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Archive for 2008

Mars Rovers Near Five Years of Science and Discovery Mars Rovers Near Five Years of Science and Discovery
December 30, 2008
News and Features

NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity may still have big achievements ahead as they approach the fifth anniversaries of their memorable landings on Mars.

Cyclone Billy Cyclone Billy
December 30, 2008
News and Features

Tropical Cyclone Billy moved off the coast of Western Australia on December 25, 2008. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite took this picture at 3:10 p.m. local time on December 25. Compared to earlier images, the storm appears more compact in this picture, and occurs almost entirely over the ocean.

STS-119: A Final Station Power Up STS-119: A Final Station Power Up
December 30, 2008
News and Features

Discovery's STS-119 astronauts are in final training mode before the holidays. At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston the crew is reviewing launch procedures, spacewalking techniques and undergoing medical exams.

Breckenridge and Copper Mountain Ski Slopes, Colorado Breckenridge and Copper Mountain Ski Slopes, Colorado
December 29, 2008
News and Features

Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Tenmile Range and Copper Mountain are among the state’s meccas for winter sports. In this astronaut photo, the Breckenridge and Copper Mountain ski areas are clearly visible as the snow-covered ski runs stand out from the surrounding darker forest.

NASA's Gift to Mr. Claus NASA's Gift to Mr. Claus
December 26, 2008
News and Features

True story: NASA technology saves Claus from a disaster at sea! Christmas (and the sport of fishing) may never be the same.

Astrobiology Top 10: Life is Lonely at the Center of the Earth Astrobiology Top 10: Life is Lonely at the Center of the Earth
December 26, 2008
News and Features

Astrobiology Magazine is looking back over 2008, highlighting the top 10 astrobiology stories of the year. At number 9 is the story of Desulforudis audaxviator, a bacterium that lives in total darkness. Scientists now have discovered it also lives in complete isolation. Almost all organisms on Earth live in interdependent communities, but the lonely D. audaxviator proves it's possible for life to go solo. (This story was originally published on October 11, 2008).

'Suit Yourself' is Easier Said than Done 'Suit Yourself' is Easier Said than Done
December 24, 2008
News and Features

On launch day, a space shuttle astronaut's first challenge isn't handling the force of liftoff or adjusting to microgravity. It's getting into the bulky, bright-orange Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) that provides each crew member a safe cocoon of pressure, breathable air and survival essentials during launch and landing.

Next NASA Moon Mission Completes Major Milestone Next NASA Moon Mission Completes Major Milestone
December 24, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, which simulates the extreme hot, cold and airless conditions of space LRO will experience after launch. This milestone concludes the orbiter's environmental test program at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Astrobiology Top 10: Ancient Footprints in the Salt Astrobiology Top 10: Ancient Footprints in the Salt
December 24, 2008
News and Features

Astrobiology Magazine is looking back over 2008, highlighting the top 10 astrobiology stories of the year. At number 10 is the discovery of ancient organism remnants preserved in salt crystals. The surprising finding could help astrobiologists search for signs of life on other planets. (This story was originally published on July 31, 2008).

Missing Mars Mineral Materalizes Missing Mars Mineral Materalizes
December 23, 2008
News and Features

Researchers using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have identified carbonate minerals on the martian surface, indicating that the planet had different types of watery environments in its past. The discovery has important implications in determining if Mars was once habitable.

What Can Swiss Cheese Teach us About Dark Energy? What Can Swiss Cheese Teach us About Dark Energy?
December 23, 2008
News and Features

About 10 years ago, scientists reached the astonishing conclusion that our universe is accelerating apart at ever-increasing speeds, stretching space and time itself like melted cheese.

Saturn's Crazy Christmas Tilt Saturn's Crazy Christmas Tilt
December 23, 2008
News and Features

The planet Saturn is doing something rare and beautiful this holiday season. Find out what in today's story from Science@NASA.

Researcher Hopes to Put Fuel Cells on the Fast Track Researcher Hopes to Put Fuel Cells on the Fast Track
December 23, 2008
News and Features

The slow evolution of clean-energy solutions is about to kick into high gear, if Sossina M. Haile has anything to say about it. As a fuel cell researcher at the California Institute of Technology and a founding member of the company Superprotonic Inc., she hopes to make this “technology of the future” practical for today’s applications.

Looking at LUCA Looking at LUCA
December 22, 2008
News and Features

Scientists may have characterized the common ancestor of all life on Earth, LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor). This 3.8-billion-year-old organism was not the creature usually imagined, and may change ideas about early life on Earth.

Explore the Entire Region of the Sun's Influence Explore the Entire Region of the Sun's Influence
December 22, 2008
News and Features

Have you ever wondered how much data exist about the sun and how it affects the solar system and beyond? Data sets and images returned from NASA's cadre of space physics spacecraft, known collectively as the Heliophysics Great Observatory, now can be accessed through one convenient location at the Heliophysics Data Environment (HPDE) web site.

Enceladus Evolving Enceladus Evolving
December 22, 2008
News and Features

Cassini's most recent flyby of Saturn's moon Enceladus has provided more evidence that the moon is an active world. Jets of water vapor and ice have been seen erupting from Enceladus, and new data shows the moon may have Earth-like tectonics.

Spacewalk at International Space Station Tonight Spacewalk at International Space Station Tonight
December 22, 2008
News and Features

Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov are set to begin their excursion outside the station at about 7:15 p.m. EST.

NASA Study Links Severe Storm Increases, Global Warming NASA Study Links Severe Storm Increases, Global Warming
December 22, 2008
News and Features

The frequency of extremely high clouds in Earth's tropics is increasing as a result of global warming.

Life on Super-Earths Life on Super-Earths
December 19, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers are expanding the search for extraterrestrial life to include some very unearthly places. Their theory is that ice-covered super-Earths, which are plentiful in the Universe, could support some kinds of life.

Insect Damage in British Columbia Forests Insect Damage in British Columbia Forests
December 19, 2008
News and Features

Beginning in the 1990s, British Columbia’s forests were increasingly plagued by a population explosion of mountain pine beetles. This beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, destroyed large tracts of forest in the province. Such widespread forest loss affects more than just the scenery.

NASA Instrument Inaugurates 3-D Moon Imaging NASA Instrument Inaugurates 3-D Moon Imaging
December 19, 2008
News and Features

Different wavelengths of light provide new information about the Orientale Basin region of the moon in a new composite image taken by NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper, a guest instrument aboard the Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft.

Apollo 8: 40 Years Later Apollo 8: 40 Years Later
December 19, 2008
News and Features

In late 1968, NASA made a bold, improvisational call: It would change mission plans and send the Apollo 8 crew all the way to the moon without a lunar module … on the first manned flight of the massive Saturn V rocket.

Sun Often "Tears Out A Wall" In Earth's Solar Storm Shield Sun Often "Tears Out A Wall" In Earth's Solar Storm Shield
December 18, 2008
News and Features

Earth's magnetic field, which shields our planet from particles streaming outward from the Sun, often develops two holes that allow the largest leaks, according to researchers sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Some Planets are Better for Life Some Planets are Better for Life
December 18, 2008
News and Features

A new idea proposes that worlds with the potential to host organisms can be split into four categories, each with their own likelihood of being inhabited. With extrasolar planet detection methods becoming ever-more advanced, these ideas could influence which worlds are studied first.

Low Clouds over Central China Low Clouds over Central China
December 17, 2008
News and Features

Low clouds hug the ground, seeping into the valleys between the peaks surrounding central China’s Sichuan Basin in this photo-like image captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on December 9, 2008.

Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field Discovered Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field Discovered
December 17, 2008
News and Features

NASA's five THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a breach in Earth's magnetic field ten times larger than anything previously thought to exist. The size of the opening and the strange way it forms could overturn long-held ideas of space physics.

