Space

Science

Methane Bursts On Mars Could Hint At Previous Life

1:07pm December 19, 2014

by Joe Palca

Scientists have seen mysterious bursts of methane in the Martian atmosphere, and they can't rule out the possibility that the methane was made by something that was once alive on Mars.

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Science

Once Written Off, Kepler Telescope Finds New Planet

8:05pm December 18, 2014

by Bill Chappell

The Kepler space telescope, which cost some $600 million, was feared to be at the end of its useful life in 2013. But NASA says it just found another exoplanet.

Science

Geminids Promise A Light Show In The Night Sky

12:52pm December 13, 2014

The best and most easily-watched meteor shower of the year is happening this weekend. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

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A blast from the past: Using data from four telescopes, NASA created this image of the first documented sighting of a supernova, made by Chinese astronomers in 185 A.D.

Science

To Search For A New Supernova, Build A New Camera

2:03pm December 11, 2014

by Joe Palca

Most telescope cameras can only capture a small patch of sky at a time. But a new camera has a much larger field of view, and its backers are hoping for help in deciphering its reams of data.

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Science

Curiosity's View Of 'Mt. Sharp' Offers New Clues About Water On Mars

6:47pm December 09, 2014

Robert Siegel talks with NASA scientist, John Grotzinger, about the origins of a mountain discovered by the Curiosity rover on Mars.

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NASA says "cross-bedding" in the layers of this Martian rock is proof that water moved on Mars, leaving waves or ripples of loose sediment. The image is from a site at Mount Sharp that NASA calls "Whale Rock."

Science

NASA Photos Show New Signs Of A Lake On Mars

12:41pm December 09, 2014

by Bill Chappell

The water and sediment flow might have been massive enough to build a mountain, NASA researchers say.

Oh, Snap! NASA Promises Best Photo Yet Of Faraway Pluto

10:22am December 08, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

A spacecraft on its way to Pluto has just woken up from hibernation. By next month, scientists expect to have the first good pictures of the dwarf planet. All of the others have been, well, crummy.

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Science

NASA's Orion Completes First Test Flight

5:36pm December 06, 2014

NASA's Orion spacecraft — built to take a human crew into deep space — completed a successful test flight Friday. NPR's Arun Rath talks with landing and recovery manager Stuart McClung.

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National

NASA's Orion Capsule Looks And Acts Like Apollo

11:51am December 06, 2014

With the launch of a new NASA spacecraft and a probe nearing Pluto, it's been a busy week in space. NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel tells NPR's Scott Simon what's going on up there.

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Science

Lots Of Work Remains After Successful Orion Launch

6:30pm December 05, 2014

by Geoff Brumfiel

NASA successfully launched and landed a test version of its next-generation Orion spacecraft on Friday morning. The unmanned test is the first for the follow-on to the shuttle.

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