Alien Earth with Red Sun Discovered Close to Home

Medicine & Technology Jan 07, 2015

Scientists have discovered eight more exoplanets with two planets located as little as 470 light years away that could, in fact, be much like Earth as we know it.

Curiosity Rover Uncovers Potential Fossils on Mars

Jan 07, 2015

The Curiosity Rover has uncovered what appears to be rock forms very similar to those that were responsible for the formation of life on Earth. Located in the Gale Crater, the Curiosity continues its search for signs that Mars once supported life.

In Search of Life, Researchers Find Perfect Recipe for Earth-like Planets

Jan 07, 2015

It's been twenty years since the first exoplanet discovery, and now scientists are beginning to look at what these planets may be made of in the search for life outside of our solar system.

Passing Stars May Send Comets Smashing Into Earth – Eventually

Jan 07, 2015

Stars passing close to our solar system could send comets hurdling toward Earth increasing the risk of impact altering life as we know it. Scientists still say there is not much for us to worry about as these collisions won't happen for hundreds of thousands of years.

‘Houston, We Have a Problem’—SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Called Off

Jan 06, 2015

After weeks of anticipation for private spaceflight company SpaceX’s innovative new launch scheduled for departure earlier this morning, Jan. 6, NASA officials reported that the launch was called off due to technical difficulties, only minutes before liftoff.

Hubble’s New View of the ‘Pillars of Creation’

Jan 06, 2015

It’s not a new sight, in fact it’s estimated to be 2 million years old, but with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope astronomers are taking a glimpse at a new view of the “Pillars of Creation” sitting deep within the iconic Eagle Nebula 7,000 light years away.

Newly Found Comet Dazzles Observers

Jan 06, 2015

A newly discovered comet is dazzling observers and amateur astronomers across the world, with its unique green color and blue tail. The new comet, found in August and named for its founder, Terry Lovejoy, will soon fade from viewing and won't return to our solar neighborhood for 10,000 years.

NASA To Launch Satellite to Analyze Moisture Content of Earth

Jan 05, 2015

Farmers and scientists will soon be able to analyze the moisture content of the entire Earth thanks to the SMAP, a new satellite set to blast into orbit at the end of this month.

NASA Says Tropical Rainforests May Hold a Key To the Climate Change Issue

Jan 05, 2015

While tropical rainforests may be vanishing, a new study led by NASA researchers reveals yet another reason why trees in the tropical rainforest may in fact be man’s best friend. With greenhouse gas emissions on a constant rise since the dawning of the industrial revolution and the subsequent population growth that followed, researchers in recent years have tried to estimate exactly how much carbon dioxide is actually absorbed by plants to better assess a serious global issue. And in a new NASA-led study, researchers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory were able to combine three different divisions of science to reveal that tropical rainforests may be absorbing far more CO2 than many researchers previously thought, in response to rising atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gas.

SpaceX’s Tuesday Mission May Change Space Exploration, And Our Taxes Forever

Jan 04, 2015

Knowing the waste associated with space exploration, the millions of dollars invested in early flight stages merely shelled off into space, private-sector rocket company SpaceX has decided to rework how the space exploration game is played. Developing reusable pieces, that if brought back with a spacecraft could be used on yet another mission, the company not only intends to change their role in the rocket industry, but the way our tax dollars are spent as well.

Quadrantid Meteor Shower Set to Put on a Show This Weekend

Jan 04, 2015

Turn your gazes to the sky overnight to catch a glimpse of the Quandrantid meteor shower. The annual meteor shower radiating from the constellation Boötes, may be difficult for some to see due to a very bright moon or cloud cover this year.

Quadrantids Arrive—First Meteor Shower of 2015 TONIGHT, Jan. 3

Jan 03, 2015

While the near full moon will interfere with the sights in the sky tonight, astronomers say that stargazers will still be able to see the first meteor shower of 2015 this weekend, with the arrival of the “Quadrantids".

NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft Makes Approach to Ceres

Jan 03, 2015

NASA's Dawn Spacecraft, launched in 2007, is beginning to make its approach to Ceres, a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt. Dawn's mission will make it the first craft to orbit two bodies in the solar system after spending 14 months studying the protoplanet Vesta.

How Many Times Did the International Space Station Crew Ring in the New Year? Can You Guess?

Jan 02, 2015

While their families and colleagues must undoubtedly think about them 24 hours a day, it seems that most residents of Earth never find themselves pondering what life must be like for the elite six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) just outside our atmosphere. Orbiting the Earth in a giant space-bound laboratory, life can get pretty interesting. And something even as innocuous as the ball drop of a new year can turn into something entirely note-worthy.

SpaceX’s Reusable Rocket Could Turn the Tide of Space Missions in 2015

Jan 01, 2015

Ever wonder why they call space the “final frontier”? Well it isn’t because it’s the last place for us to explore or expand. As it so happens, space is often thought of as the final frontier because most of what leaves our Earth in search of exploration never comes back. In fact, it’s the reason why Mars One’s newest plans for colonization on Mars is only planning one-way trips. But what if we could reuse rockets and reclaim the several-million-dollar investments that our space agencies, and our tax dollars, invest each and every year? Perhaps we’d be able to go in search of far more things. And that’s what private-sector rocket company SpaceX hopes to achieve.