Sun Cowlick, Night Lights, More
November 4, 2010
NASA honors a decade of space station living, a supercyclone moves over the U.S. Midwest, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Women Prefer Men With Yellow, Red Faces
November 4, 2010
Men, take note: A healthy glow is more attractive to women than a strong, masculine face, a new study says.
-
NASA Probe Closing in on "Poisonous" Comet Hartley 2
November 3, 2010
The probe formerly known as Deep Impact is about to make its closest pass by an oddly active comet spewing deadly cyanide gas.
-
Giant Shrimp-like Sea Predator Was a Weakling After All
November 3, 2010
A shrimplike creature thought to be Earth's first great predator was actually more of a worm-eating wuss, scientists say.
-
Fossils Could Be Found by Next Mars Rover, Study Hints
November 3, 2010
A new theory for how oceans formed on Mars also hints that one potential landing site for NASA's next Mars rover could be a fossil hotbed.
-
Pictures: Space Shuttle Discovery's Milestone Moments
November 3, 2010
From Hubble to the first woman space shuttle pilot—Discovery, whose final mission begins soon, has helped make spaceflight history.
-
Why Space Shuttle Discovery Is "Machine With Personality"
November 2, 2010
After the space shuttle's 26-year career studded with milestones, Discovery's final mission "will be emotional," one expert says.
-
"Mind-Boggling" Pictures: Goats Scale Dam in Italy
November 1, 2010
Yes, these viral pictures of goats clinging to an impossibly steep rock face are real. Get the facts behind the Internet rumors.
-
Time Will End in Five Billion Years, Physicists Predict
October 28, 2010
The universe will cease to exist around the same time our sun is slated to die, according to new predictions based on the multiverse theory.
-
"Zombie Virus" Possible via Rabies-Flu Hybrid?
October 27, 2010
People can't rise from the dead, but certain viruses can induce aggressive, zombie-like behavior, according to a new documentary.
-
Robots of the Gulf Spill: Fishlike Subs, Smart Torpedoes
October 26, 2010
From fishlike submersibles to smart torpedoes, meet the 'bots that illuminated deep, dark threats of the BP spill.
-
Moon's Silver Hints at Lunar Water Origins
October 21, 2010
The moon's chilly south pole hosts unexpected amounts of silver and mercury, which may help scientists trace the origins of lunar water.
-
Universe's Most Distant Object Spotted
October 20, 2010
A galaxy that existed 600 million years after the big bang may help explain why the gases in ''empty'' space are transparent, experts say.
-
T. Rex Was a Cannibal, Bone Gashes Suggest
October 15, 2010
The formidable Tyrannosaurus rex had nothing to fear—except possibly its own kind, gnawed fossil bones suggest.
-
Saturn's "Walnut" Moon Mystery Cracked?
October 14, 2010
Saturn's moon Iapetus spun unusually fast in its youth, creating the eight-mile-high ridge around its middle, scientists suggest.
-
Bombing Earth-bound Asteroids a Viable Option, Experts Say
October 13, 2010
Blowing up oncoming space rocks might not, as feared, make a bad situation worse or require impossibly big bombs, new studies suggest.
-
Pictures: Best Micro-Photos of 2010
October 13, 2010
A zebrafish nose, a wasp nest, and a mosquito heart took home top honors in the 2010 Small World Microphotography Competition.
-
Plane Exhaust Kills More People Than Plane Crashes, Study Says
October 11, 2010
You're more likely to die from exposure to toxic pollutants in plane exhaust than in a plane crash, a new study says.
-
Black Hole Blasts Superheated Early Universe
October 8, 2010
Monster galaxies with supermassive black hole hearts released fierce blasts that superheated the universe about 11 billion years ago, a new study says.
-
Giant Crystal Caves Yield New "Ice Palace," More
October 8, 2010
It looks like Superman's fortress and is nearly as hard to get into, but that hasn't kept explorers from uncovering new secrets on and around Mexico's deep, deadly Cave of Crystals.
-
Saturn's Largest Moon Has Ingredients for Life?
October 8, 2010
The chemical "letters" used to write the basic code for life on Earth might exist on Saturn's largest moon, according to new laboratory research presented Thursday.
-
Draconids Meteor Shower Thursday
October 7, 2010
Thursday's Draconids meteor shower forecast calls for no more than a drizzle. But next year, sky-watchers should be prepared for a downpour.
-
New Strong-Handed Dinosaur May Shatter Assumptions
October 7, 2010
A new dinosaur species suggests giant, plant-eating dinosaurs may not have been so gentle, a new study says.
-
Ice "Tsunamis" Detected in Saturn Ring
October 7, 2010
The gravitational pull of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, may be causing monster waves in one of the planet's rings, astronomers say.
-
Sun's Impact on Climate Change Overestimated?
October 6, 2010
A decline in the sun's activity may warm, not cool Earth—suggesting sun's role in climate change is more complicated than thought, scientists say.
-
Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded for In Vitro Fertilization
October 4, 2010
Millions of infertile couples who conceived via in vitro fertilization can thank fertility expert Robert G. Edwards, who received a Nobel Prize today for his work.
-
Pulsating Aurorae Secrets Revealed
October 1, 2010
Pulsating aurorae—the most striking type of northern lights—are triggered by an electromagnetic wave, scientists announced.
-
Whale Snot, Cursing Away Pain Among 2010 Ig Nobels
October 1, 2010
Profanity to treat pain and whale-snot-collecting helicopters are just a few of the unusual scientific achievements awarded Ig Nobels on Thursday.
