Solar flare

A 1972 solar storm triggered a Vietnam War mystery

Nov. 12, 2018

Researchers have uncovered the chain of events that caused more than two dozen sea mines to suddenly—and without explanation—explode in the water off the coast of North Vietnam.

Kepler Space Telescope

Engineers, students played key role in hunt for alien worlds

Nov. 12, 2018

Researchers reflect on the legacy of Kepler, a telescope that located thousands of planets beyond Earth's solar system.

Students in class

How ideas go viral in academia

Nov. 6, 2018

New research shows that the spread of ideas through academia may depend on where they come from as much as their quality.

Fire ant

Fire ant colonies could inspire molecular machines, swarming robots

Nov. 5, 2018

Researchers have uncovered the statistical rules that govern how gigantic colonies of fire ants form bridges, ladders and floating rafts.

Harrison "Jack" Schmitt, a former NASA astronaut, points to a photograph of reddish-orange lunar soil that he took during his trip to the moon in 1972.

Apollo astronaut visits campus, shares tales from the moon

Oct. 30, 2018

Harrison "Jack" Schmitt talked with students at SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder about the past and future of humanity's exploration of the moon.

Comet Lovejoy

Astrophysicist exploring the outer solar system wins prestigious fellowship

Oct. 15, 2018

Ann-Marie Madigan has been named a 2018 Packard Fellow, an award that comes with a no-strings-attached grant of $875,000.

Artist's rendering of Cassini flying below Saturn's rings.

In its final days, Cassini bathed in 'ring rain'

Oct. 4, 2018

Scientists have successfully collected dust raining down from Saturn's rings onto the planet's upper atmosphere.

Coal mine

SMµ÷½ÌËù researchers go deep, design drones for subterranean search and rescue

Oct. 2, 2018

The race is on: Researchers from SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder, SMµ÷½ÌËù Denver and Scientific Systems Company Inc. have partnered to design drones that can explore underground environments such as subway tunnels, mines and caves.

Graphic of Earth's interior

A wrench in Earth's engine

Oct. 1, 2018

Researchers at SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder report that they may have solved a geophysical mystery, pinning down the likely cause of a phenomenon that resembles a wrench in the engine of the planet.

Illustration of NASA's planned Orion Spacecraft (right) docking at the Lunar Gateway (left).

Dark side of the moon holds clues to early universe

Sept. 25, 2018

SMµ÷½ÌËù Boulder researchers have proposed a new satellite that would orbit the moon to seek out signals from the cosmic "dark ages."

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