Planets Outside Our Solar System May Be More Hospitable to Life Than Originally Believed

Medicine & Technology Jan 20, 2015

A study by astrophysicists at the University of Toronto suggests that exoplanets - planets that are outside our solar system - are more likely to have liquid water, and therefore may be more hospitable to life than researchers originally thought.

Could More Dwarf Planets Lie Beyond Pluto

Jan 20, 2015

According to calculations by scientists at the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Cambridge, not one, but at least two dwarf planets must exist beyond Pluto in order to explain the orbital behavior of extreme trans-Neptunian objects.

Twin Astronauts Prepare for New Mission on the ISS

Jan 19, 2015

Scott and Mark Kelly, identical twin brothers and astronauts for NASA are participating in a new study that is the first of its kind. The study will look at the effects of long-term space missions on the human body, with the hopes of gaining insights on what will happen to humans on a mission to Mars.

Cosmic Radio Burst Caught from Outside Our Galaxy

Jan 19, 2015

Astronomers in eastern Australia using the CSIRO's 64-m Parkes radio telescope have for the first time caught a "fast radio burst" live. A fast radio burst is a short, sharp flash of radio waves from an unknown source.

Elon Musk Continues to Dream Big with Idea for Space Internet

Jan 19, 2015

Elon Musk continues to dream big with his latest idea of bringing satellite Internet to every corner of the Earth, and then extending that net out into space to encompass Mars as well.

New Planets Hiding In the Shadow of Pluto

Jan 18, 2015

While space agencies and astronomers alike have found that the outer fringes of our very own solar system holds small asteroids and chunks of ice, as opposed to life, it turns out that our investigation of the relatively small solar system is far from over. In fact, a pair of new studies published just this week reveal that we may be adding new members to the roster as at least two new planets larger than Earth are likely hiding beyond Pluto.

New Study Reveals Prospective Planets Just Beyond Pluto—And There May Be More Than One

Jan 17, 2015

Though Pluto may have been demoted from the title of planet to “dwarf planet”, NASA’s newest mission New Horizons which plans a flyby next summer has sparked new interest in the farthest depths of our very own solar system. And it appears that we may not just stop there. According to a new study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, researchers believe that even closer than our Oort cloud we may find at least two more planets circling our Sun far beyond Pluto’s vast expanses.

New Horizons Prepares for Pluto Flyby

Jan 17, 2015

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has began its long-awaited encounter with the tiny dwarf planet Pluto. Researchers have announced that the craft is entering the first of several approach phases that will culminate on July 14 with the first ever close-up flyby of the dwarf planet, located 4.67 billion miles from Earth.

Beagle 2 Discovered Intact on Mars Surface

Jan 17, 2015

NASA has found the doomed spacecraft Beagle 2 on the surface of Mars, and it appears to be intact. High-resolution images taken from orbit have identified its landing location, and with closer examination it seems the craft landed on Mars safely.

New Horizons, Old Science—Recycling the Old Playstation Processor

Jan 16, 2015

Old technology, ground breaking mission; NASA's New Horizon probe is encroaching on the "dwarf planet" Pluto with a data-logging 1996 PlayStation processor.

The Truth Behind AI, and Why Elon Musk is Donating Millions To Protect Humanity from Robot Invasion

Jan 16, 2015

Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk has already gone on record discussing the potential risks of artificial intelligence, and now he is putting his money where his mouth is. The inventor and entrepreneur is donating $10 million to help fund research to "keep AI beneficial" to humanity and prevent it from going the way of Skynet from the Terminator franchise.

Has NASA Found The Missing Beagle on Mars?

Jan 16, 2015

On December 19, 2003, a tiny craft was launched from the Mars Express, a craft orbiting Mars. This craft was part of a British-led effort for the European Space Agency's Mars Express mission. On Christmas day, the lander entered the Martian atmosphere traveling more than 20,000 kph, and then it was never heard from again. Now NASA believes they have spotted the craft on the surface more than a decade after going dark.

Meteorites and the History of Our Solar System: Not Everything Is As It Seems

Jan 15, 2015

Scientists have long believed that meteors were fundamental to the origins of our planets. Meteors contain minuscule spherical grains known as chondrules, and many have believed these chondrules collided with particles of dust and gas coalescing into protoplanets. However, according to a new study published this week in the journal Nature, this hypothesis may not be true.

NASA Rockets Set to Explore the Aurora Borealis

Jan 15, 2015

The aurora borealis, better known as the northern lights, is one of nature's most spectacular displays that has captivated the imaginations of people for generations. And with their popular acclaim in mind, NASA plans to explore the aurora borealis in the coming weeks with several unmanned rocket probes in Alaska.

Mars One Headquarters Planned for Seattle

Jan 14, 2015

Rocket company SpaceX, under the leadership of Tesla founder Elon Musk, is looking hire up to 1,000 employees for its Seattle-based engineering office whose mission will be to build a commercial satellite business that will eventually pave the way for sending spacecrafts to Mars. And while many are happy about the boost in the local economy, some are left wondering whether a change in careers may bring them closer to a future on Mars?