-
Surprise: Solar System "Force Field" Shrinks Fast
September 30, 2010
NASA's IBEX craft reveals unexpected unpredictability in the protective bubble around our solar system.
-
First Truly Habitable Planet Discovered, Experts Say
September 30, 2010
You might have heard it before, but astronomers say this new Earthlike planet really could harbor life. How do they know? Think Goldilocks.
-
New Magma Layer Found Deep in Earth's Mantle?
September 23, 2010
A layer of molten rock trapped since Earth's formation may exist where the solid mantle meets the core, a new study says.
-
Einstein's Relativity Affects Aging on Earth (Slightly)
September 23, 2010
Standing higher on a staircase will make you age faster, according to new research that confirms Einstein's theories on Earthly scales.
-
Autumnal Equinox: Why First Day of Fall 2010 Is Different
September 22, 2010
Wednesday, for the first time in more than a decade, the full moon will shine over the first day of fall. Get the facts in our autumnal equinox explainer.
-
Jupiter Closest to Earth Tonight, With Uranus Just Behind
September 20, 2010
The giant planet will be its biggest and brightest since 1951, and Uranus will be visible nearby with binoculars, experts say.
-
New Type of Moon Volcano Discovered
September 17, 2010
An arrowhead-shaped feature on the moon pointed the way to a new type of silica-rich rock spat up by an ancient volcano, experts say.
-
Hurricane Karl Slams Into Mexico; Flash Floods Predicted
September 17, 2010
Even as Hurricane Karl makes landfall in Mexico, Hurricanes Igor and Julia are still churning out at sea, experts say.
-
"Observe the Moon Night" Tomorrow: Top Five Lunar Targets
September 17, 2010
As people gather worldwide to examine Earth's nearest neighbor, find out an astronomer's "top five" things to see on the lunar surface.
-
Best View of Comet Hartley 2 Coming Soon
September 16, 2010
The comet will be making a close pass by Earth in October, offering sky-watchers a "preview" before a NASA probe's November flyby.
-
Implanted Fuel Cell Powered by Rat's Body Fluids
September 15, 2010
The tiny device made power from blood sugar while inside a living rat, and the animal suffered no side effects, researchers say.
-
Males Who Bulk Up as Babies Reach Puberty Quicker
September 13, 2010
Males who gain weight fast as babies reach puberty quicker, have sex earlier, and end up taller and more muscular, a new study says.
-
Astronauts' Fingernails Falling Off Due to Glove Design
September 13, 2010
Astronauts with wider hands are more likely to have their fingernails fall off after working or training in space suit gloves, according to a new study.
-
New NASA Probe to Dive-bomb the Sun
September 10, 2010
With its science payload finalized, Solar Probe Plus is closer to becoming the first craft to directly sample the sun, NASA officials say.
-
Cockroach Brains May Hold New Antibiotics?
September 9, 2010
Cockroaches and locusts produce natural antibiotics that can kill bacteria such as MRSA and toxic strains of E. coli, new research shows.
-
"False Dawn" This Week: Zodiacal Light Easier to See
September 9, 2010
The seasonal phenomenon creates a bright pyramid over the eastern horizon that will be easier than usual to see this week, astronomers say.
-
Second Asteroid to Buzz Earth Later Today
September 8, 2010
The second asteroid to pass near Earth in a single day will make its closest approach later today, scientists say.
-
Hurricane Earl a Harbinger of Worse to Come?
September 2, 2010
Though expected to only graze the U.S. coast, Hurricane Earl is the first of many intense storms that could menace the U.S. East Coast this season, one expert says.
-
Evolution in Action: Lizard Moving From Eggs to Live Birth
September 1, 2010
A skink species lays eggs on the coast but births babies in the mountains, giving a rare glimpse at how placentas evolved, scientists say.
-
Insomnia Increases Risk of Early Death for Men?
September 1, 2010
Chronic male insomniacs may have a higher risk of early death than "normal" male sleepers, a new study says.
-
Migraine Risk Linked to Gene
August 30, 2010
A genetic variant has been linked to higher risk for chronic migraines, according to a new study of European patients.
-
"Lost" Language Found on Back of 400-Year-Old Letter
August 27, 2010
Scribblings on a 17th-century letter reveal a native Peruvian language that was forgotten for centuries, an archaeologist says.
-
Mars Email a Hoax: No "Two Moons" Friday Night
August 26, 2010
An email promising sky-watchers a view of "two moons" on August 27 is nothing more than a seemingly unending Mars myth, experts say.
-
New Planet System Found—May Have Hidden "Super Earth"
August 26, 2010
Two newfound Saturn-size planets orbiting a sunlike star might have an Earthlike companion, according to data from NASA's Kepler mission.
-
Smallest, Faintest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight
August 24, 2010
The moon may be shrinking, but that's not why this week's full moon will be the smallest and faintest of 2010.
-
3 Jupiter Fireballs Spotted—Sky-Watching Army Needed?
August 24, 2010
The third fireball over Jupiter in about a year was spotted August 20, prompting a call for a sort of global army of backyard astronomers.
-
Oldest Material in Solar System Found
August 23, 2010
A meteorite adds two million years to the solar system's age—and suggests an exploding star helped create the system we know today, a new study says.
