Stephen Hawking calls for Moon and Mars colonies

Seeded on Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:17 PM EDT ()

Stephen Hawking called for a massive investment in establishing colonies on the Moon and Mars in a lecture in honour of NASA's 50th anniversary.

space, nasa, science

NASA refutes 13-year-old's impact risk claim

Seeded on Wed Apr 16, 2008 7:15 PM EDT (New Scientist)

The asteroid Apophis still has only a 1 in 45,000 chance of hitting Earth in 2036, NASA says, despite recent news reports suggesting a 13-year-old German boy had discovered a mistake in the space agency's analysis.

space, nasa, science

NASA extends Cassini's tour of Saturn's realm

Seeded on Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:10 AM EDT ()

Delighted with the success of its Cassini spacecraft, NASA has approved a two-year extension to the mission. The spacecraft will investigate hints that there is liquid water inside Saturn's moon Enceladus and explore uncharted territory on its exotic sibling Titan.

space, nasa, science

Spacewalking microbes may reveal life's origins

Seeded on Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:08 PM EDT (New Scientist)

By sticking microbes to the outside of the International Space Station, Japanese researchers aim to test the "panspermia" theory that comets and asteroids can spread life between planets.

space, nasa, science

Pioneer spacecraft mystery laid to rest?

Seeded on Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:26 AM EDT (New Scientist)

What is making NASA's twin Pioneer spacecraft mysteriously drift off course, apparently defying the laws of physics? A rigorous new analysis suggests ordinary heat emission can at least partly explain the wayward probes' strange trajectories.

space, nasa, science

Piloted rocket planes set for first race

Seeded on Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:22 AM EDT (New Scientist)

Pilots will compete head to head in the world's first race featuring rocket-powered planes on 1 August 2008, says the Rocket Racing League, which is organising the event.

sports, space

Why is the universe's brightest blast still blazing?

Seeded on Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:56 PM EDT (New Scientist)

The most powerful explosion ever observed may have been even more powerful than first thought. Nearly three weeks after the bright 'gamma-ray burst' occurred, it is still outshining its host galaxy, dumbfounding astronomers with its amazing longevity.

space, science, astronomy

Smallest alien planet may have been found

Seeded on Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:51 AM EDT (New Scientist)

Scientists are trying to confirm a possible planet weighing just 5 times as much as Earth orbiting another star. If verified, it will represent another step along the way to finding Earth-size planets.

science, planets

'Doomed' Mars moon imaged in stunning detail

Seeded on Wed Apr 9, 2008 5:40 PM EDT (New Scientist)

Is this the site of a future human outpost? NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has sent back some impressive new false-colour and 3D images of Mars's little potato-shaped moon Phobos, which some have suggested would make an ideal destination for human space exploration.

mars, science, moon, phobos