Space

Astronomy

Saturn’s 10th moon was the first satellite discovered in the modern space age

Fifty years ago, astronomers knew of 10 moons orbiting Saturn. Since then they’ve catalogued a diverse set of 62 satellites, with the help of the Cassini spacecraft.

Astronomy

Gotcha: Fast radio burst’s home nabbed

For the first time, astronomers pinpoint a precise position on the sky for a fast radio burst, revealing that the outburst originated in a galaxy about 2.5 billion light-years away.

Astronomy

These 2016 stories could be really big — if they’re true

These findings would have rocked the scientific world, if only the evidence were more convincing.

Astronomy

More fast radio bursts detected from same location

Six more outbursts have been detected from a repeating source of radio waves somewhere outside of our galaxy.

Planetary Science

Dawn spacecraft maps water beneath the surface of Ceres

Water ice sits just beneath the surface and within some permanently shadowed craters of the dwarf planet Ceres.

Planetary Science

Moon’s lava tubes could be colossal

Lava tubes inside the moon could remain structurally sound up to 5 kilometers across and offer prime real estate for lunar colonists.

Physics

Year in review: Gravitational waves offer new cosmic views

The first direct detection of gravitational waves will open a new window on black holes and introduce a new era in astronomy.

Astronomy

Year in review: A planet lurks around the star next door

If people ever travel beyond the solar system, the newly discovered exoplanet around Proxima Centauri is likely to be a first stop.

Planetary Science

First signs of boron on Mars hint at past groundwater, habitability

The Curiosity rover has found the first signs of boron on Mars, which could hint at past habitable groundwater.

Planetary Science

First signs of boron on Mars hint at past groundwater, habitability

The Curiosity rover has found the first signs of boron on Mars, which could hint at past habitable groundwater.

Physics

Shadows of two failed searches loom over physics

Physicists are facing two failures this year with no detections of dark matter particles and no signs of supersymmetry from the Large Hadron Collider.

Astronomy

Magnetic stars could have created LIGO’s massive black holes

Strong magnetic fields could provide a way for massive stars to create heavy black holes when they die.