-
Your Hair Reveals Whether You're a Morning Person
August 23, 2010
Early bird or late riser? The mysteries of your body clock may be unlocked by the hairs on your head, a new study says.
-
Photos: Honeycomb Clouds "Communicate," Rain in Unison
August 20, 2010
Like blinking fireflies, some marine clouds "communicate" with each other, forming, raining, and re-forming in unison, a new study says.
-
The Moon Has Shrunk, and May Still Be Contracting
August 19, 2010
Relatively young features suggest the moon's width has shrunk by about 600 feet—and it may still be getting smaller, a new study says.
-
Titanic Is Falling Apart
August 19, 2010
Sunday, scientists will set sail to preserve the crumbling wreck in 3-D—and to find out just how long Titanic might last.
-
Space Photos This Week: Star Blob, Perseids, More
August 18, 2010
Plankton swirl, stars cluster, meteors streak, and Earth shines in our selection of the week's best space pictures.
-
Evolution Surprise: Bacteria Have "Noses," Can Smell
August 18, 2010
The single-celled organisms can detect the aroma of ammonia, says a new study that suggests the sense of smell evolved earlier than thought.
-
Dreams Make You Smarter, More Creative, Studies Suggest
August 16, 2010
REM sleep boosts memory, creativity, and more, experts announce.
-
Nano "Wiretap" Spies on Cells
August 12, 2010
Transistors smaller than a virus can enter cells harmlessly and "listen in" on crucial body functions, a new study says.
-
"Dead Zone" Asteroid Found Following Neptune
August 12, 2010
In a gravitational dead zone, a so-called Trojan asteroid has been found trailing Neptune like a water skier behind a speedboat.
-
Infant, Magma-Ball Earth Glimpsed Via Newfound Rocks
August 12, 2010
From a time when the world was a ball of magma, the rocks offer "the best possibility yet to understand the Earth's original composition."
-
Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight—How to See Perseids
August 11, 2010
A moonless night and the chance we're passing through a meteor clump make this year's Perseids extra promising, experts say.
-
Planet Triangle, Moon, Asteroid Sky Show Thursday
August 11, 2010
In a spectacle visible to the naked eye, four planets, an asteroid, and the moon will huddle together in the western sky Thursday, astronomers say.
-
Secrets of Sleeping Soundly Uncovered
August 9, 2010
Sleep like a log? You can thank your spindles, rapidfire brain waves that act as blockades against noise during sleep, a new study says.
-
Saturn Moon Loses Its Ring, Gains a Mystery
August 6, 2010
A spacecraft's readings in 2005 suggested Saturn's moon Rhea has a ring, but new images show only a mysterious absence.
-
NASA to Visit Asteroid Predicted to Hit Earth?
August 6, 2010
The craft would bring back pieces of asteroid 1999 RQ36, which recent calculations show has a chance of hitting Earth in 2182.
-
NASA a "Go" for Emergency ISS Spacewalk Saturday
August 6, 2010
Astronauts are now practicing in a huge pool in Texas to help streamline repairs to a broken cooling system aboard the space station.
-
Pictures: "Ghost" Robot Lets User Cuddle, Chat Remotely
August 5, 2010
Part phone, part ventriloquist's dummy, the Telenoid R1 robot can stand in for distant relatives, friends, or teachers, its creators say.
-
Moon Not So Watery After All, Lunar-Rock Study Says
August 5, 2010
Previous reports of significant amounts of water on the moon may be all wet, says a new study of chlorine in Apollo moon rocks.
-
Solar Storm Headed for Earth Tonight; May Spawn Auroras
August 3, 2010
A huge eruption on the sun may trigger auroras tonight, and the light show could be more widely visible than normal, astronomers say.
-
Universe's Existence May Be Explained by New Material
August 3, 2010
A special ceramic may help researchers explain why all matter in the universe didn't annihilate shortly after the big bang.
-
Space-Time "Wrinkles" Igniting Odd Gamma-ray Bursts?
August 2, 2010
Unusually short but intense "fireballs" in the distant universe may be triggered by vibrating cosmic strings, a new study says.
-
"Spacequakes" Discovered in Earth's Upper Atmosphere
July 30, 2010
The space weather phenomenon swirls auroras and can spawn magnetic "twisters" that can knock out power lines, a new study says.
-
Sniff-Controlled Keyboards, Wheelchairs Invented
July 28, 2010
A new sniff-driven controller is helping paralyzed people get moving again—and allowed a "locked in" patient to write letters, a new study says.
-
Massive Comet Impact Detected on Neptune
July 23, 2010
New data hint that a comet crashed into Neptune about 200 years ago, adding to evidence that gassy planets get hit more often than thought.
-
Largest Space Molecules Found; Buckyball Mystery Solved
July 23, 2010
Mel Brooks may have invented Spaceballs, but it took astronomers to find the real things—and they're the largest molecules outside Earth.
-
"Fresh" Crater Found in Egypt; Changes Impact Risk?
July 22, 2010
The well-preserved crater was likely made by an iron meteor that landed whole—a find that could change Earth's impact risk, scientists say.
-
New Galaxy Maps to Help Find Dark Energy Proof?
July 21, 2010
A new mapping technique could help astronomers use giant sound waves to test theories of the mysterious cosmic force, scientists say.
-
Most Massive Star Discovered—Shatters Record
July 21, 2010
A newfound star weighing in at 265 times the mass of our sun could "revolutionize" theories of star life and death, astronomers say.
-
"Lost" Languages to Be Resurrected by Computers?
