
NASA’s UFO Study Isn’t Really Looking for Space Aliens
A new investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena could have bigger impacts on atmospheric science than on astrobiology
A new investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena could have bigger impacts on atmospheric science than on astrobiology
The hyperspectral probe can pick out extreme detail of materials on Earth’s surface
Seismology has been a long-overlooked tool in planetary exploration, but the success of NASA’s InSight lander has reignited the field
Planetary scientists are eager to bring Red Planet rocks, soil and even air to Earth, but critics fear the risk of contaminating our world’s biosphere
Rolling up an ancient river delta in Jezero Crater, the rover starts crucial rock sampling.
Innovation and discovery as chronicled by Scientific American
After delivering extraterrestrial samples to Earth in 2023, OSIRIS-REx will embark on an extended mission to a potentially planet-threatening space rock
An influential panel’s recommendation makes the ice giant a likely destination for a flagship space mission
The icy nucleus of Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein is about 80 miles (129 kilometers) wide
The alien comets could illuminate the history of their planetary system
Samples collected by Chang’e-5 are revealing exciting insights into the moon’s evolution
Despite some unexpected challenges, team members are setting lofty goals for the rover in 2022
The Trojan asteroid 2020 XL5 is projected to linger in our planet’s vicinity for the next 4,000 years
Kepler-1708 b-i appears to be a giant moon orbiting a Jupiter-sized planet thousands of light-years from Earth
The rover’s latest sample collection—an effort to gather material for eventual return to Earth—is off to a rocky start
Check out the weird and wonderful stories that delighted us this year
With a density close to that of pure iron, GJ 367b may be the remnant metal-rich core of an evaporated giant world
Our planet is vulnerable to thousands of “city-killer” space rocks. If—when—one is found on a collision course with Earth, will we be ready to deflect it?
One study suggests the Curiosity rover’s landing site is not as it seems
The giant planet’s hefty gravitational tug helps explain a spate of recent asteroid strikes
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