All Science
- Launch postponed as key component on NASA's next Mars rover springs leakNASA announced on Tuesday that the InSight Mars lander won't liftoff March 2016 as planned, thanks to a leaky vacuum chamber in a key instrument.Â
Are humans truly unique? How do we know?The fourth piece in a year-long series about complexity science by the Santa Fe Institute and º£½Ç´óÉñ. Read our other entries at breakthroughs.csmonitor.com.
Will SpaceX's reusable rockets take humanity to Mars?Elon Musk says that SpaceX's successful landing of an orbital rocket stage boosts his confidence that the colonization of Mars is possible.
First LookHow big is the risk of humongous comet striking Earth, really?Some scientists posit that a particular type of comet called a centaur that is not being monitored could pose a greater risk to Earth than an asteroid impact.
First LookNASA postpones next Mars mission: How big of a setback is it?NASA has delayed and may cancel its next planned Mars mission, which was to study the planet's interior, because of a broken vacuum seal.
When explosions rocked Baghdad in 2006, a seismometer was listeningScientists find that a seismometer, intended to measure earthquakes, actually picked up the Earth-shaking explosions of war.
Why does an aurora have bursts of brightness?Scientists use a computer model to determine the mechanisms behind auroral breakup.
How did gullies on Mars get that way? Dry ice, say scientistsA new study proposes that seasonal layers of carbon dioxide frost, not water, play a role in the formation of gullies across the surface of Mars.
Leaky seal postpones launch of NASA's next Mars landerA faulty weld on a key seismic instrument means that NASA's InSight Mars lander will not launch next year as planned. The next launch window for Mars will be in mid-2018.
Wild bee decline study: How farmer's friends are receiving supportScientists, with White House approval, have released the first national bee map to protect America's wild bees – and the farming industries they support.
Are 'extinct' animals making a comeback?The discovery of sea snakes is the latest among several species thought be lost forever and rediscovered over the last several years.
First LookChina's 'Jade Rabbit' rover finds curious substance on moonThe composition of volcanic lunar rocks could say something about the history of our moon.
Why SpaceX's rocket landing is such a big dealPrivate rocketmakers like SpaceX are on the verge of doing what the space shuttle never could: making space affordable. The consequences could be profound. Â
How vanishing animals speed up climate changeScientists have found that megafauna may play a larger role than we think in affecting climate change.
First Look'Extinct' sea snakes found alive. A second chance to save them?Previously thought to be extinct, two sea snake species appeared off the coast of Western Australia.
First LookIs gene editing moving too fast? CRISPR scientist raises concerns.Genome editing technology is moving at a 'breakneck pace,' faster than the ethical discussions it provokes, says biochemist Jennifer Doudna.
Private space travel: A new future for humanity?SpaceX, a private space exploration company headed by Elon Musk, successfully landed a Falcon rocket this week.
First LookWild bees are in decline. How can we take the sting out of it?Wild bees are key pollinators for agriculture across the United States, especially as managed honeybees face devastating declines. But these wild pollinators are struggling too. Can we save the bees?
Alluring Enceladus: How a tiny moon has kindled scientists' imaginationThe Cassini spacecraft made its final flyby of Enceladus last week, leaving behind a Saturn moon that scientists are now clamoring to explore further in the search for life.
First LookOut of this world success: SpaceX sticks historic landingLanding a booster isn't just a fancy trick for billionaire Elon Musk. This success could open up the possibility of reusing rocket parts – a process that could make spaceflight significantly more affordable.Â