July 19, 2010
A new program has deciphered writing last used in Biblical times, a feat that may lead to the "resurrection" of mysterious ancient texts.
-
Planet Found With Comet-like Tail
July 15, 2010
Blasted by its host star, a far-off planet is disintegrating, its mass streaming away in a comet-like tail, a new study says.
-
Final Mercury Flyby Reveals Huge Magnetic "Power Surges"
July 15, 2010
The tiny planet quickly builds up and releases a massive amount of energy in its magnetic "tail"—a process that has scientists baffled.
-
Ultrabright Gamma-ray Burst "Blinded" NASA Telescope
July 15, 2010
One of the brightest gamma-ray bursts yet briefly shut down the Swift space telescope, astronomers announced this week.
-
Video: "New World" Asteroid Imaged Up Close
July 12, 2010
The Rosetta craft took the first close images of asteroid Lutetia Saturday, with scientists comparing the pictures to "the discovery of a new world."
-
Human Brains "Evolve," Become Less Monkey-Like With Age
July 12, 2010
The brain regions that grow the most as we age are the same areas that expanded the most during evolution, a new study says.
-
Asteroid Flyby July 10—European Probe Closing In
July 9, 2010
On Saturday the European probe Rosetta will swoop past 21 Lutetia, the largest and least understood asteroid yet visited.
-
Total Solar Eclipse Sunday—Most Remote of the Century?
July 9, 2010
Only a lucky few will see this year's total solar eclipse, which will sweep across a handful of Pacific islands July 11.
-
Solar Eclipse to Darken Easter Island Sunday
July 8, 2010
The moon's shadow will envelop Easter Island on July 11 during a total solar eclipse, the first to cross the remote island in about 1,400 years.
-
Proton Smaller Than Thought—May Rewrite Laws of Physics
July 7, 2010
Scientists were "totally surprised" to find the proton smaller than thought—a "significant shake-up" that may change the laws of physics.
-
Earth at Farthest Distance From Sun—Why the Heat Wave?
July 7, 2010
This week Earth is farther from the sun than it will be at any other time in 2010. So why the heat wave in the U.S. East?
-
Space Station Visible All Night Thursday—How to See It
July 1, 2010
In a once-a-year sky show, the International Space Station can be seen Thursday night with the naked eye multiple times from select locations.
-
"First" Picture of Planet Orbiting Sunlike Star Confirmed
June 30, 2010
A team of astronomers says it holds bragging rights to releasing the first ever direct picture of an alien planet around a sunlike star.
-
Lunar Eclipse Saturday to Appear Red?
June 25, 2010
A partial eclipse of the full moon tomorrow may get an added boost of red color from recent eruptions of the Iceland volcano, astronomers say.
-
First Working Replacement Lung Created in Lab
June 24, 2010
Biomedical breakthrough in rats may lead to replacement lungs for humans in 20 years, if a suitable source of stem cells can be found.
-
World's Largest Digital Camera to Watch for Killer Asteroids
June 24, 2010
The Pan-STARRS telescope snaps 1.4-gigapixel pictures every 30 seconds in a hunt for stellar explosions and planet-destroying rocks.
-
Touching Heavy, Hard Objects Makes Us More Serious
June 24, 2010
Looking for a job? Print your resume on heavy paper, according to a new study that shows touch unconsciously influences our behaviors.
-
Pictures: Butterfly Wing Colors Imaged in 3-D
June 24, 2010
The crystals that give butterfly wings their vibrant colors have been revealed in 3-D for the first time, a new study says.
-
"Shocking" Superstorm Seen on Exoplanet—A First
June 23, 2010
A fierce, planet-wide storm raging on an exoplanet has been glimpsed for the first time, a new study says.
-
"Lucy" Kin Pushes Back Evolution of Upright Walking?
June 21, 2010
A newfound skeleton that was a male relative of "Lucy" supports the idea that walking upright evolved earlier than thought, a new study says.
-
Summer Solstice 2010: Why It's the First Day of Summer
June 21, 2010
Find out why the summer solstice starts summer, and why it's the longest day of the year—but not the hottest. 2010.
-
World Cup Science: Soccer's Greatest Player Is ...
June 18, 2010
Could a new scientific system end arguments over who's the world's best soccer player? No. But researchers are naming names anyway—by the numbers.
-
Swine Flu Virus Hiding Out in Pigs, May Reemerge
June 17, 2010
Swine flu, or H1N1, has been hiding out in pigs for more than a year, getting a genetic makeover, scientists have discovered.
-
Meteor Caused Jupiter Flash, Hubble Reveals
June 17, 2010
The Hubble telescope has not found a dark debris field, suggesting a smaller meteor and not a large asteroid or comet hit Jupiter.
-
"God Particle" May Be Five Distinct Particles, New Evidence Shows
June 16, 2010
The long-sought Higgs boson particle might actually be five distinct particles, a "provocative" atom-smashing experiment suggests.
-
Brain Cells in a Dish Keep Time
June 16, 2010
Networks of brain cells in the laboratory can be trained to track time—suggesting we're not ruled by one master clock, a new study says.
-
Bright Green Comet Easy to See This Week
June 15, 2010
A long-tailed comet at the height of its brilliance is streaking across early morning skies this week, experts say.
-
Divert the Mississippi to Fight Oil Spill, Experts Say
June 15, 2010
Artificially boosted, the river could act as an invisible barrier against the oil, buying time for cleanup crews in hard-hit Louisiana, scientists say.
