Science
If space shuttle is doomed, do you tell the crew?
A NASA top official wrestled with what he thought was a hypothetical question: What should you tell the astronauts of a doomed space shuttle Columbia?
Sacrificial skull mound in Mexico puzzles experts
Archaeologists say they have turned up about 150 skulls of human sacrifice victims in a field in central Mexico, one of the first times that such a large accumulation of severed heads has been found outside of a major pyramid or temple complex in Mexico.
Space shuttle Columbia: What happened 10 years ago
Ten years ago Friday, the space shuttle Columbia was destroyed and its seven astronauts killed during the final minutes of its flight.
Great white shark moves back to northeast
It seems Mary Lee's winter vacation in the sunny South is over.
NASA launches communication satellite
NASA launched a new communication satellite Wednesday to stay in touch with its space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images.
Green thumb? Wash. state looks for pot consultant
Wanted: A green thumb with extensive knowledge of the black, or at least gray, market.
Columbia's 7 astronauts were close, diverse crew
The seven astronauts who died aboard space shuttle Columbia 10 years ago were husbands, fathers, wives and a mother. Military pilots, doctors and engineers. Born in the United States, Israel and India.
Genetics may explain severe flu in Chinese people
A genetic variant commonly found in Chinese people may help explain why some got seriously ill with swine flu, a discovery scientists say could help pinpoint why flu viruses hit some populations particularly hard and change how they are treated.
Va. rocket launch to test tech for science flights
NASA is planning a rocket launch from its facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore to test technology that will be used in two upcoming science missions.
2 science projects win up to billion euros each
Two science projects _ one to map the human brain, the other to explore the extraordinary properties of the carbon-based material graphene _ were declared the winners Monday of an EU technologies contest and will receive up to (EURO)1 billion ($1.35 billion) each over the next 10 years.
Study: Distant rural areas may feel cities' heat
Heat rising up from cities such as New York, Paris and Tokyo might be remotely warming up winters far away in some rural parts of Alaska, Canada, and Siberia, a surprising study theorizes.
Japan launches 2 intelligence satellites
Japan launched two intelligence satellites into orbit on Sunday amid growing concerns that North Korea is planning to test more rockets of its own and possibly conduct a nuclear test.
AP Interview: CERN chief firmer on 'God particle'
The world should know with certainty by the middle of this year whether a subatomic particle discovered by scientists is a long-sought Higgs boson, the head of the world's largest atom smasher said Saturday.
Brazil to do a biodiversity study of the Amazon
The Brazilian government says it's undertaking a four-year, $33 million study of its vast Amazon rainforest to compile a detailed inventory of the plants, animals and people that live there.
NASA testing vintage engine from Apollo 11 rocket
Like vinyl records and skinny ties, good things eventually come back around. At NASA, that means looking to the Apollo program for ideas on how to develop the next generation of rockets for future missions to the moon and beyond.
Guyana pledges to protect jaguars
The lushly forested nation of Guyana on Thursday joined a regional pact to protect jaguars, the elusive spotted cat that is the biggest land predator in the Americas but is vulnerable due to expanded agriculture and mining that carves away at their fragmented habitat.
Buoyed by Obama, leaders press for climate action
Hurricanes, floods, droughts and a newly climate-conscious Barack Obama are helping boost efforts around the world to fight climate change.
Great white shark hanging out near NC coast again
A 16-foot great white shark named Mary Lee is among those who like calling North Carolina home.
Study: Digital information can be stored in DNA
It can store the information from a million CDs in a space no bigger than your little finger, and could keep it safe for centuries.
Research chimps may be headed from lab to leisure
Chimpanzees who have spent their lives in U.S. research labs being prodded, poked and tested may be headed for retirement in a leafy sanctuary where they can climb trees, socialize at will, play with toys and even listen to music.
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