Dark Energy Found Stifling Growth in Universe Dark Energy Found Stifling Growth in Universe
December 17, 2008
News and Features

Galaxy clusters are the largest collapsed objects in the Universe and are ideal for studying the properties of dark energy, the mysterious form of repulsive gravity that is driving the accelerated expansion of the Universe.

Waves Crash on Europa Waves Crash on Europa
December 17, 2008
News and Features

New studies indicate that Europa may harbor a more dynamic ocean than previously believed beneath its icy exterior. The gravitational pull of Jupiter could be producing powerful waves in the ocean, which in turn could have implications on the habitability of the unique moon.

Busy Mission Runs Astronauts Through Multiple Roles Busy Mission Runs Astronauts Through Multiple Roles
December 17, 2008
News and Features

The astronauts of STS-126 acted as craftsmen, mechanics, spacewalkers and, of course, astronauts during International Space Station mission.

Mission Operations Readiness Review for NPOESS Preparatory Project Completed Mission Operations Readiness Review for NPOESS Preparatory Project Completed
December 16, 2008
News and Features

A comprehensive Mission Operations Readiness (MOR) review of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) was successfully completed last month. The largest review of the overall NPOESS configuration to date, the MOR focused specifically on the NPP's operational readiness and progress to launch.

Solar Flare Surprise Solar Flare Surprise
December 16, 2008
News and Features

A 2006 solar flare surprised scientists by behaving in unexpected ways.

Planets Form in the Eye of a Storm Planets Form in the Eye of a Storm
December 16, 2008
News and Features

New research shows that turbulence in protoplanetary disks plays a key role in the birth of planet. The finding may alter theories on how planets form from dust and debris around distant stars.

New Satellite Data Reveal Impact of Olympic Pollution Controls New Satellite Data Reveal Impact of Olympic Pollution Controls
December 16, 2008
News and Features

China had clearer skies and easier breathing in mind in the summer of 2008 when they temporarily shuttered some factories and banished many cars in a pre-Olympic sprint to clean up Beijing's air.

CO2 Found on Exoplanet CO2 Found on Exoplanet
December 15, 2008
News and Features

The Hubble Space Telescope has identified carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet. The discovery is an important step toward identifying habitable planets beyond our solar system.

Watching for Wobbles Watching for Wobbles
December 15, 2008
News and Features

New research may make it easier to detect habitable moons around distant, extrasolar planets. The new method not only identifies moons, but also allows scientists to determine their size and their distance from the host planet.

Unmasking Europa Unmasking Europa
December 15, 2008
News and Features

We may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but hopefully we can judge a moon by its surface. A scientist who worked on the Galileo mission has written a new book about the scratched and splotchy surface of Europa.

NASA's Top Science, Exploration and Discovery Stories of 2008 NASA's Top Science, Exploration and Discovery Stories of 2008
December 15, 2008
News and Features

NASA landed on Mars, photographed distant worlds, added to the International Space Station and made major progress toward returning astronauts to the moon as the agency celebrated its 50th birthday in 2008.

2008 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Rainfall 2008 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Rainfall
December 15, 2008
News and Features

Hurricane, tropical storm and tropical depression rainfall caused many severe floods and numerous lost lives during the 2008 north Atlantic hurricane season. The north Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Completes Prime Mission Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Completes Prime Mission
December 12, 2008
News and Features

Among other findings, the spacecraft has found signs of a complex Martian history of climate change that produced a diversity of past watery environments.

Follow the Elements Follow the Elements
December 12, 2008
News and Features

Life needs more than liquid water to survive. Organisms also need important chemical elements. Researchers are now studying the distribution of these elements on Earth to determine how they affect the distribution and evolution of life.

Drama in the Tarantula's Heart Drama in the Tarantula's Heart
December 12, 2008
News and Features

The Tarantula Nebula produces intense radiation and searing winds of multimillion-degree gas.

NASA Science on Display at American Geophysical Union Conference NASA Science on Display at American Geophysical Union Conference
December 12, 2008
News and Features

NASA researchers will present new findings on a wide range of Earth and space science topics during the 2008 fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The meeting runs from Monday, Dec. 15, through Friday, Dec. 19, at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center at 747 Howard St.

Constant Comet Threat Constant Comet Threat
December 11, 2008
News and Features

Comet impacts have likely transformed life on Earth, but it is still a mystery how these icy bodies are put on a collision course with our planet. New research says that nearby stars and the galaxy as a whole are to blame.

The Incredible Journey of the JWST The Incredible Journey of the JWST
December 11, 2008
News and Features

From humble beginnings in a Utah beryllium mine to the most advanced laboratories in the world, the mirrors of NASA's next great observatory are taking an incredible journey to space.

Oscillation Rules as the Pacific Cools Oscillation Rules as the Pacific Cools
December 11, 2008
News and Features

The latest image of sea-surface height measurements from the U.S./French Jason-1 oceanography satellite shows the Pacific Ocean remains locked in a strong, cool phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a large, long-lived pattern of climate variability in the Pacific associated with a general cooling of Pacific waters. The image also confirms that El Niño and La Niña remain absent from the tropical Pacific.

Astronomers Find the Two Dimmest Stellar Bulbs Astronomers Find the Two Dimmest Stellar Bulbs
December 11, 2008
News and Features

It's a tie! The new record-holder for dimmest known star-like object in the universe goes to twin "failed" stars, or brown dwarfs, each of which shines feebly with only one millionth the light of our sun.

James Webb Telescope Mirrors Chill Out James Webb Telescope Mirrors Chill Out
December 10, 2008
News and Features

The first of 18 mirror segments that will fly on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope arrived this week at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. to prepare it to meet the extreme temperatures it will encounter in space.

Orbit Determines Climate Orbit Determines Climate
December 10, 2008
News and Features

New research shows evidence of ancient climate change on Mars caused by variations in the planet's tilt relative to the sun. The findings may help scientists understand if Mars was habitable for life at some point in the planet's past.

Biggest Full Moon of the Year Biggest Full Moon of the Year
December 10, 2008
News and Features

This Friday's full Moon is the biggest full Moon of the year. It is a 'perigee Moon' as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier in 2008.

Jump Like a Grasshopper Jump Like a Grasshopper
December 09, 2008
News and Features

A robot that can jump like a grasshopper and roll like a ball could play a key role in future space exploration. The robot can traverse complicated terrain and could be useful in studying planets like Mars.

Hubble Finds Carbon Dioxide on an Extrasolar Planet Hubble Finds Carbon Dioxide on an Extrasolar Planet
December 09, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star, an important breakthrough toward finding chemical evidence of extraterrestrial life.

What's in a Name? Global Warming vs. Climate Change What's in a Name? Global Warming vs. Climate Change
December 09, 2008
News and Features

When scientists or the media talk about global warming, climate change or global change, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. What's the difference?

Rivers of Gas Flow Around Stars in New Space Image Rivers of Gas Flow Around Stars in New Space Image
December 09, 2008
News and Features

A new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows a turbulent star-forming region, where rivers of gas and stellar winds are eroding thickets of dusty material.

Deriba Caldera, Sudan Deriba Caldera, Sudan
December 08, 2008
News and Features

Deriba Caldera is a geologically young volcanic structure located at the top of the Marra Mountains of western Sudan.

Bilateral Bubble Bodies Bilateral Bubble Bodies
December 08, 2008
News and Features

A single-celled organism has been found leaving tracks on the ocean floor that look like those from larger, multicellular organisms. The finding is causing scientists to re-think the fossil record - and the timing of when complex, bilateral organisms developed.

Astronaut Sandra Magnus' International Space Station Journal Astronaut Sandra Magnus' International Space Station Journal
December 08, 2008
News and Features

Read firsthand accounts of her experiences on the ISS.

How To Destroy an Asteroid How To Destroy an Asteroid
December 05, 2008
News and Features

Researchers are carefully observing asteroids in order to determine their composition - and the best way to protect the Earth from any that might be headed our way in the future.

Return of the Leonids Return of the Leonids
December 05, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers from NASA and Caltech are predicting a near-storm of Leonids in 2009 based on a surprising outburst of meteors just two weeks ago.

