Finding Life

A new study argues that while finding free oxygen in a planet's atmosphere is a good indicator of life, it's not the only one.

Methane and carbon monoxide together, for example, might be one.

DNA Sequencer

Researchers are working on a tiny DNA sequencer that could search for life on other worlds.

It could be used on Mars, Europa, or Enceladus.

Falcon Heavy

The first test launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is set for February 6.

The Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V.

Tarter Speaks

Jill Tarter says SETI, the popular name for the field in which she spent her career, should be scrapped.

She argues scientists don't look for extraterrestrial intelligence, but rather for evidence of technology.

Europa

A new study suggests the surface of Europa may be too porous to support a lander.

The study, though, is only preliminary.

Opportunity

Fourteen years ago today, Opportunity landed on Mars.

It was supposed to last 90 days, but it's still going strong-- a remarkable tribute to the technology, and to the human team that has conducted the mission all these years.

GLXP Gone

The race for the Google Lunar X-Prize has been declared over with no winner.

The $30 million grand prize will go unclaimed.

Pulsar Sailing

NASA is testing a new navigation system based on the positions of pulsars.

The new system could improve navigation in the outer Solar System.

Pioneer 10

Pioneer 10, the first spacecraft to fly beyond the asteroid belt, sent its last data home 14 years ago today.

Built to last 21 months, the probe in fact functioned for 30 years.

Titanic Sea Level

Two new studies combine to show Titan has a sea level similar to Earth.

Evidence also suggests there's an underground aquifer system on Saturn's largest moon.

Kilopower

To power a colony on Mars, NASA is looking at a snall nuclear reactor program called Kilopower.

Four such reactors could probably power one colony.

Lunar Lava Tubes

There might be relatively easy ways into subsurface lunar lava tubes that could contain water ice, a new study suggests.

That would be a big plus for lunar colonization.

Cituzen Scientists

Citizen scientists using K2 data have helped discover a five world solar system.

All five are closer to their sun than Mercury is to ours.

Perspective

Unitedhealth has reported quarterly earnings of over $52 billion.

That's nearly three times NASA's annual budget.

Hawaii

Hawaii suffered a missile attack warning that turned out to be a false alarm Saturday.

The state government took 38 minutes to correct the situation.

FRBs

SETI researchers are studying powerful radio bursts from a galaxy 3 billion light years away.

Odds are, however, the fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are natural phenomena.

Mars Water

A new study suggests there are sizable deposits of water ice just feet below the surface of Mars.

That would be a huge boost to colonization.

UFO

UFOlogists are urging information developed by the recently acknowledged Pentagon UFO study from 2007 to 2012 be made public.

Insiders to the program say it was stopped because it found nothing.

John Young

John Young, who flew into space six times, including on the first Gemini flight and the first shuttle flight, and who also landed on the Moon, died last week.

He was 87.

Possible Loss

There is a report that the spy satellite SpaceX launched over the weekend had to be destroyed.

The company says its booster performed nominally.

New Market

SpaceX launched a spy satellite for the U. S. Government this past weekend.

It marks the opening of a new market for the company.

Mars Fossils?

Curiosity has found tube-like structures that could possibly be fossils.

Twenty years ago, similar structures were found in a meteorite from Mars.  Then, a tem of NASA scientists argued they were evidence of life.

Seeing New Earths

A new telescope technology will allow astronomers to image planets in multiple star systems.

It should be ready in the 2020s.

Moving Mars

A new study suggests Mars may have formed in the Asteroid Belt before moving into its present orbit.

That could help explain the compositional differences between Earth and Mars.

Spirit

On this date in 2004, the Spirit rover landed on Mars.

It was supposed to operate for 90 days.  Instead, it roved for years, helping to transform our view of  the Red Planet.

Jet Streams

A new study suggests gravity waves may cause the switching of the direction of the jet stream on Jupiter.

The theory could apply to other worlds, as well.