Kepler Characterizes “Starspots” on 2244 Stars
Sunspots are regions on the Sun’s photosphere that appear darker than surrounding areas because they are cooler, usually by one or two thousand degrees Celsius….
Astronomers Discover Eighth Planet Circling Kepler-90
The discovery of an eighth planet circling the distant star Kepler-90 by University of Texas at Austin astronomer Andrew Vanderburg and Google’s Christopher Shallue overturns…
Advanced Chemical Oscillator Offers New Level of Molecular Control
DNA molecules that follow specific instructions could offer more precise molecular control of synthetic chemical systems, a discovery that opens the door for engineers to…
A New and Improved Method for Measuring the Masses of Solitary Stars
Astronomers have come up with a new and improved method for measuring the masses of millions of solitary stars, especially those with planetary systems. Getting…
Astrophysicists Show That Starving White Dwarfs Are Binge Eaters
University of Canterbury astrophysicist Dr Simone Scaringi has made an unexpected and exciting new discovery related to the way white dwarfs grow in space. The…
Synthetic Protein Assemblies Encapsulate Their Own Genetic Materials and Evolve
Scientists have created computationally designed protein assemblies, which display some functions normally associated with living things, in the search for ways to transport therapeutic cargos…
New Blood Sample Detection Method for Multiple Sclerosis
A new method for quickly detecting signs of multiple sclerosis has been developed by a University of Huddersfield research team. The process will avoid the…
Dawn of a Galactic Collision – Hubble Views Markarian 266
A riot of color and light dances through this peculiarly shaped galaxy, NGC 5256. Its smoke-like plumes are flung out in all directions and the…
High Glucose Levels During Pregnancy Affects the Baby’s Heart
New research from UCLA details how diabetes in pregnancy affects baby’s heart, revealing that high levels of glucose keep cardiac cells from maturing normally. Researchers…
Scientists Monitor Positive Signs of Recovery of the Earth’s Stratospheric Ozone Layer
Each year, ozone-depleting compounds in the upper atmosphere destroy the protective ozone layer, and in particular above Antarctica. The ozone layer acts as Earth’s sunscreen…
Neuroscientists Can Predict IQ’s By Analyzing Neuronal Connections
Combining neuroscience with algorithms and network science, Yale researchers have developed a method of analyzing the neuronal connections of individual brains that allow them to…
3D Models Reveal How Tortoises Get Back Onto Their Feet
The Galapagos Islands are home to multiple species of giant tortoises. Two distinct shell forms can be observed among the different species: “domed” and “saddleback”….
MAVEN Mission Sheds Light on Habitability of Distant Planets
How long might a rocky, Mars-like planet be habitable if it were orbiting a red dwarf star? It’s a complex question but one that NASA’s…
A Cross-Disciplinary Approach is Essential to Finding Life on Other Worlds
The search for life beyond Earth is riding a surge of creativity and innovation. Following a gold rush of exoplanet discovery over the past two…
ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope Views Stellar Nursery Sharpless 29
The OmegaCAM camera on ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope has captured this glittering view of the stellar nursery called Sharpless 29. Many astronomical phenomena can be…
New Study Paves the Way to a Greater Understanding of Male Infertility
Researchers at IRB Barcelona unravel the role of the histone BigH1 in the development of male sex cells from stem cells. The study, which was…
Mysterious Bright Spots Suggest Geologic Activity on Ceres
If you could fly aboard NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, the surface of dwarf planet Ceres would generally look quite dark, but with notable exceptions. These exceptions…
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Views Faults in Northern Meridiani Planum
This image from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) of northern Meridiani Planum shows faults that have disrupted layered deposits. Some of the faults produced a…