NASA Orbiter Finds Martian Rock Record With 10 Beats to the Bar NASA Orbiter Finds Martian Rock Record With 10 Beats to the Bar
December 05, 2008
News and Features

Climate cycles persisting for millions of years on ancient Mars left a record of rhythmic patterns in thick stacks of sedimentary rock layers, revealed in three-dimensional detail by a telescopic camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Simulating Mars on Earth Simulating Mars on Earth
December 04, 2008
News and Features

By simulating conditions at and below the surface of Mars, experiments now suggest that bacterial life could exist below its sterile surface layer of soil.

Scientists Have a New Scientific Tool for Hurricane Research On-Line at NASA Scientists Have a New Scientific Tool for Hurricane Research On-Line at NASA
December 04, 2008
News and Features

Scientists, students, and applications users seeking on-the-fly visualizations and analysis of hurricane-related satellite and model data can now get access to it via the NASA Hurricane Data Analysis tool on-line.

Next NASA Mars Mission Rescheduled for 2011 Next NASA Mars Mission Rescheduled for 2011
December 04, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory will launch two years later than previously planned. The 2009 launch date is no longer feasible feasible because of testing and hardware challenges that must be addressed.

A Celestial Snow Globe of Stars A Celestial Snow Globe of Stars
December 04, 2008
News and Features

Hubble has captured an instantaneous glimpse of many hundreds of thousands of stars moving about in the M13 globular cluster.

Giving Life a Hand Giving Life a Hand
December 03, 2008
News and Features

The basic molecules of life have a predetermined 'handedness', or chiraliy, that scientists have been unable to explain. New research shows that chirality may have been induced by irradiation as the molecules traveled through space before arriving on Earth.

Fall Colors in Pennsylvania Fall Colors in Pennsylvania
December 03, 2008
News and Features

Central Pennsylvania presents an ancient landscape, worn down by the grind of ice, water, wind, and time. The ridge lines of the Appalachian Mountain chain, once formidable, are now gentle folds rising over fertile valleys. Ice age glaciers shaped the land, smoothing out the mountains and depositing rich soil as the ice melted away.

This Month in Exploration - December This Month in Exploration - December
December 03, 2008
News and Features

Forty years ago the crew of Apollo 8 transmitted the first image of Earth from space. Read more historical facts in This Month in Exploration.

A Pinwheel in X-rays A Pinwheel in X-rays
December 03, 2008
News and Features

Chandra snaps one of the longest exposures ever obtained of a spiral galaxy -- in X-rays.

Marco Polo and Meteorites Marco Polo and Meteorites
December 02, 2008
News and Features

In this podcast, Beda Hofmann explores the links between meteorites and astrobiology, and discusses Europe's proposed Marco Polo Mission to an asteroid.

An Ocean on Enceladus An Ocean on Enceladus
December 02, 2008
News and Features

New data from Cassini supports the theory that Saturn's moon Enceladus has liquid water beneath its surface. Water is essential for life, and determining locations of liquid water is the first step in the search for life in our solar system.

Alluvial Fan in Southern Iran Alluvial Fan in Southern Iran
December 02, 2008
News and Features

Seasonally dry salt lakes and the traces of ephemeral streams occupy many of the valleys of the Zagros Mountains in southern Iran. Much of the time, the rivers and lakes are dry above ground, but subterranean water flows along the same pathways. Where these subterranean streams flow out of the mountains, the water table comes closer to the surface, and it is more readily accessible through wells.

Endeavour Crew Returns After 'Home Improvement' In Orbit Endeavour Crew Returns After 'Home Improvement' In Orbit
December 01, 2008
News and Features

The STS-126 astronauts landed in California Sunday, after upgrading the International Space Station for larger future crews. Astronaut Greg Chamitoff is back on Earth after spending more than five months on the station.

Timing Tectonics Timing Tectonics
December 01, 2008
News and Features

Plate tectonics on Earth may have started much earlier than previously believed. An active Earth could have had profound implications for the origin of life.

Solar-Powered Slugs Solar-Powered Slugs
December 01, 2008
News and Features

Extreme Life The sea-slug, Elysia chlorotica, represents a unique step in the evolution of life. The slug appears to behave like a plant and can get energy from the sun. New research shows that the slug has genes needed for photosynthesis - but steals important cellular components from algae.

Hoping for Europa Hoping for Europa
November 28, 2008
News and Features

NASA and ESA are now deciding on the next major mission to the outer solar system. One proposal is to visit two of Jupiter’s large moons, Ganymede and Europa. Astrobiologists have long hoped to study Europa more closely because its global ocean could harbor alien life.

Fires in California Fires in California
November 28, 2008
News and Features

One hundred eighty-seven homes were destroyed by the Freeway Fire in Southern California in mid-November 2008. Driven by Santa Ana winds, the fire exploded out of the Chino Hills into communities at the foothills of the mountains. More than 30,000 acres were scorched by the fire.

Endeavour Undocks From Station Today Endeavour Undocks From Station Today
November 28, 2008
News and Features

The shuttle will undock from the International Space Station at 9:47 a.m. EST, beginning the journey home for a Sunday landing.

Recycling Water is not Just for Earth Anymore Recycling Water is not Just for Earth Anymore
November 26, 2008
News and Features

A complex system of distillers and filters is at the heart of a water recycling system that will eventually supply International Space Station crews with drinking water.

Bacteria Preserve Fossils Bacteria Preserve Fossils
November 26, 2008
News and Features

The activity of bacteria has often been viewed as detrimental to fossils. Now, researchers have found that bacterial biofilms may help preserve fossils of embryos and soft tissues. Such fossils are incredibly valuable in studying the evolution of life.

Earth Perspectives Earth Perspectives
November 25, 2008
News and Features

In 2008, as NASA celebrated its 50th anniversary, the Earth Observatory asked a number of Earth scientists what we have learned about our home planet by going into space.

Spectacular Conjunction Spectacular Conjunction
November 25, 2008
News and Features

Venus and Jupiter are converging for a spectacular three-way conjunction with the crescent Moon--a rare gathering some are calling 'the sky show of the year.' Today's story tells when and where to look.

NASA Prepares for New Juno Mission to Jupiter NASA Prepares for New Juno Mission to Jupiter
November 25, 2008
News and Features

The mission will be the first in which a spacecraft is placed in a highly elliptical polar orbit around the giant planet to understand its formation, evolution and structure.

Taking Out the Trash Taking Out the Trash
November 24, 2008
News and Features

Researchers are developing new technology to aid future human explorers on the moon and mars - by taking out the trash. A new waste system will help astronauts recycle resources, like water, before deposal. It was also help prevent forward contamination of locations like the martian surface.

NASA's Astrobiology Origins NASA's Astrobiology Origins
November 24, 2008
News and Features

Ten years ago, a new NASA program dedicated to the science of Astrobiology was born.

NASA-USAID Earth Observation System Expands to Africa NASA-USAID Earth Observation System Expands to Africa
November 24, 2008
News and Features

Today NASA, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and their partners are in Nairobi, Kenya, to launch SERVIR-Africa, a program that helps scientists, government leaders and local communities address concerns related to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, biodiversity and climate change. SERVIR, Spanish for “to serve,” integrates satellite resources of the U.S. and other countries into a Web-based Earth information system, putting previously inaccessible information into action locally.

NASA Spacecraft Detects Buried Glaciers on Mars NASA Spacecraft Detects Buried Glaciers on Mars
November 24, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed vast Martian glaciers of water ice under protective blankets of rocky debris at much lower latitudes than any ice previously identified on the Red Planet.

The Solar System in a Grain of Dust The Solar System in a Grain of Dust
November 21, 2008
News and Features

In 2004, NASA's Stardust mission returned to Earth with particles of the comet Wild 2. Now these particles are helping scientists understand how a giant cloud of gas and dust collapsed to form our solar system 4.5 billion years ago.

