Space
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Astronomy
Pleiades star cluster is a bit farther away than thought
New observations might impact Gaia satellite’s mission to map the Milky Way.
- Astronomy
Wake of nearby supernova hints at explosion’s origins
Gamma rays from radioactive decay of cobalt formed in a nearby supernova reveal unprecedented details of the explosion’s aftermath.
- Astronomy
Chemical signature of first-generation star found
The unusual balance of elements in the atmosphere of a star most likely came from the explosion of another star more than 100 times as massive as the sun.
- Astronomy
Distance to quasars debated
Some astronomers thought quasars were buzzing around our galaxy; turns out these starlike objects live on the other side of the universe.
- Planetary Science
To explain asteroid composition, scientists invoke nuts
Brazil nut effect may explain why only large boulders dot surfaces of asteroids.
- Astronomy
Dust nabbed by spacecraft may be from outside the solar system
NASA’s Stardust mission captured seven particles that probably come from interstellar space, providing researchers with the first direct samples from beyond the solar system.
- Planetary Science
Spacecraft films Pluto’s largest moon in orbit
New Horizons spacecraft, en route to Pluto, captures nearly one orbit of dwarf planet’s largest moon.
- Cosmology
Cosmologist’s ‘Cosmic Cocktail’ is a refreshing read
Katherine Freese shares her insights as a scientist studying dark matter and other mysterious components of the universe.
- Astronomy
The craziest NASA mission ever proposed
In this issue, Meghan Rosen provides an in-depth report on that mission, but without the erroneous conclusion that the Asteroid Redirect Mission has much to do with asteroid defense.
- Planetary Science
NASA bets on asteroid mission as best path to Mars
NASA wants to bag an asteroid using robotic arms or an enormous sack and place the rock in the moon’s orbit for study. This may keep astronauts working but not, as NASA claims, get them Mars-ready.
- Planetary Science
Rosetta spacecraft confabs with a comet
After a 10-year chase, ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft has met up with comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
- Astronomy
Single black hole may be masquerading as a pair
New observations of a recently discovered binary black hole reveal that astronomers may have been seeing double.
