Life on an aquaplanet
MIT study finds an exoplanet, tilted on its side, could still be habitable if covered in ocean.
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What really killed the dinosaurs?
Before an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, Earth experienced a short burst of intense volcanism.
Making things for fun
From restoring a Volkswagen bus to designing collapsible bridges, Spencer Wilson finds fun in engineering.
3 Questions: Ben Weiss on the lunar dynamo
The moon’s molten, churning core likely once generated a dynamo.
Losing air
New study finds a barrage of small impacts likely erased much of the Earth’s primordial atmosphere.
Plasma shield
Researchers find that Earth’s “plasmaspheric hiss” protects against a harmful radiation belt.
Pulling together the early solar system
New study finds that a strong magnetic field whipped the early solar system into shape.
Atomic timekeeping, on the go
New approach may enable more stable and accurate portable atomic clocks.
3 Questions: Richard Binzel on NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission
Better options available in thousands of near-Earth asteroids, expert says.
AeroAstro turns 100
Nine astronaut alumni and Elon Musk join in celebrating department’s centennial.
Mars One (and done?)
MIT team independently assesses the technical feasibility of the proposed Mars One mission.
Researchers detect brightest pulsar ever recorded
The pulsar, about as large as the city of Boston, is 10 million times brighter than the sun.