Space & Aviation

Scientists have developed new tools to detect solar storms before they strike by mapping the hidden electrical structure beneath our feet, revealing how the ground itself could influence the impact on our power grid.

Worlds this small and distant are thought to be too cold and have too little surface gravity to hold onto gases. But the findings suggest that icy, rocky objects in the solar system’s outer reaches are more dynamic than we thought.

Two decades ago, the International Astronomical Union—which defines and names celestial bodies—redefined the criteria for being a planet, putting Pluto into the new category of dwarf planet.

The findings could more than double our current database of worlds that loop around binary star systems. But researchers need to analyze more data before they can officially celebrate a new trove of far, far away exoplanets.

This annual event, which peaks on the night of May 5 into the next morning, comes from the trail of debris left by Halley’s comet. It’s best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, but skywatchers in the north can catch a glimpse.

Fish have abilities that might seem like they belong in science fiction. Some, like the tuna, can sense the Earth’s magnetic field, using it as a built-in map to guide them across thousands of miles of open ocean.

Researchers successfully grew and harvested chickpeas in simulated moon dirt—with a little help from worm poop and a beneficial fungus. However, they’re still testing whether the legumes are safe to eat.

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument spent five years observing the sky from Arizona. Now, researchers have a trove of data to study how the universe has evolved over billions of years.