Clouds and Climate Change: CERES Flight Model Moves Toward Launch Clouds and Climate Change: CERES Flight Model Moves Toward Launch
November 21, 2008
News and Features

The CERES FM 5 sensor, which will continue the 30-year climate data record of the Earth's radiant energy, has been delivered ahead of schedule and on budget.

Fires in California Fires in California
November 20, 2008
News and Features

Smoke from the recent outbreak of fires in Southern California can clearly be seen from NASA satellites. The top, photo-like, true-color image, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on November 16, 2008, shows the smoke drifting to the southwest from the Los Angeles basin over the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Endeavour Astronauts Make Second Spacewalk Today Endeavour Astronauts Make Second Spacewalk Today
November 20, 2008
News and Features

Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Shane Kimbrough will move station equipment and continue work on the starboard solar alpha rotary joint.

Discovered: Cosmic Rays from a Mysterious, Nearby Object Discovered: Cosmic Rays from a Mysterious, Nearby Object
November 20, 2008
News and Features

An international team of researchers has discovered a puzzling surplus of high-energy electrons bombarding Earth from space.

Baking the Rover is Not an Option Baking the Rover is Not an Option
November 20, 2008
News and Features

The next-generation Mars rover will visit the Red Planet to sniff out the smallest traces of organic material – the building blocks of life. Trouble is, the Mars Science Laboratory is made from several kilograms of organic material from Earth. How will mission scientists keep the martian samples clean, and distinguish which molecules are from Mars, and which are from Earth?

Life at the Boundaries Life at the Boundaries
November 19, 2008
News and Features

Scientists have found unique microbes living in environments where life was not known before. Both communities - beneath the Antarctic ice sheet and at the floor of the Mediterranean - could have an effect on the global carbon cycle.

Silica Shock Waves Silica Shock Waves
November 19, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers have discovered tiny crystals in planet forming disks that indicate shock waves may play a role in planetary formation. The study sheds new light on the evolution of our own solar system.

NASA Tests First Deep-Space Internet NASA Tests First Deep-Space Internet
November 19, 2008
News and Features

NASA has successfully tested the first deep space communications network modeled on the Internet.

NASA Invites Students to Name New Mars Rover NASA Invites Students to Name New Mars Rover
November 19, 2008
News and Features

NASA, in cooperation with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' movie WALL-E from Pixar Animation Studios, will conduct a naming contest for its car-sized Mars Science Laboratory rover that is scheduled for launch in 2009.

Endeavour Spacewalkers at Work Endeavour Spacewalkers at Work
November 18, 2008
News and Features

Astronauts Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen are outside the station doing assembly and maintenance work.

Water Vapor Confirmed as Major Player in Climate Change Water Vapor Confirmed as Major Player in Climate Change
November 18, 2008
News and Features

Water vapor is known to be Earth’s most abundant greenhouse gas, but the extent of its contribution to global warming has been debated.

Carbonate Conundrum Carbonate Conundrum
November 18, 2008
News and Features

NASA’s Phoenix lander mission is now over, and scientists are analyzing the data collected from its various experiments. Phoenix's discovery of carbonates in the frozen northern soil of Mars indicates the area once could have had liquid water. However, there is no way to tell if the carbonates formed locally, or if they came from somewhere else on the planet and blew in with the wind.

Shuttle, Station Crews Install Leonardo, Prepare for Spacewalk Shuttle, Station Crews Install Leonardo, Prepare for Spacewalk
November 17, 2008
News and Features

The Leonardo module carries new equipment to outfit the station for six-person crews. Astronauts make the mission's first spacewalk Tuesday.

Hubble Sees Planet Orbiting Another Star Hubble Sees Planet Orbiting Another Star
November 14, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has taken the first visible-light snapshot of a planet circling another star. The planet, called 'Fomalhaut b', orbits the bright southern star Fomalhaut, located 25 light-years from Earth.

Earth's Mineral Evolution Earth's Mineral Evolution
November 14, 2008
News and Features

New research shows that minerals on Earth have co-evolved with life. Up to two thirds of known minerals can be linked to biological activity, highlighting the important connection between the biosphere and the geology of Earth.

Endeavour Crew Set For Friday Launch Endeavour Crew Set For Friday Launch
November 13, 2008
News and Features

The STS-126 mission is set to launch at 7:55 p.m. EST Friday on a mission to prep the International Space Station for expanded crews.

Phoenix Stops Phoning Home Phoenix Stops Phoning Home
November 13, 2008
News and Features

After five months, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has stopped communicating. With the seasonal decline of sunlight in the martian arctic, Phoenix no longer has enough power to charge its batteries.

Carbon-Sniffing Satellite Arrives at Launch Site Carbon-Sniffing Satellite Arrives at Launch Site
November 13, 2008
News and Features

NASA's first spacecraft dedicated to studying carbon dioxide has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to begin final launch preparations.

NASA Begins Hunt for New Meteor Showers NASA Begins Hunt for New Meteor Showers
November 12, 2008
News and Features

NASA astronomers have set up a monitoring station to scan the night sky for unknown or unexpected meteor showers--and they're finding more than they bargained for.

Mars Phoenix Lander Finishes Successful Work Mars Phoenix Lander Finishes Successful Work
November 12, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has ceased communications after operating for more than five months.

Solar Cycle Update: The Sun Shows Signs of Life Solar Cycle Update: The Sun Shows Signs of Life
November 10, 2008
News and Features

A surge of new-cycle sunspots in October may signal the beginning of the end of the ongoing solar minimum.

Oldest Evidence for Complex Life in Doubt Oldest Evidence for Complex Life in Doubt
November 10, 2008
News and Features

Biomarkers that were once thought to be the oldest evidence for complex life may not be as old as scientists once believed. The finding could change our understanding of the timescales in which life evolved on Earth.

Arctic Sea Ice Decline Shakes Up Ocean Ecosystems Arctic Sea Ice Decline Shakes Up Ocean Ecosystems
November 10, 2008
News and Features

Researchers took advantage of NASA satellite images to show that the microscopic floating plants are teeming in regions of recent ice melt.

Life in a Lump of Ice Life in a Lump of Ice
November 07, 2008
News and Features

Scientists studying the microscopic structure of super cold ice are revealing fascinating information about ice in space and its potential links to the origins of life.

Correcting Ocean Cooling Correcting Ocean Cooling
November 07, 2008
News and Features

Scientists revise their conclusion that the ocean has cooled since 2003.

STS-126 to Launch to Space Station Nov. 14 STS-126 to Launch to Space Station Nov. 14
November 07, 2008
News and Features

Commander Chris Ferguson and the Endeavour crew will equip the outpost for expanded future crews.

NASA Gauges Sea Level, Glacier Changes NASA Gauges Sea Level, Glacier Changes
November 06, 2008
News and Features

Researchers have used satellite data to make the most precise measurements to date of changes in Alaskan glaciers.

JPL Instrument Moon-Bound JPL Instrument Moon-Bound
November 06, 2008
News and Features

JPL's Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument is aboard India's maiden moon voyage, Chandrayaan-1. A maneuver performed Tuesday, Nov. 4, placed the Indian spacecraft on a path toward the moon.

'Fingers of Color' in the Crab Nebula 'Fingers of Color' in the Crab Nebula
November 06, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has provided the first clear view of the faint boundary of the Crab Nebula's X-ray-emitting pulsar wind nebula.

Titan Triple Threat Titan Triple Threat
November 06, 2008
News and Features

The Cassini-Huygens mission has given us our best view yet of Titan, but this moon of Saturn still remains shrouded in mystery. A proposed future mission takes a three-tiered approach – using an orbiting spacecraft, a surface probe, and a hot air balloon -- to further explore the enigmatic moon.

Spaceship Force Field Spaceship Force Field
November 05, 2008
News and Features

Researchers may have discovered how to create a 'portable magnetosphere' to protect astronauts from harmful space radiation. The device would act as a force field, shielding a spacecraft and its passengers from the dangers of solar storms.

