Why are Star Wars droids so lovable? It's science
In November 2014, a little orange and white ball named BB-8 rolled across the screen in the first "The Force Awakens" trailer, the next generation of plucky droids in the Star Wars universe.
Author: ASHLEY STRICKLAND, CNN
Earth's magnetic north pole heading for Russia
Unlike its geographical poles, Earth's magnetic poles that serve as the foundation of our navigation are actively moving.
New image reveals explosive history of Milky Way's center
Astronomers used a telescope to look into the heart of our galaxy, the Milky Way, in great detail and found a surprising bit of history.
Cyclone size of Texas discovered on Jupiter by NASA's Juno mission
NASA's Juno mission spotted a new cyclone the size of Texas during a close flyby of Jupiter in November.
The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks Friday and Saturday
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the most active and dependable displays of the year, according to the American Meteor Society. This year, the shower will peak on the evening of December 13 and 14, so hope for clear skies that will let you see a beautiful show of green fireballs.
Hubble catches interstellar comet as it flies past the sun
The Hubble Space Telescope had a front row seat to capture the best and closest image to date of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov, a visitor that originated from outside of our solar system. On Sunday, the comet passed within 190 million miles of Earth on its closest approach before continuing on through our solar system.
Water found 1 in. beneath Martian surface could help future astronauts
When the first astronauts land on Mars, they won't be able to take everything they need with them. The logistics and weight of transporting so much material on one spacecraft, along with a crew, defies current technology. While scientists at NASA have discussed missions to deliver materials to the Red Planet ahead of a manned mission, there may be resources on Mars that can be used.
Real-life planets you may have first seen in a 'Star Wars' film
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there was a breathtaking diversity of planets. From the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, rebel ships and Imperial cruisers, we've seen a colorful variety of them come into view. Harsh deserts baked by twin suns, craggy caverns, lush forests, water worlds, mineral-coated surfaces, inhospitable ice, inhabited moons and even lava worlds have greeted our gaze.
Friendly floating robot CIMON-2 sent to International Space Station
On Sunday, SpaceX's Dragon capsule docked at the International Space Station, bringing supplies, experiments including "mighty mice" -- oh, and a friendly robot to keep the astronauts company for the next three years.
Scientists discovered 71 new species this year
The quest for the unknown revealed exciting new discoveries this year. California Academy of Sciences researchers discovered 71 new animal and plant species in 2019.
NASA mission catches asteroid ejecting material into space
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission arrived at near-Earth asteroid Bennu a year ago, and the spinning top-shaped space rock has been full of surprises. The latest findings now classify it as an active asteroid with observable events happening on the surface.
Ultra-massive black hole breaks record
Much like stars and planets, black holes also fall into different categories. Astronomers have now spotted a record-breaking heavyweight black hole at the center of a galaxy known as Holm 15A. The black hole weighs 40 billion times the mass of our sun.
This bone-crunching dinosaur replaced its teeth every 2 months
A species of carnivorous dinosaur that once roamed Madagascar 70 million years ago was so tough on its teeth that they needed to be replaced frequently, according to a new study.
Inbreeding may have helped cause Neanderthals to go extinct
Neanderthals went extinct around 40,000 years ago -- about the same time that modern humans migrated out of Africa. This has led researchers to believe that modern humans won the competition for resources, leading to the demise of Neanderthals.
The black hole that helps baby stars
Black holes are known as destructive forces in the universe, shredding stars and using immense gravity to pull in gas, dust and light. But astronomers have witnessed a black hole that is actually helping to nurture and spark the birth of baby stars across multiple galaxies more than one million light-years from its origin.
This is one place on Earth where no life can exist
Life exists in extreme environments on Earth, from arid deserts and frozen tundras to thermal, toxic vents in the deepest reaches of the ocean floor. But it can't exist on every inch of the planet and scientists have discovered a place in Ethiopia where life can't find a way, according to a new study.
Mysterious comet will cause rare 'Unicorn' meteor storm this week
Two meteor scientists, Peter Jenniskens and Esko Lyytinen, shared their prediction for an outburst by the alpha Monocertoid meteor shower on November 21 or 22, depending on your location.
Rover explores the solar system's oceans
Astronomers have uncovered increasing evidence that some bodies in our solar system, like Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, are actually ocean worlds.
Neptune's moons perform strange orbit dance around each other
Two of Neptune's innermost moons perform a strange dance to avoid each other that is weird and completely unique compared to all known orbits, according to new research.
Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend
In the early morning hours on Monday, the Leonid meteor shower will send shooting stars across the sky. Look up on Saturday and Sunday night as well to spot bright meteors with trains streaming behind them.
Astronauts experienced reverse blood flow, blood clots on ISS
A study of 11 healthy astronauts onboard the International Space Station for six-month missions has revealed a new risk of long-term spaceflight.
Astronaut exercise programs may help cancer patients, researchers say
The rigors and challenges of spaceflight are remarkably similar to the physical stress cancer patients experiment during chemotherapy and other treatments, according to researchers.
The Mars 2020 rover lands February 2021
When the Mars 2020 rover lands on the Red Planet in February 2021, it will touch down in Jezero Crater, the site of a lake that existed 3.5 billion years ago. Now, two research teams have identified areas in Jezero Crater where the rover might find signs of ancient life.
Curiosity rover detects oxygen behaving strangely on Mars
Since it landed in Gale Crater in 2012, the Curiosity rover has been studying the Martian surface beneath its wheels to learn more about the planet's history. But Curiosity also stuck its nose in the air for a big sniff to understand the Martian atmosphere.
