Astronomy & Space

Astronomy may well be the oldest science of all, seeking answers to questions such as: "Where did it all come from?" and "Are we alone?" But, today's astronomers are focusing on phenomena our forbearers never imagined—planets orbiting other stars, for example; black holes the size of our solar system; galaxies being driven apart by invisible "dark energy"; ripples in the fabric of space and time; and of course the big bang, where time itself began.

The ARRA Report 18 The ARRA Report 18
This report reviews the research and discoveries made possible in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
NASA's Portable Lunar Habitat NASA's Portable Lunar Habitat
The University of Maine is working with NASA develope a portable lunar habitat to help astronauts live on other planets
Chalk Talk: Large Hadron Collider Chalk Talk: Large Hadron Collider
The LHC will help answer some of the fundamental open questions in physics such as the structure of space and time
Climate And Space Weather Climate And Space Weather
Researchers at the Danish National Space Center in Copenhagen have established a link between the amount of cosmic particles coming from space and changes in our planet's weather.
Richest Planetary System Discovered Richest Planetary System Discovered
This video podcast explains how these faraway planets were detected and exactly what we know about them.
Fire And Ice Fire And Ice
New evidence of water ice found on asteroid leads to new theory on how water arrived on the Earth
Neutrinos Neutrinos
Neutrinos, the distant travelers of our universe
Space Food Space Food

What are the criteria for which foods get sent into space for astronauts?


Orion In A New Light Orion In A New Light
The Orion Nebula reveals many of its hidden secrets in a dramatic image taken by ESOs new VISTA survey telescope.
Spaced Out Spaced Out
Graduate students in astronomy get hands on training at the University of Arkansas Center for Planetary Studies
Super-Sensors Measure 'Signature' Of Inflationary Universe Super-Sensors Measure 'Signature' Of Inflationary Universe

Sensors help researchers discover how the universe began to form moments after the Big Bang


The Most Distant Galaxy Ever Measured The Most Distant Galaxy Ever Measured
Measuring the most remote galaxy ever discovered
Physicists Try To Glimpse Dark Matter With Most Sensitive Detector Yet Physicists Try To Glimpse Dark Matter With Most Sensitive Detector Yet
Physicists are using the most sensitive detector yet, the XENON100, to try to glimpse dark matter.
Innovation Nation: Black Holes Innovation Nation: Black Holes
Trying to solve one of the great mysteries of the universe
Super Stars Super Stars
Understanding cosmic super stars with help from super computers
First Planet Of Extragalactic Origin First Planet Of Extragalactic Origin

A European astronomy team detects a new planet entering the Milky Way


That's Hot: Boiling In Zero Gravity That's Hot: Boiling In Zero Gravity

Testing the characteristics of boiling in zero-gravity


Mysteries Of The Cosmos Mysteries Of The Cosmos
A panel of Astronomers speaking at Caltech on several discussions ranging from Measuring expansion of the universe, finding planets in neighboring stars, looking at what lies out towards the edge of our Solar System, the study of black holes.
Cosmic Drawn: Making Galaxies One Star At A Time Cosmic Drawn: Making Galaxies One Star At A Time

Simulating galaxy formation one star at a time


Quantum Mechanics On Giant Scales Quantum Mechanics On Giant Scales

Studying quantum mechanics using gravitational wave detectors