Space

  1. Planetary Science

    Bacteria that can make humans sick could survive on Mars

    Experiments suggest that common illness-causing microbes could not only survive on the Red Planet but also might be able to thrive.

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  2. Planetary Science

    NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter officially ends its mission on Mars

    NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter suffered damage during a recent flight and has ended its mission on Mars after nearly three years on the Red Planet.

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  3. Space

    Astronomers have snapped a new photo of the black hole in galaxy M87

    The Event Horizon Telescope image shows material around the black hole has moved, but other aspects remain the same, proving Einstein is right again.

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  4. Astronomy

    Astronomers are puzzled over an enigmatic companion to a pulsar

    The strange entity has a mass between that of a neutron star and a black hole. It’s either one or the other or something else entirely.

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  5. Space

    The strongest known fast radio burst has been traced to a 7-galaxy pileup

    The galactic smashup, located 11 billion light-years from Earth, could have triggered star formation and also odd flares like the fast radio burst.

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  6. Space

    Why the 2024 total solar eclipse will be such a big deal

    The sun will be very active during the next solar eclipse to cross North America, making it an excellent viewing and scientific opportunity.

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  7. Planetary Science

    Salt may have carved out Mercury’s terrains, including glacierlike features

    Mercury may contain a planetwide cache of salt that has sculpted chaotic terrain and possibly even habitable niches.

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  8. Planetary Science

    A toxic gas that could help spawn life has been found on Enceladus

    Cassini data indicate that hydrogen cyanide, a key building block for life, exists on Saturn’s icy moon. A snakelike NASA robot might test for sure.

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  9. Life

    These scientific discoveries set new records in 2023

    This year’s record-breaking findings shed new light on human history and the most amazing feats in the animal kingdom.

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  10. Earth

    STEVE and other aurora-like glows perplex scientists with their complex physics

    New views of STEVE from citizen scientists keep raising questions about the atmospheric light show — but computer models may offer some answers.

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  11. Space

    In 2023, space missions explored the moon, asteroids and more

    This year, spacecraft landed on the moon, dropped off asteroid samples to Earth and started a journey to Jupiter's icy moons.

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  12. Math

    Here are some astounding scientific firsts of 2023

    Notable feats include discovering a planet-eating star, extracting RNA from an extinct animal and more.

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