Space
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Astronomy
China’s lunar rover alive, but still crippled
Mechanical issues are preventing the Yutu lunar rover from exploring the moon's surface as designed.
- Astronomy
Pulsar pulverizes an asteroid
The steady beat of a pulsar may occasionally be interrupted by collisions with asteroids.
- Planetary Science
Lunar asteroid impact caught on video
On September 11, a dishwasher-sized meteoroid slammed into the nearside of the moon, exploding with the equivalent of 16 tons of TNT — and a lucky team of Spanish astronomers caught it on video.
- Astronomy
While exploding, supernovas not spherical
X-rays reveal uneven allotment of element made by blowup.
- Quantum Physics
Einstein was wrong about spooky quantum entanglement
Einstein’s biggest blunder wasn’t about vacuum energy in space, but in confusing people about quantum entanglement.
- Astronomy
China’s lunar rover fails to connect with controllers (updated)
Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, could not be restored to full function, Chinese media report.
- Astronomy
Oldest star provides hints about first supernovas
The chemical composition of star SMSS J031300.362670839.3 and four others suggests that the explosions of the early universe weren't big enough to seed galaxies with iron.
- Planetary Science
Moon like blue cheese?
The lunar surface turns out to have more grit than scientists thought.
- Astronomy
Old stars gleaned neighbors’ gas, Hubble data show
Blue straggler stars can continue to burn hot after taking material from a stellar companion.
- Planetary Science
Big space rock makes an impact on Mars
An orbiting spacecraft snapped images of a huge crater and blast marks on the surface of the Red Planet.
- Planetary Science
Asteroid shows its inner differences
The peanut-shaped space rock is more compact on one side than on the other.
- Planetary Science
Mars ‘air’ found thinner
Readers get an update on the Red Planet's atmosphere and how new probes land there with parachutes.
