Science

The theory that life, or at least the basic components of life, arrived on Earth from space during comet and meteor impacts got a boost this week. Researchers in a NASA-funded study found evidence that vitamin B3, also known as niacin, may have been originally delivered to Earth by a carbon-rich meteorite. Working at Goddard’s Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, Pennsylvania State …

There is no better way to ring-in Earth Day early Tuesday morning than to enjoy one of Earth’s oldest known meteor showers, the Lyrid Meteor Shower. The Lyrids generally begin on April 16 and end on April 26, with the maximum number of meteors generally occurring tonight. At maximum, hourly rates can reach about 10 to 20 meteors per hour.

Honda’s Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility robot – better known as ASIMO – has shown off its latest moves at the New York Auto Show. Shortly after unveiling the new Honda Fit (Honda Jazz), the Japanese carmaker called upon the robot to demonstrate its latest tricks for onlookers.

Among all the bugs, plants, fish and critters that find their way into the Great Lakes from afar, Asian carp are swimming hard up the threat list. They typically eat 40 percent of their body weight every day in vegetation, plankton and the eggs of native species. Worse yet, these outsiders have virtually no predators to put their alarmingly rapid …

Scientists have found that asteroid impacts not only result in formation of rocks and soil, but also form molten glass on cooling. Pete Schultz, Brown University geologist along with his colleagues have discovered fragments of leaves and other organic compounds lodged inside glass created by ancient impacts in Argentina. They said that analysis of biodata encapsulated in molten glass from …

A new survey suggests that Americans are generally excited about the new technology they expect to see in their lifetimes, but when confronted with some advances that already appear possible they get nervous. Those are the findings in a report released Thursday by the Pew Research Center, which sought to gauge public opinion about our rapidly changing world of science …

In a special Earth Day program on April 22, Seattle’s Museum of Flight will host three prominent US Astronauts supporting the B612 Foundation for a press conference which will unveil a new video showing the surprising number of asteroid impacts on Earth during the last decade, and the even more surprising fact that we can prevent future asteroid impacts.

Researchers from the Hebrew University have reconstructed DNA methylation maps of the Denisovans and the Neanderthals stressing that the ancient and modern humans looked different because of the diseases which altered genes of affected group. The reconstructed DNA maps will help them analyze how the genes were altered and passed down through generations.

Scientists have discovered gender-bending female cave insects with “very impressive” penis-type organs which can have sex for up to 70 hours at a time. Females of the neotrogla species insert their penis into males during mating, who instead of having a penis have the equivalent of a vagina. The neotrogla were discovered in a cave in eastern Brazil and are …

SpaceX, the commercial space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, has successfully launched and landed the F9R. In this video, you will see the shuttle rising 250 meters and then landing next to the launch pad.

SeaWorld is sinking. The marine mammal theme park has seen a drastic decrease in visitors. “The killer whale show has long been SeaWorld’s most popular attraction, but so far this year, park attendance has been decreasing, down 13 percent.” The Guardian says the number of visitors from January through March at SeaWorld’s 12 U.S. locations has dropped from 3.5 million …