-
Ancient Mars Had Vast Ocean, New Evidence Shows
June 14, 2010
A vast ocean chock-full of microbes may have once covered more than a third of Mars' surface, according to a new analysis of river deltas on the red planet.
-
Moon Has a Hundred Times More Water Than Thought
June 14, 2010
A splashy new study estimates the inner moon has enough water for an all-encompassing lunar ocean. "This could be a total game-changer."
-
Prehistoric Europeans Hunted, Ate Lion?
June 14, 2010
Prehistoric Europeans were top hunters capable of taking down cave lions, a new study suggests, though the practice was likely extremely rare.
-
Video: Hayabusa Spacecraft's Fiery Return From Asteroid
June 14, 2010
Japan's Hayabusa, the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid and return to Earth, made a fiery reentry over southern Australia Sunday night.
-
Hayabusa Spacecraft Returns With Fiery Show
June 14, 2010
Japan's Hayabusa spacecraft returned to Earth this weekend, possibly carrying the first dust taken directly from the face of an asteroid.
-
Japan's "Falcon" Spacecraft Returns—Asteroid Dust On Board?
June 11, 2010
This weekend a Japanese spacecraft is due to return to Earth, possibly carrying the first sample taken directly from the surface of an asteroid.
-
Youngest Planet Confirmed; Photos Show It Grew Up Fast
June 10, 2010
New telescope pictures prove the youngest known planet outside our solar system does in fact exist—and that planets can grow up fast—a new study says.
-
Giant Sea Reptiles Were Warm-Blooded?
June 10, 2010
Giant reptiles that ruled dinosaur-era seas might have been partly warm-blooded—giving them the faster metabolism of an aggressive hunter, a new study says.
-
Bright Fireball Slams Into Jupiter
June 4, 2010
Even as scientists announce new details about last year's impact on Jupiter, two backyard astronomers separately catch a new collision on film.
-
Snails on Meth Have Sharper Memories
June 3, 2010
When high on crystal meth, snails learn and retain memories better—possibly giving clues into how humans get hooked on the drug, a new study says.
-
Blue Light Smells Like Bananas to Gene-Altered Flies
June 1, 2010
Fruit fly larvae with algae proteins in their "noses" will mistake blue light for the scent of mushy bananas, researchers have found.
-
Pagan Burial Altar Found in Israel
May 28, 2010
Wealthy pagans worshiped at the 2,000-year-old altar, which is adorned with carved bull heads, ribbons, and laurel wreaths, archaeologists say.
-
"Comets" Found Orbiting Monster Black Hole
May 28, 2010
Ghostly, comet-shaped clouds of gas have been spotted orbiting near the mouth of a supermassive black hole, a new study says.
-
Electric Ash Found in Iceland Plume Miles From Volcano
May 27, 2010
Ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was charged even over Europe—a find that's both good and bad news for air traffic, scientists say.
-
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Officially Dead
May 25, 2010
A recent picture of the polar lander shows winter ice broke a solar panel, confirming that Phoenix won't rise again, NASA officials say.
-
Planets Found With Crisscross Orbits—A First
May 25, 2010
A "super Jupiter" and its sibling have unusual, crisscross orbits—the first time anyone has seen such a configuration, scientists say.
-
Toxic New Algae Species Discovered
May 24, 2010
A new species of microalgae can cause slow-growing but serious lesions in infected people, a new study says.
-
Solar Sail Hybrid Launches Today From Japan
May 17, 2010
Japan is set to launch Ikaros, the first "space yacht" that will speed across the solar system using a solar-powered sail.
-
Ball Lightning May Be All in Your Head
May 14, 2010
The mysterious floating orbs might simply be hallucinations caused by brains overstimulated by magnetism, a new study suggests.
-
Jupiter Loses Big Belt; Great Spot Left Hanging
May 14, 2010
One of the planet's two major dark stripes has gone missing, leaving the Great Red Spot "floating all alone in whiteness."
-
Tibetans Evolved to Survive High Life, Study Says
May 13, 2010
Many Tibetans carry unique versions of two genes associated with the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells, a new DNA study says.
-
Hole in Space Found by Orbiting Telescope
May 12, 2010
The truly empty void spotted by the Herschel Space Observatory could offer new insight into how stars are born, astronomers say.
-
Hubble Telescope Catches Superfast Runaway Star
May 11, 2010
The stellar speed demon spied racing through the Tarantula Nebula may be a never before seen type of fugitive star, a new study says.
-
Glowing Sea Beasts: Photos Shed Light on Bioluminescence
May 7, 2010
A new report reviews why, for sea species, bioluminescence can be a very healthy glow—and how so many creatures evolved it in so many ways.
-
Mystery Space Object May Be Ejected Black Hole
May 7, 2010
A superbright object in a galaxy far, far away could be a supermassive black hole that got ejected from its home galaxy's center, scientists say.
-
Hand Washing Wipes Away Regrets?
May 6, 2010
The simple act of washing your hands seems to get rid of the need to justify a tough choice, researchers say.
-
Supernova's Beginning Blast Shown in 3-D—A First
April 30, 2010
The mysterious first moments of a huge star's demise have now been modeled in 3-D, offering the best peek yet at what triggers the explosions.
-
Water Discovered on an Asteroid—A First
April 28, 2010
A frosty space rock with organic materials may offer new proof that asteroids delivered water—and the origins of life—to Earth.
