"Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools."
--1921 New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard's revolutionary rocket work.

"Correction: It is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum. The 'Times' regrets the error."
NY Times, July 1969.

— New York Times

Astronomy

There's a Link Between the Earth's Atmosphere and its Magnetic Field

Universe Today - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:34pm

The Earth's magnetosphere is a giant magnetic field that arises from the flow of material deep inside the planet. Because the flow of material isn't constant, the strength and shape of the magnetosphere can change over geologic time. But researchers have found that changes in the magnetosphere seem to be correlated with fluctuations in the amount of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere. Both could be responding to a single underlying process.

Categories: Astronomy

Waning Crescent Moon

NASA Image of the Day - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:32pm
NASA astronaut Bob Hines took this picture of the waning crescent moon on May 8, 2022, as the International Space Station flew into an orbital sunrise 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of the United States.
Categories: Astronomy, NASA

The maths hack that can help you count things

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
It is tricky to count things that are moving around – but this handy maths technique can help, says Katie Steckles, whether it is animals or vanishing spoons that you're trying to keep track of
Categories: Astronomy

The maths hack that can help you count things

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
It is tricky to count things that are moving around – but this handy maths technique can help, says Katie Steckles, whether it is animals or vanishing spoons that you're trying to keep track of
Categories: Astronomy

This daringly experimental thriller is a puzzle-lover's delight

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Packed with puzzles and narrative threads, Matt Wixey's novel Basilisk is an exhilarating read that is hard to put down
Categories: Astronomy

This daringly experimental thriller is a puzzle-lover's delight

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Packed with puzzles and narrative threads, Matt Wixey's novel Basilisk is an exhilarating read that is hard to put down
Categories: Astronomy

Dramatic Edward Burtynsky image shows stark desert divide

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
This shot by the acclaimed photographer, taken from a helicopter, is part of a new exhibition of his work at New York City's International Center of Photography
Categories: Astronomy

A new book reveals the deep flaws in our natural history museums

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Natural history museums teach us about our world, but they aren’t telling us the whole story, writes curator Jack Ashby in Nature's Memory
Categories: Astronomy

Dramatic Edward Burtynsky image shows stark desert divide

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
This shot by the acclaimed photographer, taken from a helicopter, is part of a new exhibition of his work at New York City's International Center of Photography
Categories: Astronomy

A new book reveals the deep flaws in our natural history museums

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Natural history museums teach us about our world, but they aren’t telling us the whole story, writes curator Jack Ashby in Nature's Memory
Categories: Astronomy

Forget the Terminators, our robot future may be squishy and fun

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
It is uncanny how human fears about robots mirror those about immigrants. But maybe they aren't out to take our jobs or destroy us all, says Annalee Newitz
Categories: Astronomy

Spiders that get eaten after sex are picky about mates. You don't say

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
A study into a spider species in which the females are prone to eat the males after sex is welcomed into Feedback's new collection of self-evident scientific studies
Categories: Astronomy

Why climate change fades into the background – and how to change that

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
The public is tuning out the seemingly slow warming of the world, but it doesn't have to be that way, argue Grace Liu and Rachit Dubey
Categories: Astronomy

Spellbinding debut book explores the marvels of our brains

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Neurologist Pria Anand recounts curious tales of the workings of the human mind in an elegant debut that is being compared to the late, great Oliver Sacks
Categories: Astronomy

Use Summer Break to Build Closer Bonds with Your Children

Scientific American.com - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm

The kids are out of school, and some of the pressures may be off. Here’s how you can further connect with them to make next year a little easier

Categories: Astronomy

Forget the Terminators, our robot future may be squishy and fun

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
It is uncanny how human fears about robots mirror those about immigrants. But maybe they aren't out to take our jobs or destroy us all, says Annalee Newitz
Categories: Astronomy

Spiders that get eaten after sex are picky about mates. You don't say

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
A study into a spider species in which the females are prone to eat the males after sex is welcomed into Feedback's new collection of self-evident scientific studies
Categories: Astronomy

Why climate change fades into the background – and how to change that

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
The public is tuning out the seemingly slow warming of the world, but it doesn't have to be that way, argue Grace Liu and Rachit Dubey
Categories: Astronomy

Spellbinding debut book explores the marvels of our brains

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Neurologist Pria Anand recounts curious tales of the workings of the human mind in an elegant debut that is being compared to the late, great Oliver Sacks
Categories: Astronomy

How might society react to babies with two genetic fathers?

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 06/25/2025 - 2:00pm
Mice created using genetic material from two sperm cells have gone on to have offspring off their own, but the prospect of one day using the technique in humans has potential to cause controversy
Categories: Astronomy