Space
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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SpaceNew Hubble pictures suggest Milky Way fell together
A preliminary analysis appears to strike a blow against the prevailing theory of galaxy formation.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceMeasuring the weakest of forces
Precise measurements could be used to map tiny fluctuations in the surface properties of materials.
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SpaceMediterranean microfossils offer hope for finding life on Mars
A discovery in sulfate minerals on Earth suggests the possibility of similar signs of life on the Red Planet.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceFrozen asteroid
Scientists publish two new studies showing evidence of ice on object in asteroid belt.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceLife in the sticky lane
Tropical asphalt lake could be analog for extraterrestrial microbial habitat.
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AstronomyHubble’s new instant classic
NASA has released a stunning image of a nearby star-forming region to celebrate the telescope's 20th birthday.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceSolar-staring spacecraft captures novel views of sun’s violence
NASA has released the first images recorded by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the first craft to examine the sun’s entire disk at high resolution and over a multitude of wavelengths.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceNot your grandfather’s space program
President Obama offers a new plan that would send humans to orbit Mars during the mid-2030s.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceFamous Martian meteorite younger than thought
The famous fragment of Mars, once proposed to hold signs of extraterrestrial life, is still pretty old. But the rock appears to have formed about 400 million years later than earlier analyses indicated.
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SpaceStormy weather on Saturn
Astronomers have for the first time glimpsed lightning storms on Saturn.
By Ron Cowen -
SpaceBackward planets may have flipped into place
Reversed orbits among ‘hot Jupiters’ decreases chance of Earthlike neighbors.
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