Science

Colin Pillinger, an ebullient space scientist who captured the popular imagination with his failed attempt to land a British probe on Mars, died. He was 70. Pillinger’s family said Thursday he died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after suffering a brain hemorrhage while sitting in his garden.

Wyoming has become the first state in the U.S. to reject the adoption of new scholastic science standards proposed by national education groups, for grades kindergarten through 12th. The Wyoming Board of Education decided recently that the Next Generation Science Standards need more review after questions were raised about how the standards address man-made global warming.

Scientists have created the first “semi-synthetic” micro-organism with a radically different genetic code from the rest of life on Earth. The researchers believe the breakthrough is the first step towards creating new microbial life-forms with novel industrial or medical properties resulting from a potentially massive expansion of genetic information. The semi-synthetic microbe, a genetically modified E. coli bacterium, has been …

There once was a time when pilots had to do everything with a plane – they had to be able to repair it and fly it and that meant knowing everything about it. Today, much of flying is automated, freeing pilots’ attention from mundane flight tasks and allowing them to focus on the big picture. Many regard humans as something …

A team of astrophysicists have created a unique map of the sky that shows the magnetic field shaping the Milky Way galaxy, using data from the Planck Space Telescope. The image will help open doors to understanding the birth of the universe.

The Space Broncos hosted the Space Symposium on Tuesday which featured a live question and answer session with astronauts currently on board the International Space Station. One of the astronauts was Steve Swanson, who chose to team up with students at Boise State University for interactive opportunities before heading up to the ISS. It’s a part of a program which …

Researchers have traced how cells in our retina track objects that move across our field of vision, thanks in part to thousands of video gamers. The findings, published online Sunday by the journal Nature, validate a concept that explains how some nerve cells are stimulated only by motion in a specific direction and not in other directions. They also validate …

Researchers have said that the if a small area of ice on East Antarctica shore melts it could lead to 10 foot rise in sea-levels. According to researcher, an ice rim currently holds the largest region of marine ice on rocky ground in East Antarctica and warming oceans could lead to ice loss on the coast, while the air over …

Several atoms of the superheavy element with atomic number 117 have been created and observed by an international collaboration working at the GSI accelerator laboratory in Germany. The measured decay properties match previous data, strengthening the case for official recognition of 117 as a new element. New findings obtained in the present work mark an important step towards the capability …

Stephen Hawking has warned that artificial intelligence has the potential to be the downfall of mankind. The physicist has written an article in the Independent warning about an uncertain future where technology learns to control itself. Discussing Jonny Depp’s latest film Transcendence, which delves into a world where computers can surpass the abilities of humans, Hawking said dismissing the film …

A Cape Cod shark safety flier has some people concerned for not only local business, but also for the safety of the animals themselves. According to the Boston Herald, 415,000 brochures were printed and distributed to the public to inform visitors and locals alike about sharks, but some are now questioning how much good the brochures will do.