NOAA-N Prime Satellite Arrives at Vandenberg for Launch NOAA-N Prime Satellite Arrives at Vandenberg for Launch
November 05, 2008
News and Features

The latest polar-orbiting operational environmental weather satellite developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, called NOAA-N Prime, arrived Tuesday by C-5A military cargo aircraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in preparation for a February 4, 2009 launch.

Cassini Beams Back Images of Enceladus Cassini Beams Back Images of Enceladus
November 05, 2008
News and Features

Cassini sends back new pictures of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, showing striking detail of the tiger striped region and jet sources on the moon’s south pole.

NASA Hearing Daily From Weak Phoenix Mars Lander NASA Hearing Daily From Weak Phoenix Mars Lander
November 04, 2008
News and Features

Phoenix has communicated with controllers daily since Oct. 30 through relays to Mars orbiters. Information indicates Phoenix is running out of power by afternoon or evening but reawakening after its solar arrays catch morning sunlight.

The Slow Rise of Dinosaurs The Slow Rise of Dinosaurs
November 04, 2008
News and Features

Dinosaurs survived two mass extinctions and 50 million years before they dominated the Earth. The new finding sheds light on an important stage in the evolution of life on our planet.

Molten Magnetic Meteorites Molten Magnetic Meteorites
November 03, 2008
News and Features

Meteorites that are among some of the oldest rocks known are providing clues about the conditions of the early solar system. The insight they are yielding is changing longstanding ideas about how planets form.

Fires in Northwest India Fires in Northwest India
November 03, 2008
News and Features

Seasonal agricultural fires dotted the Punjab and Haryana states of northwestern India in early November 2008.

Searching for Primordial Antimatter Searching for Primordial Antimatter
November 03, 2008
News and Features

Scientists hunt for evidence of antimatter - matter's arch nemesis - left over from the very early Universe.

Cliffbot Goes Climbing Cliffbot Goes Climbing
November 03, 2008
News and Features

From Astrobiology Magazine, European Edition is a story about a rover that can scale the steep sides of cliffs and craters. Developed by a group of NASA engineers, this three-rover system, modeled on tether-aided human climbing, could make such locations on Mars accessible for future exploration.

2008 Ozone Hole Maximum Announced 2008 Ozone Hole Maximum Announced
November 03, 2008
News and Features

The Antarctic ozone hole reached its annual maximum on Sept. 12, 2008, stretching over 27 million kilometers, or 10.5 square miles.

Magnetic Portals Connect Earth to the Sun Magnetic Portals Connect Earth to the Sun
October 31, 2008
News and Features

Researchers have discovered 'magnetic portals' forming high above Earth that can briefly connect our planet to the Sun. Not only are the portals common, one space physicist contends they form twice as often as anyone had previously imagined.

'Ghost of Mirach' Materializes in Space Telescope Image 'Ghost of Mirach' Materializes in Space Telescope Image
October 31, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer has lifted the veil off a ghost known to haunt the local universe, providing new insight into the formation and evolution of galaxies.

STS-126 Mission 'Go' for Launch on Nov. 14 STS-126 Mission 'Go' for Launch on Nov. 14
October 31, 2008
News and Features

Commander Chris Ferguson and the STS-126 crew will deliver new equipment and supplies to the International Space Station, paving the way for expanded crews.

Opal's Sparkle Indicates Water Opal's Sparkle Indicates Water
October 31, 2008
News and Features

A new category of minerals that suggests past liquid water on Mars has been found to cover large regions of the planet's surface. The minerals commonly known as opal suggest that liquid water played a role in shaping Mars' surface.

Hubble Scores a Perfect Ten Hubble Scores a Perfect Ten
October 30, 2008
News and Features

Just a few days after the orbiting observatory was brought back online, Hubble aimed its sights on a pair of gravitationally interacting galaxies.

Cold Storage for Alien Organisms Cold Storage for Alien Organisms
October 30, 2008
News and Features

Some lunar craters may be perfect for preserving samples of life from Earth, and possibly even from Mars or other planets. Ancient organic remnants could have been delivered to the Moon as debris that was thrown into space after asteroids impacted rocky worlds in our solar system.

When the Earth Moved Kashmir When the Earth Moved Kashmir
October 30, 2008
News and Features

Nestled in the Himalaya Mountains, Kashmir inhabits a crossroads between the Middle East and Asia. Kashmir’s valleys and snow-clad peaks have historically hosted divergent cultures and housed scholarly learning centers.

Cassini Team Blogs About Enceladus Flyby Cassini Team Blogs About Enceladus Flyby
October 30, 2008
News and Features

Here we are, on one planet in this amazing solar system, flinging this wonderful machine with exquisite precision between the moons of another planet so far away.

Halloween Storms of 2003 Still the Scariest Halloween Storms of 2003 Still the Scariest
October 29, 2008
News and Features

By the eerie light of a Halloween moon, while a chilly wind blows autumn-dry leaves askitter on bare and fingered branches, scary things can happen.

Halloween Sky Show Halloween Sky Show
October 29, 2008
News and Features

The planets are gathering for spooky sunset sky show on Oct. 31st. Read today's story to find out where to look.

Two Belts Cinch System Two Belts Cinch System
October 29, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers have discovered two asteroid belts and an icy outer ring around a nearby star. Scientists believe that the system might resemble our own solar system at the time of life's origin on Earth.

NASA-Enhanced Dust Storm Predictions To Aid Health Community NASA-Enhanced Dust Storm Predictions To Aid Health Community
October 28, 2008
News and Features

NASA satellite data can improve forecasts of dust storms in the American Southwest in ways that can benefit public health managers. Scientists announced the finding as a five-year NASA-funded project nears its conclusion.

Titan is Electric Titan is Electric
October 28, 2008
News and Features

Scientists have determined that Saturn's moon Titan could have electrical storms occurring in its atmosphere. Such storms might provide energy for the formation of important organic and pre-biotic molecules.

Station Astronauts to Vote From Space Station Astronauts to Vote From Space
October 28, 2008
News and Features

In this day and age, people engage in their right to vote from all over the world. But this Nov. 4, few ballots will have traveled as far as those cast by two NASA astronauts.

Hubble Status Report No. 7 Hubble Status Report No. 7
October 27, 2008
News and Features

The current primary camera on the Hubble Space Telescope is now back in active operation and Hubble scientists may release an image from the telescope later this week.

Seeing Life in Viruses Seeing Life in Viruses
October 27, 2008
News and Features

From Astrobiology Magazine, European Edition is a story about research conducted by Kirsi Lehto of the University of Turku in Finland. Lehto studies plant viruses with an eye toward their role in the origin and evolution of life.

NASA Tests Lunar Concepts in Arizona NASA Tests Lunar Concepts in Arizona
October 27, 2008
News and Features

Field tests are helping NASA engineers identify transportation and spacewalking needs for NASA's return to the moon by 2020.

Closest Planetary System Hosts Two Asteroid Belts Closest Planetary System Hosts Two Asteroid Belts
October 27, 2008
News and Features

New observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope indicate that the nearest planetary system to our own has two asteroid belts.

Magnetic Death Star Magnetic Death Star
October 24, 2008
News and Features

Scientists have discovered microscopic, magnetic fossils unlike anything previously seen. The fossils were discovered in sediments along the Atlantic that were deposited during an ancient period of global-warming.

ISS Expedition 17 Lands Safely ISS Expedition 17 Lands Safely
October 24, 2008
News and Features

The Expedition 17 crew landed in Kazakhstan at 11:37 p.m. EDT Thursday, a day after Commander Mike Fincke and the Expedition 18 crew took command of the International Space Station.

Expedition 17 Lands Tonight, Expedition 18 on Space Station Expedition 17 Lands Tonight, Expedition 18 on Space Station
October 23, 2008
News and Features

The Expedition 17 crew is set to land in Kazakhstan around 11:36 p.m. EDT, a day after Commander Mike Fincke and the Expedition 18 crew took command of the International Space Station.

