News in Brief
- Astronomy
Hubble telescope captures panorama of Andromeda galaxy
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a panoramic mosaic of the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, mapping the light from over 100 million stars.
- Climate
Warming climate will force airlines to shed weight, increase costs
More frequent hot days coming with climate change will require airlines to reduce aircraft takeoff weight.
- Astronomy
Pair of black holes prepare to take the plunge
A pair of supermassive black holes in a distant galaxy will likely collide in the next million years.
- Animals
Bowhead whales may unlock the secrets to a long, healthy life
Analyzing the genome of the bowhead whale may help scientists understand how the animals live for more than 200 years.
- Archaeology
Stones challenge dating of Easter Island collapse
Despite losing ground in some areas, Polynesian farmers outlasted European contact.
- Life
Cold coddles colds
Antiviral responses aren’t as effective against common cold viruses in cooler temperatures.
- Life
Contamination blamed in STAP stem cell debacle
Stem cells supposedly made in acid baths were really embryonic stem cells, investigation finds.
- Life
Bird flu follows avian flyways
A deadly bird flu virus spreads along wildfowl migration routes in Asia.
- Astronomy
Revived Kepler telescope finds first exoplanet
NASA’s Kepler space telescope finds its first planet — a possible super-Earth — since getting a second chance at life.
- Earth
South Napa earthquake revived bone-dry streams
The South Napa earthquake freed groundwater trapped in nearby hills, revitalizing previously dry streams.
- Chemistry
Nylon goes green
A new simple chemical reaction makes manufacturing nylon less harmful to the planet.
- Planetary Science
Rosetta may have spotted comet’s primordial ingredients
Photos taken by the Rosetta spacecraft may show pristine material that formed the solar system’s comets, asteroids and planets roughly 4.6 billion years ago.