-
Human Bodies Make Their Own Morphine
April 26, 2010
Tiny amounts of the "incredible painkiller" get made naturally in mice and people, possibly as a defense mechanism, a new study says.
-
Hubble Telescope at 20: NASA Astronomers' Top Photos
April 24, 2010
For the Hubble telescope's 20th anniversary, NASA astronomers selected the pictures they think best highlight the Hubble's scientific and societal impacts.
-
Sun Erupts: Epic Blast Seen by NASA Solar Observatory
April 23, 2010
NASA solar observatories recently filmed one of the largest known sun eruptions, which blasted "a huge amount of material into space."
-
Hubble 20th Anniversary Photos: NASA Astronomers' Picks
April 23, 2010
For Hubble's 20th anniversary, NASA astronomers selected the pictures that best highlight the telescope's scientific and societal impacts.
-
Lightning Creates Particle Accelerators Above Earth
April 20, 2010
Intense lightning bolts can make natural particle accelerators in the sky, although human-made colliders are more powerful, experts say.
-
Lyrid Meteor Shower to Peak on Earth Day
April 19, 2010
For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, nature will be setting off some fireworks, with the peak of the annual Lyrid meteor shower arriving on April 22.
-
Oxygen-Free Animals Discovered—A First
April 16, 2010
Deep in the Mediterranean, scientists have discovered the first complex animals known to live without oxygen.
-
"Major," Green Meteor Lights Midwest Night Sky
April 15, 2010
See the huge, greenish fireball that turned night to day before likely landing in Wisconsin—and get the science behind the sky show.
-
Mini Magnetic Shield Found on the Moon
April 14, 2010
A small pocket of the lunar surface is protected from punishing charged particles streaming from the sun, new data confirm.
-
New Planets Found; Have Backward Orbits
April 14, 2010
A handful of hot Jupiters have been found to orbit backward, a discovery that may reduce the odds for Earthlike planets in these systems.
-
"Biggest" Comet Measured
April 13, 2010
A spacecraft's trip through comet McNaught's tail shows the comet made an even bigger impression on the solar system than suspected.
-
Every Black Hole Contains Another Universe?
April 12, 2010
And, like cosmic Russian dolls, our universe maybe nested inside a black hole in another universe, a new study says.
-
Lightning Makes Mushrooms Multiply
April 9, 2010
Lightning strikes can more than double some mushroom crops, according to ongoing experiments that are jolting fungi with electricity.
-
Near-Death Experiences Explained?
April 8, 2010
Bright lights and angels seen at the brink of death are the products of too much carbon dioxide in the blood, a new study suggests.
-
First Pictures: Mystery Disk Eclipses Star
April 7, 2010
New pictures confirm that a dark disk is responsible for the star Epsilon Aurigae's regular, 18-month-long eclipses. Also: how to see it in the night sky.
-
Comet "Shower" Killed Ice Age Mammals?
April 7, 2010
A new model suggests a comet breakup wiped out North America’s big mammals—and the debris might still be creating an annual meteor shower.
-
"Sound Bullets" to Zap Off Tumors?
April 5, 2010
A new device can turn sound waves into "sonic scalpels" for removing tumors—and make them gentle enough to image organs, scientists say.
-
Rare "Supertaskers" Can Juggle Driving, Cell Phones
April 2, 2010
While behind the wheel, 1 in 40 people perform as well or better at memorizing words and doing math over the phone, a new study says.
-
"Roaming" Magnetic Fields Found
April 1, 2010
Weak bundles of energy that formed before galaxies even existed may have been the seeds for the huge magnetic fields around galaxies.
-
Sky Show This Weekend: Venus to Meet Elusive Mercury
April 1, 2010
Normally elusive, Mercury will be shining brightly near Venus for most of this month—with a close conjunction on April 3 and 4.
-
HUMAN GENOME AT TEN: 5 Breakthroughs, 5 Predictions
March 31, 2010
Ten years after the Human Genome Project's grand achievement, experts hail the advances and share hopes for the next ten.
-
Large Hadron Collider Smashes Protons, Sets Record
March 30, 2010
The Large Hadron Collider has had a smashing success, bringing together twin beams of protons to create a record-shattering atom smashup.
-
Bulging Mutant Trout Created: More Muscle, More Meat
March 30, 2010
The genetically engineered fish boast at least 15 percent more flesh for eating—but is that good?
-
Texas Pioneers Energy Storage in Giant Battery
March 25, 2010
Texas Pioneers Energy Storage in Giant Battery
-
Pictures: 7 Emergency Climate Fixes
March 24, 2010
From artificial volcanoes to sailing cloud makers, "geoengineering" may be the only option left to stop a global warming catastrophe, experts say.
-
New Proof Unknown "Structures" Tug at Our Universe
March 22, 2010
The case is building for a theory that hundreds of galaxy clusters are being tugged at by clumps of matter outside the known universe.
-
Large Hadron Collider Breaks Energy Record—By 300%
March 19, 2010
The Large Hadron Collider set a new energy record this morning. In doing so, the "big bang machine" took an important step toward full-power operation.
-
Vernal Equinox 2010: Facts on the First Day of Spring
March 19, 2010
Will day and night really be equally long on Saturday, the 2010 vernal equinox (or spring equinox)? Get the answer—and other first-day-of-spring facts and oddities.
