Space
- Space
The sun’s giant heat elevators
Scientists have long known that plumes of hot plasma rise from the sun’s interior to its outer layers. New observations have now identified especially big plumes that can be 15 times as wide as Earth’s diameter and last for months.
- Planets
Jupiter’s long-lasting storm
Most studies of Jupiter’s centuries-old Great Red Spot suggest this giant storm should have petered out after a few decades. A new study traces the storm’s staying power to the vertical movement of its gases.
- Planets
The comet that came in from the cold
Comet ISON is hurtling toward the sun at breakneck speed. During this first (and possibly last) trip around the sun, it will either shoot back into space or be torn apart.
- Planets
So many ‘Earths’
A new analysis suggests humans are not alone in the universe. Our galaxy alone may host billions of Earth-like planets, ones able to support life as we know it.
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- Space
Oldest, most distant galaxy found
Galaxy's light comes from a time shortly after the Big Bang.
- Planets
Scratching the Martian surface
What’s Mars made of? Volcanic rock, glassy particles and a poisonous rocket-fuel chemical, among other things. That’s the latest from tests by NASA’s Curiosity rover.
- Space
Bon voyage, Voyager 1
A spacecraft launched more than three decades ago has entered the space between stars.
- Planets
Seeing the moon’s water
Rocky details of our moon can be gleaned without the aid of visiting astronauts. The latest example: An orbiting spacecraft may have just spotted water locked within surface rocks.
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- Space
Feasting black hole
A huge gas cloud is being stretched, shredded and destroyed by the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
