Dawn prepares to orbit dwarf planet Ceres03/03/15
NASA's Dawn spacecraft about to orbit the giant asteroid Ceres. Also; claims dark matter may be responsible for mass extinction events on Earth, and a monster black hole near the dawn of time challenges physics.
Black holes control galactic evolution
Energy produced by black holes can control galactic evolution. Also; discovery of a star system that passed close to our Sun, and the heliosphere may be shaped more like a kidney than a comet.
Mysterious Martian mists discovered
Strange high altitude clouds detected over the red planet. Also; Earth's inner core has its own inner core, and birth of a multiple star system witnessed for the first time.
First stars are younger than we thought
Universe's first stars born 100 million years earlier than previously thought. Also; new discoveries help explain how tectonic plates move, and a dark matter galaxy discovered on the far side of the Milky Way.
Supernova autopsy cuts to the core
Detailed 3D model shows internal anatomy of a supernova for first time. Also; earliest Earth-like planets ever detected, and the hypothetical subatomic particle that could explain why we can't see dark matter
Rosetta's comet dissected in detail
The first detailed scientific papers paint a complex portrait of comet 67P. Also; a new look at Eta Carinae, and our planet's close encounter with a half-kilometre-wide asteroid.
Mysterious cosmic burst detected in real-time
Australian astronomers witness cosmic radio bursts for the first time. Also; new claims of a possible Planet X (and Y) at the edge of the solar system, and missing Beagle 2 lander discovered on the Martian surface.
Comet Lovejoy fireworks bring in the new year
Comet Lovejoy provides a spectacular start to 2015. Also; the Dawn spacecraft begins final approach to the asteroid Ceres, and New Horizons turns on its science instruments as it prepares to rendezvous with Pluto.
Rosetta fuels debate on Earth's oceans
New data shows Earth's oceans came from asteroids not comets. Also; Curiosity confirms Mars was once warm with regular wet seasons, and dark matter could be linked to a hypothetical subatomic particle called the sterile neutrino.
Galactic evolution is in the stars
How hot young stars can change the evolution of entire galaxies. Also; the Martian meteorite that's reignited debate about the possibility of life on the red planet, and new mysteries surrounding the Moon's long gone magnetic field.
DNA survives in space
DNA survives the extremes of unprotected exposure in space to remain viable upon return to Earth. Also, discovery of a mysterious shield protecting our planet from high energy electrons, and the rock from deep space which has finally put a name to the...
How black holes feed quasars
There's growing evidence that the strange physics in black holes provides the energy to power quasars. Also; how the Sun causes lightning on Earth, And NASA's new Orion spacecraft arrives at the Kennedy Space Centre for its first test flight.
Philae's mission completed before shutdown
Philae completes experiments on Comet 67P despite ending up off target. Also; did volcanoes give early Mars its rivers and lakes? And Jupiter's great red spot most likely caused by sunburn rather than a blush.
Touchdown! Philae lands on comet
History made as the first spacecraft successfully lands on a comet. Also; astronomers peer deep into the heart of a supernova, and up to half the stars in the universe may be orphans.
Virgin Galactic spaceship crashes
Investigation continues into tragic Virgin Galactic crash. Also; first stage engine malfunction a possible cause of Antares rocket failure, and China completes its first return mission to the Moon.
Nova blast shines in brilliant detail
Astronomers get an unprecedented view of the fireball from an exploding star. Also China takes another step in its plans to send taikonauts to the Moon, and Antares rocket explodes seconds after launch.
Have we finally found dark matter?
New X-ray data suggests the possible detection of proposed dark matter particles called axions. Also; plasma bombs and tornadoes detected on the Sun, and secret space shuttle lands after 22 months in orbit.
Meet Earth's fifth 'moon'
Scientists discover another 'moon' orbiting Earth. Also; a new subatomic particle improves our understanding of the fundamental forces of nature, and the Milky Way only has half as much dark matter as previously thought.
The first stars almost within reach
Astronomers move a step closer to seeing the first stars to shine in the universe. Also; new satellite data reveals Earth's ocean abyss in unprecedented detail, and the last lunar eclipse for 2014.
Water older than the solar system
Up to half the water on Earth may be older than the Sun. Also; gravitational wave discovery claims turn to dust, and meteor strikes may not be random.
- Melbourne, VIC