A supernova in the making, and mummies rewrite the history of Ancient Egypt

Plus: The Navy's new firefighting robot, and balloon rides to the edge of space

SUBSCRIBE DIGITAL | RENEW | GIFT Discover Newsletter:  02/12/2015 Astronomers Spot a Supernova in the Making A rare collision of two white dwarfs portends a massive explosion 700 million years from now.   DISCOVER BLOGS COLLIDE-A-SCAPE Bill Maher and His Unscientific Beliefs Science-minded individuals will probably cringe when they watch this clip.  MORE  |            THE CRUX Baby Sign Language: Does it Work? There is no strong evidence to support the claimed benefits of baby sign language.  MORE  |            NEUROSKEPTIC Who Are History’s Heroes and Villains? According to a world opinion survey, Albert Einstein is the top hero, but where do George W. Bush and Gandhi rank?  MORE  |            D-BRIEF US Navy Unveils a Firefighting Humanoid Robot The man-sized robot would serve on the front lines of dangerous situations, ensuring the safety of sailors.  MORE  |            IMAGEO The Arctic is Whispering to Us. Are We Listening? Subtle changes occurring in the Arctic should be grabbing our attention.  MORE  |              THIS MONTH IN DISCOVER MAGAZINE Is There Life on Europa? Brenda Poppy Jupiter’s watery moon might just prove hospitable.  MORE  |            Out of the Woods Andrew Curry An Amazonian tribe seeks help for a deadly problem.  MORE  |            A Balloon Ride to the Edge of Space Bill Andrews, Davide Sher A sky-high balloon ride will soon be able to take you to the top of the atmosphere.  MORE  |            Mummies Rewrite the Story of Egypt Gemma Tarlach The earliest mummies reveal how culture and climate created the world’s first state.  MORE  |            Icy Worlds Might Be Alive on the Inside Corey S. Powell Some of the solar system’s frozen worlds seem to have warm underground oceans that could harbor life.  MORE  |              RECENT PHOTO GALLERIES  Oops! 8 Discoveries Astronomers Didn’t Mean to Make  Snowflakes Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before  Are Insects the Future of Food?