Science News
NASA picks Florida agency to take over shuttle landing strip
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - NASA has selected Space Florida, a state-backed economic development agency, to take over operations, maintenance and development of the space shuttle's idled landing site at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, officials said on Friday. | Video
Unmanned Russian rocket crashes after launch in Kazakhstan
ALMATY, Kazakhstan - An unmanned Russian rocket carrying three navigation satellites crashed shortly after lift-off from the Russian-leased Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, Russian media reported. There were no reported injuries.
Leading light in science, Italy's 'lady of the stars' Hack dies
ROME - Astrophysicist Margherita Hack, a popular science writer, public intellectual and the first woman to lead an astronomical observatory in Italy, died on Saturday at the age of 91.
NASA telescope to probe long-standing solar mystery
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - A small NASA telescope was launched into orbit on Thursday on a mission to determine how the sun heats its atmosphere to millions of degrees, sending off rivers of particles that define the boundaries of the solar system.
NASA probe finds new zone at doorstep to interstellar space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Reports last summer than NASA's long-lived Voyager 1 space probe had finally left the solar system turned out to be a bit premature, scientists said on Thursday.
Chinese astronauts land safely after "perfect" space mission
BEIJING - Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Wednesday, touching down in north China's Inner Mongolia after a successful 15-day mission in which they docked with an experimental manned space laboratory. | Video
Scientists find neighbor star with three planets in life-friendly orbits
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - A neighbor star has at least six planets in orbit, including three circling at the right distance for water to exist, a condition believed to be necessary for life, scientists said on Tuesday.
Square roots? Scientists say plants are good at math
LONDON - Plants do complex arithmetic calculations to make sure they have enough food to get them through the night, new research published in journal eLife shows.
New shuttle Atlantis exhibit gives close-up look at space flight
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - In deciding how to exhibit the space shuttle Atlantis, which goes on display next week, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida opted for a perspective that would allow the public a rare view.
Europe tests reusable spaceship
PARIS - The European Space Agency is preparing to launch an experimental reusable spaceship next summer following a successful atmospheric test flight this week, officials said at the Paris Airshow.
Yoga in school not same as teaching religion, California judge rules
SAN DIEGO - A California judge refused on Monday to block the teaching of yoga as part of a public school's physical fitness program, rejecting parents' claims that the classes were an unconstitutional promotion of Eastern religions.

