Out There: Meet TESS, Seeker of Alien Worlds

NASA’s new spacecraft, to be launched next month, will give scientists a much clearer view of…

Stephen Hawking to Be Interred at Westminster Abbey

The cosmologist’s ashes will be buried there later this year, near a few legendary scientists like…

An Appraisal: Stephen Hawking Taught Us a Lot About How to Live

The cosmologist not only overturned our imaginations, he became an icon of mystery, curiosity and determination…

Stephen Hawking Dies at 76; His Mind Roamed the Cosmos

A physicist and best-selling author, Dr. Hawking did not allow his physical limitations to hinder his…

When Stars Were Born: Earliest Starlight’s Effects Are Detected

Using a telescope in Australia, astronomers say they have glimpsed farther back in time than the…

Trilobites: He Took a Picture of a Supernova While Setting Up His New Camera

Astronomers rarely see the beginnings of these explosions, but an Argentine amateur’s lucky picture helped them…

Out There: Astronomers’ Dark Energy Hopes Fade to Gray

The Wfirst project, which would have investigated the force of dark energy in the universe and…

Joseph Polchinski, 63, Leading Theorist on Multiple Universes, Dies

He helped lay the mathematical foundation for the startling idea that our universe is not alone.

Out There: Magnetic Secrets of Mysterious Radio Bursts in a Faraway Galaxy

Black holes or neutron stars behaving wildly are the likely suspects of a repetitious burst of…

Out There: U.F.O.s: Is This All There Is?

Astronomers have their noses pressed against the windows of the unknown, wanting to believe in life…