Cutting Life Short Cutting Life Short
October 23, 2008
News and Features

Imagine a solar system where a life-bearing planet is slowly pulled in closer to its star. If life could survive the ensuing climate change, it would provide a clear example of the Gaia hypothesis in action.

The Case of the Missing Gamma-ray Bursts The Case of the Missing Gamma-ray Bursts
October 23, 2008
News and Features

Gamma-ray bursts are by far the brightest and most powerful explosions in the Universe, second only to the Big Bang itself. So it might seem a bit surprising that a group of them has gone missing.

Climate Change Seeps into the Sea Climate Change Seeps into the Sea
October 23, 2008
News and Features

Scientists hope a new NASA mission will help them better understand how the Earth's oceans swallow a bitter pill known as carbon dioxide.

Hubble Status Report #5 Hubble Status Report #5
October 22, 2008
News and Features

Recent updates on Hubble science.

Get Them While They're Hot Get Them While They're Hot
October 22, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers have determined that young, rocky planets stay hot longer than previously believed. The heat generated by these planets could make them easier to spot around distant stars.

The Oddball Hosts of Gamma-ray Bursts The Oddball Hosts of Gamma-ray Bursts
October 22, 2008
News and Features

Cosmic explosions known as gamma-ray bursts are curiously picky about where they explode. Shunning spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, gamma-ray bursts prefer to 'go off' in oddball star systems that astronomers are just beginning to understand.

Sachs Lays Out Another Mission for NASA Sachs Lays Out Another Mission for NASA
October 22, 2008
News and Features

When Jeffrey Sachs speaks of poverty, he's not talking about a hungry waif in New York or a homeless person in Chicago.

Shifting to Life on Land Shifting to Life on Land
October 21, 2008
News and Features

Fossils from an organism known as the 'fishapod' are helping scientists understand how life moved out of the sea and began to walk on dry land. The study is providing new insights about this important step in the evolution of life on Earth.

NASA Returns to the Moon with Instruments on Indian Spacecraft NASA Returns to the Moon with Instruments on Indian Spacecraft
October 21, 2008
News and Features

Two NASA instruments to map the lunar surface will launch on India's maiden moon voyage. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper will assess mineral resources, and the Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar, or Mini-SAR, will map the polar regions and look for ice deposits.

NASA Preparing for November Shuttle Launch NASA Preparing for November Shuttle Launch
October 21, 2008
News and Features

Workers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center rolled the shuttle Atlantis back to the Vehicle Assembly Building Monday, making way for Endeavour to move to Launch Pad 39A for its launch of STS-126, targeted for Nov. 14.

Brief Mystery: What are Short Gamma-ray Bursts? Brief Mystery: What are Short Gamma-ray Bursts?
October 21, 2008
News and Features

A curiously short-lived type of gamma-ray burst has astronomers puzzled. Leading experts discuss the clues at today's Gamma-ray Burst Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama.

IBEX is in Orbit! IBEX is in Orbit!
October 20, 2008
News and Features

After a smooth countdown and climb toward space, NASA's IBEX spacecraft is in orbit.

Tools of the Trade Tools of the Trade
October 20, 2008
News and Features

Bernhard Anderson began his career using a slide rule. Today this engineer utilizes sophisticated computer software to help NASA discover new approaches to achieving technology breakthroughs.

Simulating Survival in Space Simulating Survival in Space
October 20, 2008
News and Features

When humans are sent to Mars, will they survive the journey? People confined to close quarters for a long time inevitably get on each others nerves, and the fact that Mars is named after a god of warfare seems a bad omen. The Mars Society sent seven people to Devon Island to see if we can’t all just get along for the sake of exploration.

Phoenix Gets Bonus Soil Sample Phoenix Gets Bonus Soil Sample
October 20, 2008
News and Features

The Mars Phoenix Lander's robotic arm successfully delivered soil into oven six of the lander's thermal and evolved-gas analyzer (TEGA) on Monday, Oct. 13, or Martian day (sol) 137 of the mission.

Hubble Status Update Hubble Status Update
October 17, 2008
News and Features

During the night of Oct. 15, Space Telescope Operations Control Center engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center turned on and checked out Side B of Hubble’s Science Instrument Control and Data Handling system.

Volcanoes May Have Provided Sparks and Chemistry for First Life Volcanoes May Have Provided Sparks and Chemistry for First Life
October 17, 2008
News and Features

Lightning and gases from volcanic eruptions could have given rise to the first life on Earth, according to a new analysis of samples from a classic origin-of-life experiment by NASA and university researchers.

Shooting Life on Mars Shooting Life on Mars
October 17, 2008
News and Features

Using a highly sensitive laser, scientists have developed a new method to search for cells in martian minerals. The technique reduces the risk of contamination and can detect incredibly low concentrations of biomolecules.

Phoenix Mars Mission Honored by Popular Mechanics Phoenix Mars Mission Honored by Popular Mechanics
October 17, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission is being honored with a Breakthrough Award by Popular Mechanics magazine today in New York City.

NASA'S Fermi Telescope Discovers First Gamma-Ray-Only Pulsar NASA'S Fermi Telescope Discovers First Gamma-Ray-Only Pulsar
October 17, 2008
News and Features

About three times a second, a 10,000-year-old stellar corpse sweeps a beam of gamma-rays toward Earth. Discovered by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, the object, called a pulsar, is the first one known that only "blinks" in gamma rays.

Two Black Holes Teach Astronomers a Lesson Two Black Holes Teach Astronomers a Lesson
October 16, 2008
News and Features

Observations of two different systems -- each containing stellar-mass black holes -- are showing astronomers how much they have yet to learn.

Team Helps to Resolve Long-Standing Puzzle in Climate Science Team Helps to Resolve Long-Standing Puzzle in Climate Science
October 16, 2008
News and Features

A team led by Livermore scientists has helped reconcile the differences between simulated and observed temperature trends in the tropics.

"Alien" Water Bears Amaze Scientists "Alien" Water Bears Amaze Scientists
October 16, 2008
News and Features

Tardigrades, commonly known as "water bears", have been reared under laboratory conditions and subjected to a barrage of tests. Their survivability shows that animals can survive extreme conditions, and also may indicate how humans could adapt to the rigors of space.

IBEX Set for Sunday Launch IBEX Set for Sunday Launch
October 15, 2008
News and Features

The first NASA spacecraft to image and map the dynamic interactions taking place where the hot solar wind slams into the cold expanse of space is ready for launch at 1:48 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Cyclones at Saturn's Poles Create a Swirl of Mystery Cyclones at Saturn's Poles Create a Swirl of Mystery
October 15, 2008
News and Features

New images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal a giant cyclone at Saturn's north pole, and show that a similarly monstrous cyclone churning at Saturn's south pole is powered by Earth-like storm patterns.

Severe Storms: Hurricane Norbert Severe Storms: Hurricane Norbert
October 15, 2008
News and Features

Forming in the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Norbert became a severe hurricane. By October 11, 2008, it was situated over Baja California. By October 12, 2008, the storm had removed roofs and produced knee-high rain.

Searching for Earth Life, from Venus Searching for Earth Life, from Venus
October 15, 2008
News and Features

Venus Express is being used to observe the Earth from its orbit around Venus. Astronomers hope that the data will help develop techniques to search for habitable planets around distant stars.

Expedition 18 Crew Docks with Space Station Expedition 18 Crew Docks with Space Station
October 14, 2008
News and Features

Commander Edward Michael "Mike" Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Valentinovich Lonchakov of the 18th International Space Station crew docked their Soyuz TMA-13 to the Earth-facing port of the Zarya module at 4:26 a.m. EDT Tuesday.

Earth Science Week: 2008 Earth Science Week: 2008
October 14, 2008
News and Features

Keep your eyes glued to the Goddard Web site through the week of October 12 for daily videos that answer several questions about our home planet. The videos are all part of Earth Science Week: 2008, themed "No Child Left Inside."

