2010
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Did Life Fall from the Skies? Lessons from Titan
Dec. 30, 2010
In sci-fi movies, the first stirrings of life happen in a gooey pool of primordial ooze. But new research suggests the action might have started instead in the stormy skies above.
Asteroid Itokawa Sample Return
Dec. 29, 2010
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Hayabusa spacecraft has brought home to Earth tiny pieces of near-Earth asteroid Itokawa. In today's story from Science@NASA, a NASA specialist on the Hayabusa science team describes the nail-biting sample return and hints at new results from the ongoing analysis.
Solstice Lunar Eclipse
Dec. 17, 2010
Northern winter is beginning in a special way. On Dec. 21st, the winter solstice, a lunar eclipse will be visible across all of North America.
Global Eruption Rocks the Sun
Dec. 13, 2010
A global eruption on the sun has shattered old ideas about solar activity. Researchers presented their surprising findings at a press conference today at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
Geminid Meteor Shower Defies Explanation
Dec. 6, 2010
The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks this year on Dec. 13th and 14th. Researchers don't fully understand the Geminids; new measurements, they say, make it more mysterious than ever.
Discovery of "Arsenic-bug" Expands Definition of Life
Dec. 2, 2010
NASA-supported researchers have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism, which lives in California's Mono Lake, substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in the backbone of its DNA.
The Sun Steals Comets from Other Stars
Nov. 23, 2010
Many of the comets in our Solar System might have come from other stars, say NASA supported researchers. Studying these 'alien' comets could reveal new information about stellar systems far, far away.
Comet Snowstorm Engulfs Hartley 2
Nov. 18, 2010
At a press conference today at NASA HQ, researchers released beautiful new images of an unprecedented snowstorm engulfing Comet Hartley 2.
Youngest-Ever Nearby Black Hole Discovered
Nov. 15, 2010
An amazingly young black hole--only 30 years old--has been found in a nearby galaxy by astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Earth's Dust Tail Points to Alien Planets
Nov. 12, 2010
Did you know Earth has a long tail of dust? It's real, and it could lead researchers to the discovery of distant alien worlds.