Space
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Space
Supernova’s death throes revealed
In archival images, astronomers see giant star’s activity in weeks before supernova.
- Space
An atom sheds light on neutron stars
By measuring a neutron-rich atom on Earth, astronomers virtually dig into the crust of dead stars.
- Space
Scale weighs black holes better than before
Microwave telescopes on the ground determine the masses of supermassive objects millions of light-years away.
- Space
Proton’s radius revised downward
A new study confirms an earlier result that found that the proton is smaller than thought, opening up the possibility of undiscovered particles and forces.
- Space
Life has prospects on moons of giant extrasolar planets
Astronomers show how bodies orbiting distant Jupiters could be habitable.
- Space
Stellar baby picture
The newborn stars, not even a million years old, formed when regions of a cloud of cool dust and gas (visible at center left) collapsed from gravity.
- Health & Medicine
Long space missions may be hazardous to your sleep
Crew on simulated Mars trip moved less and slept more during 520-day project.
- Space
New Martian meteorite is one of a kind
Rock is water-rich and resembles observed regions of Red Planet’s crust.
- Space
Planets and their sun grow together
Radio telescopes reveal how nascent bodies funnel gas to their parent star.
- Space
The Real Story of Risk: Adventures in a Hazardous World by Glenn Croston
A biologist explores why humans are poor at judging risk — fearing rare shark attacks, for example, more than common heart attacks. Prometheus, 2012, 276 p., $19
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- Space
California meteorite a scientific gold mine
Sutter’s Mill rock preserves rare, fresh material from outer space.
