Space & Physics
Venus, Earth’s Evil Twin, Beckons Space Agencies
Once a water-rich Eden, the hellish planet could reveal how to find habitable worlds around distant stars
Stories by Shannon Hall
EARTH
The Not So Dead Sea: Traces of Ancient Bacteria Found in the Lake’s Sediments
A new finding points to possible life in other extreme environments, including on ancient Mars
EARTH
Scientists Uncover California’s Hidden Earthquakes
Nearly two million tiny tremors could help explain the inner workings of key faults
Space & Physics
An Impossible Scenario: Scientists Watch as Heat Moves at the Speed of Sound
A rare phenomenon seen in just a handful of materials at forbidding temperatures has been detected within “warm” graphite—a finding that could aid future microelectronics...
Space & Physics
Zombie Stars Shine On after Mystery Detonations
A newly discovered class of odd stars appears to have persevered through supernova explosions—providing a rare glimpse into these astrophysical catastrophes
Space & Physics
Monster Magnetar Pinpointed as Trigger of Ultrabright Stellar Detonation
New observations of a superluminous supernova could finally solve the mystery behind these and other bewildering cosmic events
Space & Physics
All Sand on Earth Could Be Made of Star Stuff
Silica, a common ingredient in sand, concrete and glass, may have its origins in supernovae
Astronomy
Caught in the Act—Astronomers Get Their Best Look Yet at a Supernova Blowing Up
New observations of a stellar explosion have revealed a surprise that could point to the trigger behind these violent, yet mysterious, eruptions
Evolution
A Supervolcano with a Cold Heart May Be Brewing in Chile
A supervolcano may be brewing underneath Chile, with a cold interior that is upending ideas about triggers of huge eruptions
Space & Physics
The Galactic Collision That Reshaped Our Milky Way
A new finding is shedding light on how our galaxy—and those throughout the universe—evolve
Evolution
Say Hello to Dickinsonia, the Animal Kingdom’s Newest (and Oldest) Member
Half-billion-year-old fossils reveal new details about one of the most mysterious chapters in Earth’s history
Space & Physics
A Superconductor Scandal? Scientists Question a Nobel Prize–Worthy Claim
Scientists claim to have achieved superconductivity at room temperature, but other physicists say the data look doctored
Space & Physics
Did a Stellar Intruder Deform Our Outer Solar System?
New results suggest a massive star once swung dangerously close to our sun—helping to shape the mysterious features we see today
Space & Physics
Glittering Diamond Dust in Space Might Solve a 20-Year-Old Mystery
The Milky Way is strewn with sparkling, spinning microscopic diamonds, which might explain an unusual microwave glow
Policy
First Woman Air and Space Museum Director Talks about Inspiring the Next Generation
Ellen Stofan, head of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, told us about the power of museums to attract young scientists and combat attacks on science
Space & Physics
The Milky Way's Speediest Stars Could Solve a 50-Year-Old Mystery
Stars traveling more than 1,200 kilometers per second hint at a new mechanism behind cosmos-spanning stellar explosions
Climate Change
A Nation Divided: Arid/Humid Climate Boundary in U.S. Creeps Eastward
The stark climatic border in the U.S. separating the sultry east from the dry west is rapidly shifting—a change that could have a significant future impact
EARTH
Old New England Underground May Be Spry after All
The U.S. Northeast may be more geologically active than was previously thought, according to a seismic sensor network.
Space & Physics
Are Water Worlds Habitable?
It looks like the galaxy is overflowing with worlds soaked in water, but scientists are divided on whether life there would succeed or fail
Environment
New England Is Sitting on a Bed of Hot Rocks
The U.S. Northeast may be more geologically active than thought
