Space

  1. Planetary Science

    The moon is about as old as we thought it was

    Meteorite heat signatures pinpoint the age of the collision that created the moon — confirming many previous lunar age estimates.

    By Helen Thompson
  2. Astronomy

    Ringing rings reveal Saturn’s innards

    Scientists propose that exotic structures are buried within Saturn, based on analyses of subtle vibrations in the planet’s rings.

    By Andrew Grant
  3. Astronomy

    Galactic split provides clue to dark matter mystery

    An oddly divided galaxy may provide the first evidence that dark matter particles interact through a force other than gravity.

    By Andrew Grant
  4. Astronomy

    Map pinpoints location of invisible dark matter

    A new map shows that dark matter is concentrated in regions that contain a lot of ordinary matter in the form of galaxy clusters.

    By Andrew Grant
  5. Astronomy

    Map pinpoints location of invisible dark matter

    Dark matter can’t be seen, but a new map shows where it’s hiding. The map confirms that the mysterious matter is concentrated in regions that contain a lot of ordinary matter in the form of galaxy clusters.

    By Andrew Grant
  6. Planetary Science

    Atmospheric water may be giving Saturn its spots

    Planetary scientists think that water in Saturn’s atmosphere could be driving the massive storms that appear every few decades in the ringed planet’s atmosphere.

    By Helen Thompson
  7. Planetary Science

    Comet 67P shows no sign of magnetism

    Philae found no evidence of a magnetic field on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, but did send back some clues about its rough landing.

    By Christopher Crockett
  8. Astronomy

    Afterglow alerts astronomers to gamma-ray burst

    Astronomers have spotted the remnant glow from a gamma-ray burst without first observing its beam of high-energy gamma rays.

    By Andrew Grant
  9. Astronomy

    Source of puzzling cosmic signals found — in the kitchen

    One type of radio burst has a pretty mundane origin: prematurely opened microwave ovens.

    By Christopher Crockett
  10. Planetary Science

    A modest Plutonian proposal

    Flagstaff, Echidna, Spock. Naming conventions for the landscapes of Pluto and its moons are proposed ahead of the arrival of the New Horizons probe.

    By Christopher Crockett
  11. Astronomy

    Cyanides around young star signal complex organic chemistry

    Abundances of cyanide compounds around a young star match those found in comets in our solar system.

    By Christopher Crockett
  12. Science & Society

    One anniversary to celebrate, one to contemplate

    In this issue, both feature articles focus on anniversaries, though of two very different kinds.

    By Eva Emerson