The SciencesMarch 4, 2010
Shields Up: Magnetized Rocks Push Back Origin of Earth's Magnetic Field
Earth's churning interior produced a protective magnetic field as early as 3.45 billion years ago, closer to when life began
Extraterrestrial Life
Space & PhysicsMarch 1, 2010
Mars's Environment Shown to Be Hostile, but Not Untenable for Earthly Microbes
A test of bacterial survivability points to possible avenues for microbial survival on Mars, assuming life--and specifically Earth-like life--ever developed there
The Young American Scientists Issue—Read Now
Space & PhysicsFebruary 25, 2010
Wild Ride: Comet Sample May Help Constrain the Early Evolution of the Solar System
A particle from Comet Wild 2, returned to Earth by the Stardust spacecraft, appears to have led a long and migratory life
The SciencesFebruary 16, 2010
In search of the eastern tropical Pacific's chlorophyll maximum
Space & PhysicsFebruary 15, 2010
Meteorite That Fell in 1969 Still Revealing Secrets of the Early Solar System
A new analysis of the Murchison meteorite, which fell to Earth more than 40 years ago, reveals tens of thousands of organic compounds
Space & PhysicsFebruary 3, 2010
Down to Earth: Technique Lets Ground-Based Telescopes Parse Exoplanet Atmospheres
A new study shows promise for Earthbound observatories in identifying molecules in planetary atmospheres outside the solar system
Space & PhysicsJanuary 10, 2010
Just a Phase: Enceladus's Mysterious Behavior May Be Transient
A new model for the inner workings of the Saturnian moon proposes that it only acts out every billion years or so, and we just happen to be around to see it
Space & PhysicsJanuary 8, 2010
A galaxy of new worlds: Dispatch from the American Astronomical Society meeting
Space & PhysicsJanuary 6, 2010
Follow-Up Observations Highlight Uncertainties in Exoplanet Research
Some proposed exoplanets have proved to be more massive objects such as brown dwarfs or stars, and some may prove not to exist at all
Space & PhysicsJanuary 4, 2010
Kepler Spacecraft Spots 5 New Exoplanets
NASA hopes that Kepler will eventually turn up habitable, Earth-like worlds
Space & PhysicsJanuary 1, 2010
Earth-Like Planets May Be Made of Carbon
Could extrasolar planets consist of graphite and diamond?
Space & PhysicsJanuary 1, 2010
Looking for Life in the Multiverse
Universes with different physical laws might still be habitable