Space
-
Planetary Science
Stormy Weather
The 11-year cycle of solar storms has begun to peak, already affecting several Earth satellites and disturbing electric power systems on the ground, and scientists expect 2 more years of this solar maximum turmoil.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Astronomers find two planetary systems
Each of the newly discovered systems features a star roughly similar to the sun and a bizarre entourage of planets and possibly a failed star that may provide fresh insight into planet formation.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
X rays unveil secret lives of black holes
New studies challenge the notion that supermassive black holes finished growing soon after their host galaxies formed and suggest new ways to find these black holes and measure their mass.
By Ron Cowen