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A Sweet View of the Icarus of Comets
Comet C/2011 N3, a 160-foot-wide ball of rock and ice, was brutally incinerated by the sun’s atmosphere. But it was quite a sight. 05.10.2012
#53: Did Earth’s Gold Come From Outer Space?
Money never grows on trees, but precious metals do sometimes fall from the sky. 12.27.2011
#33: New Survey Softens Fears of Asteroid Impacts
Reports of our impending collective death have been somewhat exaggerated. 12.27.2011
NASA Ponders an Asteroid Shot
Putting people on a flying rock could be a good warm-up for the big prize: going to Mars. 05.06.2011
11 Space Missions That Will Make Headlines in 2011
This year, space exploration will bring news of expeditions to distant planets, the quest for life-friendly star systems, and the bold efforts of commercial space companies. Here's a preview of what to look forward to. 01.06.2011
#36: Astronomers Catch Asteroid Smashup
12.16.2010
#23: Comets Are Interstellar Visitors
12.16.2010
The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010
Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010
The Most Sensitive Radio Telescope in the World: Arecibo Observatory
So big that it needed a sinkhole to hold it 04.02.2010
#62: Sooth-Saying Science—First-Ever Prediction of a Meteor
Telescopes spotted it, computers traced it, onlookers watched it, and students picked up the pieces. 12.28.2009
Diamonds Are a Geologist's Best Friend
Tiny carbon spheres hidden under rock and ice may be telltales of cataclysmic comet strikes. 04.06.2009
What is This? A Windshield's Worst Nightmare Come True?
It may look like a worthless rock, but it can be encrusted with diamonds or used to find black gold. 02.05.2009
A Virtual Tour of 8 Strange Exoplanets
Astronomers have recently found hundreds of new planets. Here are what some of them might look like. 01.23.2009
Beyond the Nine Planets
We are only beginning to discover how vast and strange our solar system truly is. 01.06.2009
How a Cloud of Space Dust Could Wipe Out Life on Earth
Seemingly innocuous specks could throw off the whole solar system—and we might not see them until it's too late. 12.30.2008
#50: Confirmed: 1969 Meteorite Brought Genetic Building Blocks From Space
More evidence that asteroids may have led to the emergence of life on earth. 12.13.2008
#60: Mars Became Lopsided After Massive Asteroid Collision
After 30 years, the debate over the red planet's shape may be over. 12.11.2008
Ten Ways the World Will End
Will it be a solar flare? Or a gamma-ray burst? DISCOVER's own Phil Plait lays out the odds. 10.28.2008
The Solar System Looks Way Better Than It Used To
A comparison of landmark space pictures shows our imaging tech has improved in 40 years. A lot. 10.07.2008
Next-Generation Semiconductor Was First Created Elsewhere in the Cosmos
A rare and promising mineral was plucked from space by a NASA satellite. 08.21.2008
Mission to the Forgotten Planets
Before the Pluto fiasco, two asteroids were stripped of planet status. 03.11.2008
Rearranging Stars to Communicate with Aliens
A proposal to create special constellations that nature would never produce 02.08.2008
75. Were the First Americans Wiped Out By an Asteroid?
Giant explosion may have caused continent-wide fires and a 1,000-year cold spell 01.14.2008
60. Diamonds From Outer Space
01.09.2008
Death By Cosmic Pinball
Astronomers triangulate the source of the dinosaur destroyer. 12.03.2007
Did a Comet Cause the Great Flood?
The universal human myth may be the first example of disaster reporting. 11.15.2007
What To Do Before the Asteroid Strikes
The doomsday rock is out there. It’s just a matter of time... 11.01.2007
What Caused the Great American Extinction?
A comet may have decimated native animals—and culture. 07.25.2007
The Asteroid Hunters
Backyard astronomers keep watch against Armageddon. 06.28.2007
StarDust Memories
StarDust Memories 04.27.2006
Discover Dialogue: Clark R. Chapman
There is the possibility of moving one out of the way if we have enough money' 03.04.2006
Japan Stakes Its Claim in Space
02.20.2006
The Year in Science: Space Exploration
NASA's latest manned rocket, Saturn's moons, comet smashing, and more. 01.08.2006
A Space Oddity
12.01.2005
Comets: Powdery Puffballs in Space?
10.24.2005
Sky Lights
Summer's spectacular meteors let you watch a cosmic trompe l'oeil 08.06.2005
Discover Dialogue: Planetary Geologist H. Jay Melosh
Just about every atom on Earth has been through a hypervelocity impact. 07.24.2005
77: Comet Caused Nuclear Winter
01.03.2005
92: Life's Fifth Element Came From Meteors
01.03.2005
50: NASA Takes a Wild Comet Ride
01.02.2005
Sky Lights
This month's shooting stars are not just the usual bits of falling fluff 12.03.2004
Sky Lights
Outer space is not just out there—it is also on your windowsill and inside your body 11.25.2004
What Grows When it Rains Meteorites?
