Venus Is Erupting
July 20, 2020
If new indirect observations are correct, Venus is an active planet today with huge volcanoes.
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Space Aliens Still AWOL
June 20, 2019
Aliens should be everywhere, but the heavens remain eerily silent. The faith goes on.
Astrobiology Still Has No Biology
April 11, 2018
Number of worlds beyond Earth where life has been discovered: zero. Number of optimistic articles about life in outer space: hundreds per year.
Our Solar System Appears Odd to Astronomers *
January 29, 2018
Our solar system is an oddball, conclude astronomers who looked at hundreds of planetary systems around other stars. *Audio version available.
Planetary Youth Continues After Cassini
December 19, 2017
The data gathering phase is over, but the data mining phase will continue for years. This entry also shares some news about other solar system objects showing youthfulness.
Planet Party Busted by Triton
November 16, 2017
Theories can be like parties with tantalizing speculations until big, whopping anomalies spoil the fun.
Activity on Planets Suggests Youth
November 11, 2016
Can these processes really have gone on for billions of years?
Hope, Not Evidence, Drives Astrobiology
August 25, 2016
Earth-size exoplanets are not evidence for alien life. They are evidence for orbiting bodies.
Juno How Old the Solar System Is?
July 6, 2016
Everyone knows the solar system is 4.5 billion years old. Everyone, that is, except Nature herself.
Only Earth Is a Life Haven
June 23, 2016
Here are more discoveries that make it reasonable to think complex life is rare in the universe, and might be unique to Earth.
Magnetic News
August 3, 2015
Magnetism is an important force in astronomy, planetary science and life. Here are news items involving magnets and magnetic fields.
You Wouldn't Want to Live on "Earth's Cousin"
July 24, 2015
Despite the hype about another Earth-like exoplanet, Kepler 452b would not be as habitable as Venus.
Fire and Brimstone: Why Earth Isn't Like Venus
June 28, 2015
Both planets have abundant sulfur, but Earth life has a way of cycling it for good.
Moon, Mercury, and Magnetic Fields
May 8, 2015
After the crash of MESSENGER, magnetic fields in the solar system have become a key topic for planetary science.
Solar System Reversals
February 9, 2015
The planets keep going around, but theories about them often stop and go backward or sideways. When nothing else works, send in the impactors!