On Feb. 15, Earth will have a visitor, reminding us that our solar system is still a shooting gallery
A Front-Row Seat to a Black Hole in Action
A gas cloud is nearing a black hole — and the celestial fireworks show is going to be impressive
EcocentricPolitics
Outgoing Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s Parting Warning on Warming
The Nobel prize-winning physicist brought rare intelligence to the Presidential Cabinet—and an abiding concern about global warming.
Window on Infinity: The Month in Space and a Day of Remembrance
An album of images from near and distant space
NASA’s Astronaut Day of Remembrance
Too many men and woman have died in the effort to explore space—and too many of them are unknown. NASA has set aside a day to honor them all. What follows is a remembrance the Russians and Americans who lost their lives during …
Smart Fish: The Wisdom of Crowds—and Schools
Piscine choreography is a lot more complex—and a lot simpler—than it seems
The Milky Way’s Mystery Cloud
Something is snuffing out newborn stars that should be forming at the heart of our galaxy
EcocentricChina
The Scariest Environmental Fact in the World
China is burning almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined. We won’t solve global warming until that changes
EcocentricPolitics
Obama Talks Climate Change. California Is Acting on It
Obama warmed the hearts of environmentalists when he called for climate action during his Inaugural Address, but political realities may tie his hand. In California, things are very different
Cosmic Light Show: Auroras Around Distant Worlds
A phenomenon familiar on Earth may be common throughout the galaxy