08.02.2004
A Piece of the Rock
04.21.2004
In Her Own Words: Meenakshi Wadhwa
If there's one thing you learn as a scientist, it's never to close your mind off to things that seem far-fetched' 03.28.2004
Asteroids Get Spun By the Sun
02.05.2004
Catch a Comet by the Tail
01.14.2004
To Catch a Comet
In January a clever probe will meet up with a flying rock that may hold the secret to life on Earth 10.28.2003
Less Danger From Falling Rocks
10.01.2003
The Shocking Way That Earth Got Its Water
07.01.2003
Sky Lights
A chalk white miniature planet of giant craters and frozen lava makes a rare naked-eye appearance 03.01.2003
Astronomy
01.01.2003
Sky Lights
What happens when Earth collides with a piece of comet? See for yourself 08.01.2002
The Waters That Lie Within
08.01.2002
Did an Asteroid Really Dust the Dinosaurs?
05.01.2002
The Sound of One Rock Falling
02.01.2002
Space
Year In Science 01.13.2002
Astronomy
Year In Science 01.13.2002
Sky Lights
Heads up: Here comes space junk from 5 billion years ago 11.01.2001
Did Life on Earth Come From Mars?
Chunks of planets were flying all over the place when the solar system was young—and some may have carried hitchhikers 08.01.2001
Philip Bland, Meteor Man
An energetic young scientist believes he may have found the clue that solves the mystery of how the Earth was made 03.01.2001
The End is Near
The remarkable journey of a tough little space probe to the place where killer asteroids lurk 02.01.2001
Sky Lights
The solar system's biggest players put on a light show for city slickers 11.01.2000
The Panther Mountain Crater
The more time you spend with Yngvar Isachsen, the moe you wonder when the next killer meteorite will head our way 08.01.2000
Rock of Love
05.01.2000
Earth in the Balance
04.01.2000
Sky Lights
And ten other predictions of celestial wonders that won't disappoint in the new millennium 01.01.2000
Sky Lights
If the heavens line up just right, this month we'll be treated to the greatest show off Earth 11.01.1999
More Meteors, Please
August showers brings shooting flowers 08.01.1999
Steroids Amok
08.01.1999
Sky Lights
August showers brings shooting flowers 08.01.1999
More of That Asteroid's Dark Legacy
04.01.1999
Bits and Pieces of Armageddon
03.01.1999
Your Stars for 1999
A total eclipse and sizzling meteors highlight this year's sky watching. 01.01.1999
Autumn Showers
Fall features four meteor showers for your evening enjoyment. 10.01.1998
The Trouble With Rubble
09.01.1998
Chain of Craters
08.01.1998
The Year in Science: Astronomy 1997
Eccentric Character 01.01.1998
The Year in Science: Astronomy 1997
The Three-Tailed Comet 01.01.1998
The Year in Science: Earth 1997
Wee Comets Again 01.01.1998
The Year in Science: Earth 1997
Craters Without Impact 01.01.1998
The Year in Science: Space 1997
A Flying Bag of Charcoal 01.01.1998
Mother of Some Meteorites
12.01.1997
Conjunction Junction
08.01.1997
Asteroids on the Loose
05.01.1997
May Pole
05.01.1997
Meteorite Hunters
Ralph Harvey can ride a Ski-doo as well as anyone, and he looks pretty good in antlers--just the guy to search Antarctica for pieces of other worlds. 05.01.1997
Around the World in 100 Minutes
02.01.1997
When North America Burned
02.01.1997
Hail, Bopp!
02.01.1997
The X-ray Comet
01.01.1997
Great Comet
11.01.1996
The Last Great Impact on Earth
In 1908 hundreds of square miles of Siberian forest were flattened and burned by a mysterious fireball. Only now, nearly nine decades later, are we learning what really happened--and not a minute too soon. 09.01.1996
From Far Beyond
08.01.1996
Flying Rubble
08.01.1996
Through the Looking Glass
08.01.1996
Radiant Energy
08.01.1996
Paleozoic Pockmarks
07.01.1996
Planet Vesta
01.01.1996
Where Comets Come From
They're the mystery tramps of the solar system, streaking crazily through a warm space they don't belong in. Now astronomers have tracked them to their frozen trans-Neptunian home. 11.01.1995
The Mars Model
Crashing comets and asteroids can do more than just kill off earthly dinosaurs. On other planets and moons, they can destroy entire atmospheres. 06.01.1995
Perseids II
08.01.1994
Hot Flashes
Celestial lights can be more interesting than fireworks. 07.01.1994
The Vanilla Asteroid
09.01.1993
Night of the Shooting Stars
08.01.1993
The Hole in Nebraska
04.01.1993
Meteor Storm
11.01.1992
Death in June
06.01.1992
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