The Day the World Didn't End The Day the World Didn't End
October 14, 2008
News and Features

Last month when scientists switched on the Large Hadron Collider, the world did not come to an end. In today's story, a particle physicist explains why not--and why Earth is safe from black holes when the collider is reactivated in the months ahead.

Patterns in the Dust Patterns in the Dust
October 14, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers may have discovered a new method for detecting planets as small as Mars orbiting distant stars. The method would open a new avenue in the search for habitable planets in the universe.

NASA's Spitzer Gets Sneak Peak Inside Comet Holmes NASA's Spitzer Gets Sneak Peak Inside Comet Holmes
October 14, 2008
News and Features

When comet Holmes unexpectedly erupted in 2007, professional and amateur astronomers around the world turned their telescopes toward the spectacular event.

Liquid Mirror Telescopes on the Moon Liquid Mirror Telescopes on the Moon
October 10, 2008
News and Features

A team of internationally renowned astronomers and opticians may have found a way to make "unbelievably large" telescopes on the Moon.

Expedition 18 to Launch Sunday Expedition 18 to Launch Sunday
October 10, 2008
News and Features

Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Valentinovich Lonchakov are scheduled to launch in their Soyuz TMA-13 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan about 3 a.m. EDT Sunday to begin a six-month stay in space.

Sick Earth Sick Earth
October 10, 2008
News and Features

Geologists studying mass extinctions in Earth's history have determined that the majority of extinction events were due to climate change rather than asteroid impacts.

NASA Maps Shed Light on Carbon Dioxide's Global Nature NASA Maps Shed Light on Carbon Dioxide's Global Nature
October 10, 2008
News and Features

A NASA/university study reveals new information on how carbon dioxide, which directly contributes to climate change, is distributed in Earth's atmosphere and moves around our world.

NASA Aeronautics, Space Science on Exhibit at Albuquerque Balloon Fest NASA Aeronautics, Space Science on Exhibit at Albuquerque Balloon Fest
October 09, 2008
News and Features

So what do some of the 800,000 fans of the Albuquerque, N.M., Balloon Fiesta events do when the action is over, out of sight, or called off due to weather? They head to exhibits such as NASA’s, available through Oct. 12.

Studying a Giant Planet Studying a Giant Planet
October 09, 2008
News and Features

Eight years from now, the Juno spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter, with instruments to study its atmosphere. Research goals for the mission include determining how the giant planet formed, how much water it contains, and how its powerful auroras compare to Earth’s Northern Lights.

Phoenix Lander Digs and Analyzes Soil as Darkness Gathers Phoenix Lander Digs and Analyzes Soil as Darkness Gathers
October 09, 2008
News and Features

As fall approaches Mars' northern plains, NASA's Phoenix Lander is busy digging into the Red Planet's soil and scooping it into its onboard science laboratories for analysis.

Apollo Heat Shield Helps New Crew Vehicle Design Apollo Heat Shield Helps New Crew Vehicle Design
October 09, 2008
News and Features

NASA scientists developing the next generation of exploration vehicles and heat shields for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle experienced "Christmas in July" when they uncrated the heat shields used on the Apollo missions some 35 years ago. These shields now are being analyzed to help with the development and engineering process.

Spinoff 2008 Highlights NASA Innovations In Everyday Life Spinoff 2008 Highlights NASA Innovations In Everyday Life
October 08, 2008
News and Features

The 2008 edition of NASA's annual Spinoff publication celebrates the agency's 50th anniversary and highlights 50 new examples of how NASA technology is being put to use in everyday life. This anniversary edition features a 50-year timeline of NASA-derived technologies from historical programs and projects, and a summary of award-winning NASA technologies included in Spinoff over the years.

Reightler: Human Space Exploration Is Man's Destiny Reightler: Human Space Exploration Is Man's Destiny
October 08, 2008
News and Features

In the 1960s, when President John F. Kennedy was making his pitch for the United States to send astronauts to the moon, he put the challenge succinctly. "We go … not because it's easy, but because it's hard," Kennedy told Congress and the world.

Cassini Plans Doubleheader Flybys of Saturn's Geyser Moon Cassini Plans Doubleheader Flybys of Saturn's Geyser Moon
October 08, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Cassini team will come to bat twice this month -- Oct. 9 and Oct. 31 -- when the spacecraft flies by Saturn's geyser moon, Enceladus.

MESSENGER Returns Images from Oct. 6 Mercury Fly-By MESSENGER Returns Images from Oct. 6 Mercury Fly-By
October 07, 2008
News and Features

During the encounter, the probe swung just 125 miles (200 kilometers) above the cratered surface of Mercury, snapping hundreds of pictures and collecting a variety of other data.

NASA Study Finds Rising Arctic Storm Activity Sways Sea Ice, Climate NASA Study Finds Rising Arctic Storm Activity Sways Sea Ice, Climate
October 07, 2008
News and Features

A new NASA study shows that the rising frequency and intensity of arctic storms over the last half century, attributed to progressively warmer waters, directly provoked acceleration of the rate of arctic sea ice drift, long considered by scientists as a bellwether of climate change.

Animals Making Tracks Animals Making Tracks
October 07, 2008
News and Features

The fossilized trail of an aquatic creature suggests that animals walked using legs at least 30 million years earlier than had been thought. Scientists once thought that it was primarily microbes and simple multicellular animals that existed prior to the Cambrian, but studies like this may change that notion.

A quest for astronomy's holy grail A quest for astronomy's holy grail
October 07, 2008
News and Features

Sarah Seager hopes her exoplanet research will help "complete the Copernican Revolution."

Measuring the Weight of Ancient Air Measuring the Weight of Ancient Air
October 06, 2008
News and Features

In the first study of its kind, researchers will measure the air pressure from nearly three billion years ago by using gas bubbles in lava and tiny craters made by raindrops. The results could indicate what sort of life may have existed on the ancient Earth.

Sensors Advance Lunar Landing Project Sensors Advance Lunar Landing Project
October 06, 2008
News and Features

NASA is developing technologies that will allow lunar landers to automatically identify and navigate to the location of a safe landing site while detecting landing hazards during the final descent to the surface.

NASA Spacecraft Ready to Explore Outer Solar System NASA Spacecraft Ready to Explore Outer Solar System
October 06, 2008
News and Features

The first NASA spacecraft to image and map the dynamic interactions taking place where the hot solar wind slams into the cold expanse of space is ready for launch Oct. 19. The two-year mission will begin from the Kwajalein Atoll, a part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Dust Plume off Iceland Dust Plume off Iceland
October 03, 2008
News and Features

Dust storms usually call to mind vast sand seas along the Equator, or dried up lakebeds in Central Asia, but such storms can also occur at much higher latitudes.

Treasure Hunting on the Moon: LRO and the Search for Water Treasure Hunting on the Moon: LRO and the Search for Water
October 03, 2008
News and Features

On the moon, a bottle of water would run about $50,000, and forget about that heavy crystal glass. That's because it costs around $50,000 per pound to launch anything to the moon. Discovering water on the moon would be like finding a gold mine.

Breathing Like a Bird Breathing Like a Bird
October 03, 2008
News and Features

The remains of a unique dinosaur discovered in Argentina are helping scientists understand the connections between dinosaurs and birds. The study sheds light on an important moment in the evolution of life on our planet.

Digging up Ancient Microbes Digging up Ancient Microbes
October 02, 2008
News and Features

Limestone from Namibia has biomarkers that indicate a community of microbes oxidized methane at least 300 million years ago. Such biomarkers can provide clues to the history of life on Earth, and could help scientists search for signs of life on other worlds.

NASA Spacecraft Finds the Sun is Not a Perfect Sphere NASA Spacecraft Finds the Sun is Not a Perfect Sphere
October 02, 2008
News and Features

Scientists using NASA's RHESSI spacecraft have found that, during years of high solar activity, the sun develops a thin "cantaloupe skin" that brightens and fattens the "stellar waist."