-
To Capture Lost Power, Super Solution Sought
March 19, 2010
The steel lattice towers that help carry electricity from one place to another are not a pretty sight, but there’s also an invisible problem--the power lost due to electrical resistance. Superconducting technology may be solution.
-
Immaculate Black Holes Found at Universe's Conception
March 18, 2010
The first dust-free black holes have been discovered, giving scientists a rare peek into the supermassive bodies.
-
Saturn Rings Surprisingly Unstable, Violent
March 18, 2010
Buzzing Saturn's rings, a NASA spacecraft has uncovered a slew of surprises, including rapid rearrangements, colliding moonlets, and an oxygen atmosphere.
-
Space Photos of the Week: Spring Auroras, Starlets, More
March 16, 2010
Auroras spring to life, the Milky Way enters middle age, a Mars moon gets its close-up, and more in the week's best space pictures.
-
Half-Male, Half-Female Chicken Mystery Solved
March 16, 2010
It was a tough egg to crack, but scientists have discovered that half-male, half-female chickens possess a mixture of genetically male and female cells.
-
Superfast Stars Have Five-Minute Orbits
March 12, 2010
Two stellar corpses circle each other in just 5.4 minutes, whirling tightly together at 310 miles a second, a new study confirms.
-
Saturn Moon Has Surprisingly "Slushy" Insides
March 11, 2010
Under the brittle, icy crust of Titan lies a surprisingly icy mush, followed by a liquid ocean and a core of rock and ice, new data suggest.
-
Sea Spray Detected 900 Miles Inland
March 10, 2010
Sea spray has been detected in the middle of the United States, 900 miles (1,400 kilometers) from any ocean, a new study says.
-
See-Through Vision Invented
March 10, 2010
We're not in Superman territory yet, but scientists have figured out how "see" through thin opaque barriers by unscrambling what little light passes through.
-
Einstein's Gravity Confirmed on a Cosmic Scale
March 10, 2010
We may finally have proof that general relativity applies to cosmic bodies great and small—and that dark matter and dark energy are real.
-
Lava, Not Water, Made Mars "Riverbed"
March 9, 2010
At least one channel thought to have been carved by water was actually built by lava flows, according to a new study of surface features on Mars.
-
Water Found in Apollo Moon Rocks
March 9, 2010
It turns out evidence for water on the moon was right under our noses all along, according to new studies of rocks retrieved by Apollo astronauts.
-
Gamma Rays a Flight Risk?
March 5, 2010
Earth-based gamma rays are made in storms at the same altitude as many commercial flight paths, possibly creating radiation hazards for air passengers.
-
Glowing Animals: Pictures of Beasts Shining for Science
March 3, 2010
Dogs, cats, monkeys, worms, fish: all now glow in the dark, thanks to one jellyfish and a whole lot of research. In this photo round-up of glowing animals (and the odd plant), see the gamut of what science has done with a few fluorescent proteins.
-
LHC Restarted: Half-Power Run Is Full of Potential
March 3, 2010
The Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest atom smasher, has been fired up for its first long-term run, officials announced today. The LHC will be operating at half power but should still be capable of some smashing discoveries, experts say.
-
Mysterious "Dragons" Make Universe's Gamma Ray Fog
March 3, 2010
Unknown but fearsome sources are filling the universe with a blanket of high-energy gamma rays, normally created by the universe's most violent events and most powerful objects.
-
Chile Earthquake Altered Earth Axis, Shortened Day
March 2, 2010
Saturday's Chile earthquake was so powerful that it likely shifted an Earth axis and shortened the length of a day, NASA announced Monday.
-
Bloom Box Launch Is "Big Hype"--Invention Nothing New?
February 24, 2010
How Bloom Energy's mini, green power plant works—and why its press conference today had some experts seeing red, or just plain underwhelmed.
-
Star "Eating" Superhot Planet's Atmosphere
February 24, 2010
The hot Jupiter known as WASP-12b is so puffed up by its star that it's losing mass, according to a new study that suggests the missing matter is forming a ring around the star.
-
Bloom Box: Secret App May Be Key to Tiny Energy Plant
February 24, 2010
Set to be unveiled today, Bloom Energy's top-secret Bloom Box fuel cell system could bring cheap, green energy to U.S. homes. Experts explain how it would work—or not.
-
Hadron Collider Restarts This Week--Half Power But Full of Potenial
February 22, 2010
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) atom smasher is to buzz back to life this week. Potential discoveries include the "God particle" and new dimensions.
-
Making Music Boosts Brain's Language Skills
February 20, 2010
Hearing people talk at cocktail parties may be easier if you've been musically trained, according to new research that shows music fine-tunes certain language abilities in the brain.
-
Best Science Pictures Announced
February 18, 2010
See some of 2009's most incredible science photos, illustrations, and installations—winners of the International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.
-
Vancouver 2010 Games Spur Blood Doping Fears
February 12, 2010
It's not just True Blood addicts who are obsessed with illegal blood transfusions—athletes at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games might be seeking to gain an illicit edge via a dangerous technique called blood doping, experts warn.
-
New Pluto Pictures Unveiled; Hubble's Sharpest Yet
February 5, 2010
pluto-hubble-best-pictures
-
Vancouver Olympics Spur Gene Doping Warnings
February 4, 2010
Athletes looking to cheat at major sporting events like the Olympics may soon be trying to alter their DNA—but unproven gene therapies can carry serious health risks, experts warn.
-
Giant Meteorites Slammed Earth Around A.D. 500?
