Is dust what’s dimming Tabby’s Star?

Astronomers say they've found a smoking gun that rules out the idea of an energy-harvesting megastructure or Dyson sphere - built by an alien civilization - surrounding Tabby's Star.

Large storm on sun sparked global aurora on Mars

Scientists said the solar event "lit up Mars like a light bulb." It was the biggest event of its kind so far observed by spacecraft in Mars orbit and on the surface.

Moon and planet-rise, seen from space

This timelapse video shows a peaceful and breathless moonrise from the International Space Station, with Venus, Mars and Mercury also in view.

Farthest active inbound comet yet

Most comets become active only when near the sun. This one is active, but distant, between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus, where sunlight is 1/225th as bright as seen from Earth.

New Horizons’ discoveries keep coming

New ScienceCast video on recent results from New Horizons spacecraft data. Landslides on Charon. Possible snow on Pluto. Plus a preview of New Horizons' next target.

Space visionaries boost Pluto lander

At a NASA symposium this week, space scientists and engineers presented an exciting new concept for a lander that would explore Pluto by "hopping" across its surface.

Is the Milky Way a normal galaxy?

Astronomers assume our Milky Way galaxy is typical. They use our knowledge of it to leapfrog out to understanding the rest of the universe. But is the Milky Way typical?

Black holes with ravenous appetites

Both Type I and Type II active galaxies have central, supermassive black holes, which consume the galaxies from within. But new work suggests the black holes in Type Is eat faster.

How fast is our universe expanding?

Here's a great New ScienceCast video about the controversial Hubble Constant. It's the key to knowing the age of our universe and much more.

Fast radio bursts firing every second?

New theoretical work indicates at least 1 fast radio burst, or FRB, going off somewhere each second. It contradicts the idea that FRBs might be evidence of an alien technology.

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