ISS Alarm: Why Astronauts Had to Evacuate... Twice

Medicine & Technology Jan 14, 2015

Astronauts on the U.S. side of the International Space Station had quite a scare today after an apparent false alarm raised concerns about an ammonia leak on that side of the station; forcing a partial evacuation.

China’s Space Program Reaches New Milestone on the Moon

Jan 13, 2015

China's space program has achieved a new milestone with its missions to the moon, as its latest spacecraft service module has entered orbit around the moon, months after being used in the country's test flight that sent a prototype sample-return capsule on a flight around the moon and back to Earth.

NASA Researchers Bring Exoplanets to Life in Kepler Style

Jan 13, 2015

How many planets like our Earth are out there in space? Well, while the possibilities are endless, and with the vast expanses of the universe the search may be endless. But thanks to NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, researchers have to date discovered 1,000 Earth-like exoplanets that seem to fit the bill. And in celebration of the record-breaking discovery, researchers at NASA are giving the public a view of what life on these exoplanets inhabited by humans might just look like—with a vintage feel.

Vanishing Pulsar Locked in Stellar Tug-Of-War

Jan 12, 2015

Astronomers are currently observing a massive stella tug-of-war taking place between a rotating neutron star - known as a pulsar - and another star, which is so intense that it is bending space and making the pulsar wobble—causing it to disappear from view.

Off With a Boom, and Back with a Crash — SpaceX Mission

Jan 12, 2015

Elon Musk, the brains behind Tesla Motors and SpaceX, is aiming to redefine how celestial navigation will be conducted in the future. But with the failure of the Falcon 9 return, his latest attempt was "close, but no cigar."

"Spin, Spin, Spinning Around": A New Method On How We Measure Stars

Jan 11, 2015

Stars litter our skies with celestial light, continually cementing the fact that our planet, no matter how large it may seem, is just a grain of sand on the beach that is our shared universe. And, for years, astronomers have gauged a star's age by how brightly it shined. While this is moderately effective, another method has been tested-and-proven to be more accurate. Published in the newest issue of the journal Nature, astronomer's note that how quickly a star spins is the ideal metric to determining its age.

Follow-Up on the Comet Lovejoy (5 W's and When is the Best Time to View it)

Jan 11, 2015

The best two weeks for stargazers and amateur astronomers to view the Comet Lovejoy begins this weekend, when the green-glowing space rock will even be visible to the naked eye - assuming you know where to look and that it is not too bright where you are.

Can SpaceX Deliver on Its Ambitious 2015 Goals?

Jan 10, 2015

SpaceX has an ambitious year of goals ahead of it, as it tries to demonstrate how commercial space flight can be faster and more efficient compared to government run agencies. But many international space agencies are left wondering: can they make it?

Light Signals Discovered by NASA Reveal The Merging of Two Black Holes

Jan 10, 2015

For the first time ever, scientists have seen an unusual light signal that appears to be repeating itself from a distant quasar. And no, before the thought crosses your mind, this is not a sign of extraterrestrial life, but rather a signal from two black holes. These signals are an indication of two supermassive black holes that are in the last stages of merging together.

SpaceX—Elon Musk Tries to Change Spaceflight Forever

Jan 09, 2015

Elon Musk, the South African-born immigrant who made his first fortune revolutionizing how we accept payments with PayPal, is now trying to do the same with space travel.

Mystery of Constellation Carina's Massive Explosions Revealed in 3D Models

Jan 09, 2015

Within 10,000 light-years lies the constellation Carina, which contains one of the most impressive and mysterious star systems we know. Two massive stars, known as Eta Carinae have erupted twice in the 19th century for reasons astronomers still do not understand. And now, astronomers from the 225th meetings of the American Astronomical Society weighed in on the system with new findings, which include 3D printed models that show never-before-seen features of the interactions between the two stars.

NASA Researchers Resolve Every Star in New Panoramic View of Andromeda

Jan 08, 2015

While a new view of the the “Pillars of Creation” from the Eagle Nebula (Messier 16) was revealed this last Monday, Jan. 5 for the 225th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, researchers at NASA have revealed an even brighter sight from a bird’s-eye view. Publishing their latest images from the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers at NASA are proudly displaying the largest Hubble image ever assembled in a stunning wide-angle view of the Andromeda galaxy next door.

Alien Earth with Red Sun Discovered Close to Home

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.