Celebrating 10 Years of Hubble Heritage Images Celebrating 10 Years of Hubble Heritage Images
October 02, 2008
News and Features

The landmark 10th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope's Hubble Heritage Project is being celebrated with a "landscape" image from the cosmos.

MESSENGER Returns to Mercury MESSENGER Returns to Mercury
October 01, 2008
News and Features

MESSENGER, the first mission to orbit the planet closest to the sun, will fly by Mercury once again on Oct. 6, 2008, for the second time this year.

Dust Storm off West Africa Dust Storm off West Africa
October 01, 2008
News and Features

Dust plumes blew off the west coast of northern Africa for the second consecutive day in late September 2008.

Spotless Sun: Blankest Year of the Space Age Spotless Sun: Blankest Year of the Space Age
October 01, 2008
News and Features

Astronomers who count sunspots have announced that 2008 has become the "blankest year" of the Space Age. Sunspot counts are at a 50-year low, signifying a deep minimum in the 11-year cycle of solar activity.

Sunspots Pump Plasma Into Interplanetary Space Sunspots Pump Plasma Into Interplanetary Space
September 30, 2008
News and Features

Scientists find that dim areas at the edges of active sunpot regions may hold the key to the sun's energy processes.

STONE-6, Microbes 0 STONE-6, Microbes 0
September 30, 2008
News and Features

Using an artificial meteorite, scientists have determined that organisms in meteorites wouldn't survive a fall to Earth. However, the study does show that meteorites could still retain biosignatures that would provide evidence for life on other worlds.

Plume from Rabaul Volcano Plume from Rabaul Volcano
September 30, 2008
News and Features

Rabaul Volcano released a plume of ash and steam in late September 2008.

NASA, U.S. Chess Federation to Begin Earth vs. Space Match NASA, U.S. Chess Federation to Begin Earth vs. Space Match
September 30, 2008
News and Features

It will be the Earth vs. space in a unique chess match, and you can help Earth win.

NASA Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow, Soil Data Suggest Liquid Past NASA Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow, Soil Data Suggest Liquid Past
September 30, 2008
News and Features

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth.

Dust Storm off Egypt Dust Storm off Egypt
September 29, 2008
News and Features

A thick plume of dust blew off the northern coast of Egypt, west of the Nile Delta, and over the Mediterranean Sea on September 25, 2008.

Nicaraguan Volcano Provides Insight into Early Mars Nicaraguan Volcano Provides Insight into Early Mars
September 29, 2008
News and Features

Although volcanoes on Mars today are dormant or extinct, in the distant past the Red Planet was literally a hotbed of volcanic activity. Cerro Negro, an active volcano in Nicaragua, offers clues to what the martian era of fire and brimstone may have been like – and what types of organisms could have lived in that superheated world.

Earth's Oldest Rocks Earth's Oldest Rocks
September 26, 2008
News and Features

Scientists have discovered rocks that are 4.28 billion years old, making them 250 million years more ancient than any previously discovered rocks. Our planet formed about 4.6 billion years ago, so these rocks could provide a unique window on the young Earth.

Reisman Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple Reisman Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple
September 26, 2008
News and Features

In April, astronaut Garrett Reisman performed an unprecedented event in space when he threw out the first pitch at a Yankees game from onboard the International Space Station.

Opportunity to Endeavor Opportunity to Endeavor
September 26, 2008
News and Features

After climbing out of Victoria crater, NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity is now making a long trek to a new crater called Endeavour. This large crater could hold more clues about the history of Mars' climate.

NASA Stardust Capsule to Go on Display at Smithsonian NASA Stardust Capsule to Go on Display at Smithsonian
September 26, 2008
News and Features

Having returned the world's first particles from a comet, NASA's Stardust sample return capsule will join the collection of flight icons in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington. The capsule will go on public display in the museum's Milestones of Flight Gallery on Oct. 1, the 50th anniversary of NASA.

Diamonds May Be Life's Birthstone Diamonds May Be Life's Birthstone
September 25, 2008
News and Features

Researchers have come up with a new model in which the first molecules of life formed on diamonds.

Severe Storms: Typhoon Hagupit Severe Storms: Typhoon Hagupit
September 25, 2008
News and Features

Powerful Typhoon Hagupit slammed into South China on September 24, 2008.

Powerful Nearby Supernova Caught by Web Powerful Nearby Supernova Caught by Web
September 25, 2008
News and Features

The vast online archives from many of the world's premier telescopes have helped scientists identify one of the nearest supernovas in the last 25 years, over a decade after it exploded.

Earth's Platinum Standard Earth's Platinum Standard
September 24, 2008
News and Features

By comparing the composition of meteorites and planets like Earth and Mars, scientists are providing clues about planetary formation in the early solar system. The study also reveals how some of Earth's rarest metals may have come from space.

Cool Summer, Warm Future Cool Summer, Warm Future
September 24, 2008
News and Features

Despite a moderate summer, the heat is rising in Southern California.

Solar Wind Loses Power, Hits 50-year Low Solar Wind Loses Power, Hits 50-year Low
September 24, 2008
News and Features

In a briefing today at NASA headquarters, solar physicists announced that the solar wind is losing power. This development has repercussions across the solar system.

Summer as a Rocket Scientist: College Students Help Develop Earth-Observing Satellite Summer as a Rocket Scientist: College Students Help Develop Earth-Observing Satellite
September 23, 2008
News and Features

Six students spent their summer working on technology for an upcoming NASA Earth-monitoring mission.

Our Mixed-Up Solar System Our Mixed-Up Solar System
September 23, 2008
News and Features

Chemical studies of the comet Wild 2 are challenging views about the history and evolution of the solar system. Such studies could yield important clues about the early formation of the planets.

Hubble Servicing Shuttle Mission Set for October Hubble Servicing Shuttle Mission Set for October
September 22, 2008
News and Features

Atlantis' seven astronauts will upgrade what may be the most significant satellite ever launched.

Diving for the Moon Diving for the Moon
September 22, 2008
News and Features

NASA astronaut Mike Gernhardt is in charge of developing rovers and spacesuits for the next round of human exploration of the moon. This summer, however, he spent a week piloting a one-person submarine through the depths of a lake in British Columbia, Canada. There is, he insists, a connection.

This Month in Exploration - September This Month in Exploration - September
September 22, 2008
News and Features

Fifteen years ago, the space shuttle Discovery crew deployed the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, the first high-speed, all-digital communications satellite.

Hurricane Ike Hurricane Ike
September 19, 2008
News and Features

Between the last week of August and the first week of September 2008, the Atlantic Ocean queued up a series of tropical storms. Ike became a large storm that raked over Cuba and targeted the Texas coast.

Introducing NASA eClips: A New Approach to Learning Introducing NASA eClips: A New Approach to Learning
September 18, 2008
News and Features

NASA's new free Web-based educational videos are designed to get students excited about science and engineering.

Flooding along the Gulf Coast Flooding along the Gulf Coast
September 18, 2008
News and Features

Hurricane Ike pushed water far inland over a wide swath of the Gulf Coast when the storm came ashore on September 13, 2008.

Swashbuckling Scientists Discover Northern Vents Swashbuckling Scientists Discover Northern Vents
September 18, 2008
News and Features

From Astrobiology Magazine, European Edition is a story of how researchers recently explored the ocean floor between Greenland and Norway. They discovered hydrothermal vents that support an extremophile ecosystem. The find supports the idea that biological communities could exist on other worlds.

Perchlorates, Perchance? Perchlorates, Perchance?
August 06, 2008
News and Features

Recent news reports have speculated that the Phoenix lander has discovered perchlorate on Mars. While Phoenix scientists admit that perchlorate salts may be present, they disagree with the assumption that the presence of such an oxidant makes the soil inhospitable for life.

Archive Summary