February 3, 2010
A space rock 2,000 feet wide broke into two pieces that struck off northern Australia, spurring global cooling, according to a controversial theory.
-
Obama Scrubs NASA's Manned Moon Missions
February 1, 2010
Although NASA will get a budget increase for 2011, plans to return humans to the moon by 2020 would be officially scrapped, because the program is "over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation," according to the White House.
-
Best Fluid Motion Pictures Named
February 1, 2010
The "breeze" from a fan, an upside-down "wine glass," and a virtual "river valley" are among five winning pictures from the American Physical Society's annual gallery of fluids in motion.
-
Year's Biggest Full Moon, Mars Create Sky Show
January 29, 2010
Mars will cozy up to the biggest, brightest full moon of 2010, creating a celestial spectacle that "will jump out at you for sure," one astronomer says.
-
Fusion Power a Step Closer After Giant Laser Blast
January 28, 2010
Using the most powerful laser system ever built, a solid gold cylinder, and a BB-size fuel pellet, scientists have brought us one step closer to nuclear fusion power, a new study says.
-
Running Barefoot Reduces Stress—On Feet
January 27, 2010
Running barefoot changes the way a person's feet hit the ground, reducing stresses than can lead to injuries, according to a new study.
-
Mars Rover to Roam No More -- It's Official
January 27, 2010
After more than six years touring the red planet, the Mars rover Spirit is no longer on a roll, NASA mission managers announced. But if the rover survives the oncoming winter, there's plenty of science that can be done.
-
Mars Rover to Roam No More -- It's Official
January 26, 2010
After more than six years touring the red planet, the Mars rover Spirit is no longer on a roll, NASA mission managers announced. But if the rover survives the oncoming winter, there's plenty of science that can be done.
-
Strange "Comet" May Be Asteroid Collision Debris
January 21, 2010
A newfound "comet" traveling in an unusual orbit may actually be fallout from the explosive collision of two asteroids, say astronomers who recently spotted the fuzzy, tailed object.
-
Surprise! Radioactive Water Jugs Not as Healthy as Advertised
January 18, 2010
Think you know why an early-20th century drinking-water jar lined with uranium ore was a serious health risk? Surprisingly, radioactivity was only a minor part of the problem, a new study says.
-
BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms
January 16, 2010
BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms -- Also: FDA Announces Concern, Reversing Position
-
Chemical BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms
January 15, 2010
Chemical BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms
-
New Comet Found, Vaporized
January 13, 2010
Like a modern-day Icarus, a newfound comet learned the hard way what happens when you fly too close to the sun.
-
PICTURE: See-Through Goldfish Bred; Cuts Out Dissection
January 13, 2010
see-through-goldfish-picture
-
Haiti Earthquake "Strange," Strongest in 200 Years
January 13, 2010
Although earthquakes on Haiti are not uncommon, experts say, the intensity of yesterday's temblor was unusual from a historical perspective.
-
New Sex Hormone Found—May Lead to Male Birth Control?
January 11, 2010
new-human-hormone-the-pill
-
Stuck Mars Rover About to Die?
January 7, 2010
Stuck Mars Rover About to Die?
-
Intense Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight
January 7, 2010
Intense Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight
-
PHOTOS: 7 Major "Missing Links" Since Darwin
January 7, 2010
For the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, National Geographic News asked leading scientist for their picks of the most important fossil evidence for evolution.
-
Mars Had Liquid Water in Recent Past, Rover Finds
January 7, 2010
Even while snared in a sand trap, NASA's Mars rover Spirit has hit "wet" pay dirt: evidence of relatively recent groundwater activity on the red planet.
-
Biggest Star Explosion Seen; Was Rare, "Clean" Death
January 7, 2010
Biggest Star Explosion Seen; Was Rare, "Clean" Death
-
North Magnetic Pole Moving Due to Core Flux
January 7, 2010
North Magnetic Pole Moving Due to Core Flux
-
Yearlong Star Eclipse May Help Solve Space Mystery
January 7, 2010
Yearlong Star Eclipse May Help Solve Space Mystery
-
"Blue Moon" to Shine on New Year's Eve
January 7, 2010
blue-moon-new-years-eve
-
Cell Phone Use May Fight Alzheimer's, Mouse Study Says
January 6, 2010
cell-phones-alzheimers-disease-mice
-
Five New Planets Found; Hotter Than Molten Lava
January 6, 2010
new-planets-kepler-nasa
-
Isaac Newton: Who He Was, Why Google Apples Are Falling
January 6, 2010
isaac-newton-google-doodle-logo-apple
-
Rabbits Milked for Human Protein; Drug Soon for Sale?
January 6, 2010
Rabbits Milked for Human Protein; Drug Soon for Sale?
-
Giant Carbon "Vault" Proposed Near New York City
January 6, 2010
carbon-vault-new-york-city
-
"Lost" Amazon Complex Found; Shapes Seen by Satellite
January 6, 2010
amazon-lost-civilization-circles
-
Shroud of Turin Not Jesus', Tomb Discovery Suggests
December 16, 2009
Archaeologists have found the only known burial shroud from a Jesus-era tomb in Jerusalem. Not only is it nothing like the Shroud of Turin, but it also held the world's earliest known leper.
-
Intense Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Sunday
December 15, 2009
With good viewing conditions expected, sky-watchers are in for an early holiday treat. The Geminid meteor shower—the year's most prolific—is expected to spark as many as 140 meteors an hour.