ScienceDaily: Space & Time News

Probing strong gravity in a binary neutron star system Posted: 14 Jan 2015 12:29 PM PST Astronomers have successfully measuring the precession of a young neutron star, just before it disappeared from visibility.

A twist on planetary origins: Meteorites were byproducts of planetary formation, not building blocks Posted: 14 Jan 2015 11:05 AM PST Meteors that have crashed to Earth have long been regarded as relics of the early solar system. These craggy chunks of metal and rock are studded with chondrules -- tiny, glassy, spherical grains that were once molten droplets. Scientists have thought that chondrules represent early kernels of terrestrial planets: As the solar system started to coalesce, these molten droplets collided with bits of gas and dust to form larger planetary precursors. However, researchers have now found that chondrules may have played less of a fundamental role. Based on computer simulations, the group concludes that chondrules were not building blocks, but rather byproducts of a violent and messy planetary process.

Long duration weightlessness in space induces a blood shift Posted: 14 Jan 2015 07:16 AM PST In space, the shift of blood and fluid from the lower to the upper body caused by weightlessness is much higher and the blood pressure much lower than previously thought, researchers have found.

New Exoplanet-hunting telescopes on Paranal — NGTS facility achieves first light Posted: 14 Jan 2015 04:26 AM PST The Next-Generation Transit Survey is a wide-field observing system made up of an array of twelve telescopes, each with an aperture of 20 centimeters. This new facility is located in northern Chile and benefits from the superb observing conditions and excellent support facilities available at this site.