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This date in science: Apollo 17 returns with orange soil
On December 19, 1972, the Apollo 17 crew returned to Earth, completing the final manned moon mission. Their cargo included orange soil they unexpectedly found on the moon.
December 19, 2012
A swoosh in space: Merry Christmas from Hubble
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope celebrates the holiday season with a striking image of the planetary nebula NGC 5189.
December 18, 2012
The aurora borealis and the coming Solar Maximum
Right now, there's huge excitement among those of us who hunt for the aurora borealis, also called the northern lights.
December 18, 2012
Welcome to norovirus season
Norovirus causes over half of food-borne and gastrointestinal illness in the U.S., and in winter even. The nerve!
December 18, 2012
GRAIL moon probes’ crash site named for astronaut Sally Ride
The two GRAIL spacecraft hit the lunar surface at planned at 4:28 CST (2228 UTC) and 4:29 CST, at a speed of 3,760 mph (1.7 kilometers per second).
December 17, 2012
Dust plumes across Pacific delivering microorganisms to North America
Thousands of species of microorganisms are making their way from Asia across the Pacific Ocean and landing in North America.
December 17, 2012
Estimate suggests Milky Way mass of 1.6 trillion suns
New estimate of Milky Way mass doesn't mean our galaxy has 1.6 trillion stars. It includes the mass of the dark matter halo thought to surround our Milky Way.
December 17, 2012
Ian Duncan on environmental impact of fracking
A geologist's perspective on the environmental impact of fracking. Does it affect water quality? Does it cause earthquakes?
December 17, 2012
2012 extraordinary year for wildfires in US
Check out this map. The year 2012 has been extraordinary for wildfires in the United States.
December 16, 2012
If you cut down a tree in the forest, can wildlife hear it?
WCS and partners develop method to discern how landscape features affect dispersion of noise and distribution of wildlife.
December 14, 2012
