Earth's Place in the Universe

  1. Planets

    Visiting Pluto

    Pluto has long been little more than a dark spot in the sky. Now NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is about to fly by this dwarf planet. Along the way, it will collect unprecedented data on it.

    By
  2. Space

    Students sent instrument to Pluto

    The student-built dust counter on NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is measuring how much grit and debris orbits out beyond Neptune.

    By
  3. Planets

    Cosmic collision may have given birth to Pluto’s moons

    Hubble Space Telescope photos reveal that the Pluto family may have formed from debris left behind after something slammed into the dwarf planet.

    By
  4. Planets

    Asteroids boiled young Earth’s oceans

    At least two asteroids hit Earth 3.3 billion years ago. This superheated the atmosphere, boiled the oceans and shaped how early life evolved.

    By
  5. Space

    Scientists Say: Gravitational lens

    A gravitational lens is an effect that occurs when a massive object lies between a viewer and something further away. The massive object’s gravity bends light arriving from the more distant object.

    By
  6. Space

    Mini-sats: The trick to spying Earth-bound asteroids?

    NASA is supposed to begin nonstop screening by 2020 for all asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. Some astronomers now think the only way to affordably meet that deadline is by using mini-satellites

    By
  7. Chemistry

    Cooking up life for the first time

    The basic components for life could have emerged together nearly 4 billion years ago on the surface of Earth, chemists report.

    By
  8. Earth

    Explainer: Understanding plate tectonics

    Plate tectonics is the process whereby Earth continually rebuilds itself — and causes destructive events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

    By
  9. Space

    Galaxy cluster creates ‘magnifying glass’ in space

    A massive galaxy’s gravity is so strong that it bends light, creating a “lens” in space. This natural magnifying glass is giving astronomers a rare view of a supernova on the other side of the universe.

    By
  10. Space

    Astronomers spy fastest speeding star

    A few stars have been spotted departing our galaxy. The fastest of these might have been propelled by another exploding star, a new study finds.

    By
  11. Space

    Dust erases evidence of primordial gravity waves

    In March 2014, scientists claimed to have found the first echoes of the Big Bang — ripples in the very fabric of space. A new analysis shows the experts were mistaken. Dust appears to explain the confusion.

    By
  12. Physics

    Machine simulates the sun’s core

    A machine heats iron atoms to temperatures that match the interior of the sun. This has helped solve a solar mystery.

    By