Space
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Planetary Science
Here’s how an asteroid impact would kill you
Most deaths caused by an asteroid impact would result from shock waves and winds generated from the blast, rather than effects such as earthquakes and tsunamis, new simulations show.
- Astronomy
Read up on solar eclipses before this year’s big event
Three new books chronicle the science, history and cultural significance of total solar eclipses.
- Planetary Science
Cassini’s ring dive offers first close-up of Saturn’s cloud tops
Cassini has completed its first dive between Saturn and its rings. Along the way, it snapped stunning pics of the planet’s atmosphere.
- Astronomy
No long, twisted tail trails the solar system
The bubble that envelops the planets and other material in the solar system does not have a tail, new observations show.
- Physics
Gamma-ray evidence for dark matter weakens
Excess gamma rays are still unexplained, but they might not come from dark matter.
- Planetary Science
In ‘grand finale,’ Cassini spacecraft sets off on collision course with Saturn
The Cassini spacecraft will plunge into Saturn’s atmosphere and disintegrate on Sept. 15, but is slated to do some solid science before its demise.
- Planetary Science
Bubbles may put mysterious fizz in Titan’s polar sea
Nitrogen bubbles may be the source of the “magic island” on Saturn’s moon Titan.
- Planetary Science
Nitrogen fizz fuels ‘magic island’ on Titan, simulation suggests
Nitrogen bubbles may be the source of the “magic island” on Saturn’s moon Titan.
- Planetary Science
Food for microbes found on Enceladus
The underground ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus harbors an abundance of molecular hydrogen, which could be an important source of food if microbial life exists there.
- Planetary Science
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has company. Meet the Great Cold Spot
A previously unidentified dark mark on Jupiter has been dubbed the “Great Cold Spot” because of its temperature and resemblance to the planet’s Great Red Spot.
- Science & Society
Einstein’s latest anniversary marks the birth of modern cosmology
A century ago, Einstein gave birth to modern cosmology by using his general theory of relativity to describe the universe.
- Astronomy
Squabbles in star nurseries result in celestial fireworks
Images from the ALMA observatory in Chile reveal that early days of stars can be just as fiery as their death.
