All Science
Discovery of smallest planet yet a 'milestone' in search for another EarthThe Kepler space telescope has found a planet smaller than Mercury orbiting a distant star. The discovery suggests Kepler has the precision to find a planet more like Earth.
Astronomers discover smallest planet everOrbiting a star some 215 light-years away, Kepler-37b is smaller than Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system.
Giant space lobster? Telescope spots spectacular nebula.A new image of the nebula NGC 6357 in the Scorpius constellation shows a star nursery that looks distinctly like a cosmic lobster.
- Florida fireballs renew calls for early warning system
Florida fireballs lit up the night sky Sunday. The fireballs (aka meteors) were seen by more than 60 people in Florida. Coming after the huge meteor in Russia, there are new calls for an early warning system to protect the Earth from giant meteors and asteroids.
Shark-eating whales? Scientists identify four new whale speciesTeeth of a fossilized whale called 'Willy' are severely worn down, suggesting that this previously unknown species of whale may have eaten large animals like sharks.
Super mega dolphin pod off San Diego: Why the big party?Super mega dolphin pod, which indulged in a feeding frenzy off the coast of San Diego over the holiday weekend, is only the latest in a recent string of odd behaviors by large creatures of the sea.
Russian asteroid highlights astronomers' challenge: predicting such space objectsAstronomers have cataloged about 95 percent of the space objects wider than half a mile – those that could destroy civilization. But they have found less than 1 percent of the objects 100 feet across or larger, a class that includes the asteroid that flitted past Earth on Friday.
Russian meteor blast had force of 300-kiloton nuclear warheadUsing sensors designed to detect rogue nuclear tests, scientists have learned more about the meteor that exploded over Russia. It was much bigger than they first thought.
Asteroid flyby breaks records, raises warningsAstronomers estimate that an asteroid the size of 2012 DA14, which came within a cosmic hair's breadth of our planet on Friday, strikes the Earth once every 1,200 years or so.
Just how big was that Russia meteor anyway?The meteor whose shock wave injured hundreds of Russians early on Friday was tiny compared to the one that struck Siberia in 1908, say scientists.
Russia meteor blast produced 2.7 magnitude earthquake equivalentThe meteor blast in the skies over Russia that injured hundreds and also triggered shaking that appeared on seismograph readings.
Huge asteroid won't strike Earth on Friday. But what about the next time?There's no chance that the 150-foot-wide asteroid 2012 DA14 will strike our planet, but it's only a matter of time before a large space rock does, say scientists.
- As asteroid zips past Earth, exploding meteor hints at what could have been
The meteor that exploded over Russia was much smaller than the asteroid that will buzz Earth Friday. But it shows how destructive Earth impacts can be – and how unexpected.
Rare tiger born at San Francisco zooRare tiger born in San Francisco Zoo is the first since 2008. Such zoo births are rare, and there are few as 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild. This cub was born to a 9-year-old tiger, named Leanne.
- Meteor explodes over Russia, injuring hundreds
A 10-ton meteor exploded over Russia on Friday, creating a shockwave that blew out windows and injured some 400 people. What you need to know about meteor strikes.
Medication makes fish eat more, socialize lessFish fed extremely low concentrations of an anti-anxiety drug eat more quickly, act more boldly, and socialize less than their un-medicated peers,
Friday's near-miss asteroid could help track more dangerous onesAsteroid 2012 DA14 will buzz within 17,200 miles of Earth – a record for a known object of that size. While it's no threat to hit, it might help scientists find and track others that are.
Cosmic rays' mysterious origin? Supernovae to blame, study confirms.A team of researchers found the 'unique, smoking-gun signature' of the creation of cosmic rays in the expanding shells cast off by supernovae.
New owl species makes biologists' heads spinThe discovery of a new owl species on an Indonesian island is described as 'a wake-up call for ornithologists.'
Ozone hole shrinks to new lowOzone hole: The hole in our planet's ozone layer over Antarctica is the smallest that it has been in the past 10 years, according to satellite observations.
