All Science
- Amazing planets: mini solar system, 'Star Wars' lookalike among new finds
The catalogue of newly found planets is becoming richer by the day. By one new estimate, virtually all the billions of stars in the Milky Way could have a planet orbiting them.
- Russian space probe may crash into Indian Ocean
If Phobos-Grunt comes down at the in the predicted window it will fall over a stretch of empty ocean west of the Indonesian island of Java, according to a re-entry projection map Roscosmos published with the update.
- NASA able to observe a long time ago, in newly found galaxies far, far away
Researchers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to find five tiny but bright galaxies clustered together 13.1 billion light-years from Earth.
- Newly discovered frog is smallest known vertebrate
The tropical forest of Papua New Guinea is home to the smallest animal with a backbone, a frog dubbed Paedophryne amanuensis.
- Most stars in our galaxy have planets, study suggests
Rocky, roughly earth-like planets orbiting stars seem to be the rule, rather than the exception, an new study reveals.
- Scientists discover a real-life Tatooine orbiting two suns
But there are probably no jawas, moisture farmers, sand people, banthas, dewbacks, womp rats, sandcrawlers, a Pit of Carkoon, nor a strange old hermit who lives beyond the Dune Sea.
- Scientists discover three smallest alien planets yet
All three exoplanets are thought to be rocky like Earth. However, their closeness to their star makes them too hot to be in the habitable zone, the area around a star neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface.
- Humongous 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster packs mass of 2 quadrillion stars
Located some7 billion light-years from Earth, 'El Gordo' is the biggest and hottest cluster of galaxies ever observed in the early universe.
- Doomsday Clock suggests danger to world grows
The Doomsday Clock lost one minute due to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and continuing inaction on climate change.
- Newly discovered carnivorous plant devours underground worms
Found in the tropical savannas of Brazil, Philcoxia minensis uses its sticky underground leaves to trap tiny roundworms.
- Scientists unveil biggest ever map of universe's dark matter
Even though it cannot be seen directly, dark matter, which represents 98 percent of the mass of the universe, exerts a gravitational pull on normal matter, including light. By measuring its tug on starlight, astronomers have mapped the distribution of this mysterious substance.
- Scientists 'see' dark matter web for first time
By observing how light is bent, a team of astronomers have created a visual map of how dark matter is distributed throughout the universe.
- 'Extinct' humongous Galapagos tortoise could be making a comeback
A genetic analysis of a Galapagos tortoise revealed DNA from a related species thought to have gone extinct 150 years ago, suggesting that the two species are mating and producing hybrid offspring.
- Space station crosses in front of moon in amazing photograph
In one series of photos, NASA photographer Lauren Harnett captured images of the moon at the exact moment that the space station passed across its face in what scientists call a 'transit.'
- NASA questions Apollo 13 cmdr's right to sell list
Greg Rohan, president of Dallas-based Heritage, said Thursday the sale has been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry. The checklist, he said, is being stored for now in the company's vault.
- Long lived Mars rover picks prime spot to weather winter
Opportunity is hunkering down at a spot called Greeley Haven, a rocky outcrop along the rim of the Red Planet's huge Endeavour crater.
- A real-life 'Avatar'? Search begins for moons that could support life.
With scientists already looking for Earth-size planets orbiting in distant stars' habitable zones, a new project is using similar techniques to look for moons, too.
- Malfunctioning Russian probe spotted hurtling through space backward
Veteran satellite watcher Thierry Legault filmed the wayward Russian Phobos-Grunt probe, which was intended to collect soil samples from a Martian moon but is instead heading toward a destructive plunge back to earth.
- Nearly 15 tons of failed Russian Mars probe could slam into Earth Jan. 15
The Phobos-Grunt spacecraft was stranded in Earth orbit shortly after its Nov. 8 launch, and it's been circling lower and lower ever since.
- Scientists create race of supersoldier ants
This discovery of oversized versions of soldier ants, whose job is to defend the nest, led researchers to create their own supersoldier ants in the lab with the help of a hormone.