Science in the News: Astronomy Press Releases
Science isn't just a bunch of facts discovered centuries ago. It's not just theories put forth by dead European white males. It's an evolving, exciting, and very active endeavor, and we're living in a golden age of astronomical discoveries.
Sorted by song, we list recent news stories about science results or events. By using these news stories, teachers can demonstrate the relevance of astronomy right now. Some of these press releases are written at a college level, so teachers should read them and present the content in whatever way suits them and their students. Items are cycled off this list to a press release archive after a month or two, so check back often to see the latest results!
Last updated: Saturday, 25-May-2013 15:00:04 EDT
Nine Planets
(Solar system planets, except Mars and Earth)- MESSENGER Beams Back First Approach Images of Mercury (Oct 3, 2008)
- What happened to the Kuiper Belt's smallest objects? (Oct 4, 2008)
- One Mystery of Jet Streams Explained (Oct 17, 2008)
Sun Song
(The Sun)- Hidden Boundaries of Sunspots Pump Out Plasma Into Interplanetary Space (Sep 29, 2008)
- NASA Spacecraft Finds the Sun is Not a Perfect Sphere (Oct 2, 2008)
Habitable Zone
(Searching for habitable planets or comparative planetology or Earth Science done from space)- NASA Data Show Arctic Saw Fastest August Sea Ice Retreat on Record (Sep 26, 2008)
- This year's 'moderately large' ozone hole over Antarctica is 5th biggest on record (Nov 4, 2008)
Lunar Love
(The Moon)HST-Bop
(Hubble press releases that don't fit nicely into another category, and image releases)- When it Comes to Galaxies, Diversity is Everywhere (Sep 30, 2008)
Come and Visit Mars
(Mars)- NASA Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow, Soil Data Suggest Liquid Past (Sep 29, 2008)
- Mars craters might be scars from fallen moon (Oct 24, 2008)
- Strange Sand Ripples on Mars Explained (Nov 4, 2008)
A Little Bit of Rock
(Comets, asteroids, meteors)- NASA Identifies Carbon-rich Molecules in Meteors as the 'Origin of Life' (Sep 24, 2008)
- Rock Offers Mirror-Image Clues to Life's Origins (Oct 6, 2008)
- Asteroid searcher hopes his discoveries won't produce direct impact (Oct 26, 2008)
Dance of the Planets
(Extrasolar planets)- How Rare Is the Earth? (Sep 18, 2008)
- NASA Supercomputer Shows How Dust Rings Point to Exo-Earths (Oct 10, 2008)
- Earth-like planet in Epsilon Eridani? It is logical, Captain (Oct 27, 2008)
Doppler Shifting
(Spectroscopy and/or results determined by using the Doppler shift)Wolf 359
(Stars in general)- Brightest Star in the Galaxy Has New Competition (Jul 15, 2008)
Cosmic Radio Show
(Radio astronomy, cosmology and the early universe)High Energy Groove
(X-ray and Gamma-ray astronomy)- Powerful Nearby Supernova Caught by Web (Sep 25, 2008)
Swift Song
(Gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic blasts)- NASA's Swift Catches Farthest Ever Gamma-Ray Burst (Sep 19, 2008)