Arctic sea ice maximum in 2014 fifth lowest on record

Arctic sea ice reached its maximum extent for the year on March 21, 2014, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. It was the fifth lowest on record.

7 ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week

International Dark Sky Week runs April 20-26, 2014. Learn how to help celebrate and preserve the beauty of the night.

Neanderthals bred with modern humans, study confirms

Advanced genetic analysis and statistical modeling have confirmed that early humans mated with Neanderthals.

Why is Mars near the moon on eclipse night?

A total eclipse moon has to happen at full moon. Outer planets are always near the full moon in their month of opposition. Mars reached opposition April 8 ...

Warm water in Pacific could spark a monster El Nino in 2014

Scientists are watching a giant mass of sub-surface water in the Pacific. When this water reaches the sea surface, it could set off a powerful El Nino.

Ride along with a rocket to space

What a ride! Cameras mounted on the upper stage of a Soyuz rocket on April 3, 2014 looked earthward during a satellite launch.

New atomic clock won’t gain or lose a second in 300 million years

The NIST has launched a new hyper-accurate atomic clock for the U.S. time standard called NIST-F2. The clock uses a 'fountain' of cesium atoms to determine the exact length of a second.

Computer maps 21 distinct emotional expressions

... even seemingly contradictory ones, like "happily disgusted."

Another powerful earthquake rocks northern Chile

For the second time in two days, a powerful earthquake has struck Chile. Today's quake was 7.6 magnitude. It's considered an aftershock of the 8.2-magnitude quake on April 1.

Aurora alert for April 1 and 2

The first of three sets of solar particles are now en route to Earth and are expected to deliver glancing blows to Earth beginning April 1 and into April 2.