Space

Astronomy

Tabby’s star is probably just dusty, and still not an alien megastructure

New looks at older data on the weirdly flickering Tabby’s star muddy possible explanations — but it’s still probably not aliens.

Astronomy

Star that exploded in 1437 tracked to its current position

Astronomers have hunted down a star seen exploding in the year 1437 and traced it since, offering clues to the stages of a white dwarf.

Planetary Science

‘Death Dive to Saturn’ celebrates the Cassini probe’s accomplishments

A new documentary, “Death Dive to Saturn,” takes a look back at the Cassini spacecraft’s 13 years at Saturn and what to expect from its final days.

Astronomy

Rumors swirl that LIGO snagged gravitational waves from a neutron star collision

Telescopes seem to be following up on a potential gravitational wave sighting.

Cosmology

Map reveals the invisible universe of dark matter

The Dark Energy Survey reports a new tally of the dark universe.

Astronomy

Here’s what the Science News family did for the eclipse

On August 21, 2017, the path of a total solar eclipse went coast to coast across the United States. Here are our dispatches.

Science & Society

Patience is one virtue scientists must embrace

Acting Editor in Chief Elizabeth Quill discusses how being patient isn't always easy in scientific work.

Astronomy

Inquiries about the moon’s twilight zone, and more reader feedback

Readers had questions about the moon's tidal locking, quantum communication, microneedles and more.

Astronomy

As Cassini’s tour of Saturn draws to a close, a look back at postcards from the probe

As Cassini prepares to plunge to its death, we celebrate the spacecraft's discoveries and breathtaking images of Saturn, its rings and moons.

Astronomy

These chip-sized spacecraft are the smallest space probes yet

Space initiative dubbed Breakthrough Starshot sent the smallest spacecraft yet into orbit around Earth.

Astronomy

On a mountain in Wyoming, the eclipse brings wonder — and, hopefully, answers

Astronomy writer Lisa Grossman joined scientists on a mountain in Wyoming who were measuring the corona using four different instruments to try to figure out why it’s so hot.

Planetary Science

Mars has nighttime snow storms

When clouds of water-ice particles cool at night, snow starts to fall rapidly on Mars, simulations suggest. The squalls could explain observations made by the Phoenix lander in 2008.