SpaceX rocket launch aborted in last half-second

A new private supply ship for the International Space Station remained stuck on the ground Saturday after rocket engine trouble led to a last-second abort of the historic flight.

'Ring of Fire' eclipse visible from China to Texas

Sunrises and sunsets often dazzle, but they'll have a special ring to them in a few days for people in the western United States and eastern Asia: The moon will slide across the sun, blocking everything but a blazing halo of light.

Tyrannosaur Skeleton For Sale, But Ownership Is Questioned

The origin of a rare tyrannosaur skeleton, now sitting mounted and prepared at an auction house in New York City, has been questioned, with some saying the specimen is from Mongolia; if so, that would mean it entered the United States illegally.

Climate-Cooling Trial Balloon Gets Canceled

One of the first trials of geoengineering Earth's climate would have launched a balloon with a hose that could pump two bath loads of water into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight. But disagreements about that small, symbolic step combined with a patent issue to force a cancellation of the British experiment.

How to Safely Observe Sunday's Solar Eclipse

With a potentially spectacular solar eclipse to grace the skies of the western United States on Sunday (May 20), here's a helpful reminder for new eclipse chasers: Be safe. A fraction of a second of magnified, unfiltered sunlight will sear your eye’s retina irreparably.

Why Sunday's Solar Eclipse 'Ring of Fire' Will Be Rare Sight

When the moon blots out the sun in a solar eclipse on Sunday (May 20), producing a "ring of fire" in the sky, it will cover roughly 94 percent that of the sun and offer a rare view of our nearest star.

Science Fiction or Fact: Will Tractor Beams Ever Become Reality?

In this weekly series, Life's Little Mysteries rates the plausibility of popular science fiction concepts.

Human Genome adopts rights plan to ward off Glaxo

(Reuters) - Human Genome Sciences Inc said on Thursday it adopted a stockholder rights plan as the biotechnology company defends itself against a $2.6 billion (1.6 billion pounds) hostile takeover bid by drug maker GlaxoSmithKline Plc . Human Genome said its board determined the $13-a-share bid by the British drug maker was inadequate and undervalued the company and it recommended stockholders not tender their shares. Glaxo, however, said it plans to proceed with its tender offer and restated its preference to complete the acquisition on a friendly basis. ...

Space Spiders and Wine: Weird Science Launching on Private Space Capsule

The first private spacecraft ever to launch toward the International Space Station will be carrying a host of student science experiments when it blasts off Saturday (May 19), including projects looking at spiders in space and how microgravity affects wine.

Scientists lift lid on turtle evolution

The turtle is a closer relative of crocodiles and birds than of lizards and snakes, according to researchers who claim to have solved an age-old riddle in animal evolution.

Science Fiction or Fact: Invisibility Cloaks Will One Day Exist

In this weekly series, Life's Little Mysteries scores the plausibility of popular science fiction concepts.

Scientists to Watch Historic Venus Transit of the Sun from Alaska

A NASA sun-watching spacecraft will have an unbeatable view of June's historic Venus transit, but some of the probe's scientists are taking measures to get a great look for themselves here on Earth, too.

More Than 8 Million Americans Sleepwalk, Surprising Scientists

Adult sleepwalkers are more common than previously realized, with upward of 8 million American adults prone to nighttime ambulation, a new study finds.