From the Standard Model to the Large Hadron Collider and from quantum physics to the Higgs boson, read about the latest discoveries in particle physics here.

Related topics: The Big Bang theory, Black holes, Dark matter

A long time ago (1977, to be precise), the original "Star Wars" saga was born. What began with "A New Hope" quickly evolved into one of the most popular sci-fi franchises of all time, now with 12 movies and dozens of spin-off television series, video games, books and graphic novels. See the latest "Star Wars" news here! 

Related topics: Space Movies & TV shows, Space Books

"Star Trek" is a science-fiction franchise that originated with the 1960s television series created by Gene Roddenberry. See the latest news from "the final frontier" here.

Related topics: Space Movies & TV shows, Space Books

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance is scheduled to touch down on the Red Planet on Feb. 18, 2021. The new rover will search for signs of habitable environments on Mars and evidence of past microbial life. It will also cache samples of the Red Planet to return to Earth for a future Mars sample-return mission. See the latest news about NASA's Perseverance Mars rover here!

Related topics: Mars, Curiosity rover, ExoMars

Blue Origin is a private spaceflight company based in Kent, Washington that is working to send tourists to space on its reusable suborbital rocket called New Shepard. The company was created in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com. 

In 2015, Blue Origin made history by successfully launching and landing a reusable rocket for the first time. The company is currently developing a lunar lander called Blue Moon that will make robotic cargo deliveries to the lunar surface, and it is partnering with SpaceX and Dynetics to develop a human-rated moon lander that will carry astronauts to the lunar surface in 2024 under NASA's Artemis Program.

See the latest Blue Origin images, videos and other space news here.

See the latest science fiction and space games for PC, consoles and tabletops from across the final frontier.

Related Topics: Movies & TV, Books, Space History, UFOS & Extraterrestrials

The 235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society brought more than 3,500 scientists to Honolulu, Hawaii to unveil the latest discoveries in space and the future of astronomy. See the latest news, images and videos from the AAS 235 meeting here. 

Related: NASA, Hubble Space Telescope, Exoplanets, Big Bang, NASA's Artemis Program

Boeing is an iconic company in U.S. space exploration that dates back decades. From its work on the space shuttle and International Space Station, to its new Starliner spacecraft, moon lander and beyond, the company is a mainstay in the U.S. aerospace industry. See the latest Boeing Starliner images, videos and other Boeing space news here.

Related Topics: SpaceX, NASA, International Space Station

The 70th International Astronautical Congress called space agencies, astronauts and scientists from all over the world to Washington, D.C. in October 2019 to discuss the latest discoveries, missions and ideas for space exploration. See news, photos and videos from the IAC 2019 here. 

Related: NASA, China Space Program, India Space Program, NASA's Artemis Program

Hawthorne, Calif.-based Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is a commercial company aiming to launch cargo, and eventually people, to low-Earth orbit. The firm is developing its Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 booster under contracts from NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program and its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, NASA, NASA Space Launch System, Orion Spacecraft

Scientists speculate that ours might not be the only universe out there — we might instead live in a set of infinite or parallel universes called a "multiverse". Infinite universes are a consequence of several scientific theories; for instance, if spacetime truly goes on forever it might start repeating eventually, since particles can only be arranged a finite number of ways. A multiverse could also arise from "bubble universes," pockets of space in an inflating universe that are never able to meet; or parallel universes, where multiple 3D universes are held in higher-dimensional space, unable to interact. While some universes in a multiverse might be like our own, others could have wildly different laws of physics and fundamental constants.

Related Topics: The Big Bang Theory, Black Holes, Dark Matter, Gravitational Waves, Stars and Galaxies

NASA is the space agency run by the United States to oversee American space exploration, research and technology. NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was founded in 1958 as a civilian agency for U.S. space exploration. Prior to 1958, the agency's progenitor was known as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA develops, builds and launches missions to study the Earth, moon and sun, as well as the entire solar system and beyond. The agency has its headquarters in Washington D.C., with major centers in Florida (the Kennedy Space Center for launches) and Houston (the Johnson Space Center, home of the astronaut corps). Other centers are spread across the country for scientific research, test flights and spacecraft manufacturing. NASA's current chief is Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who is leading the agency's mission of returning astronauts to the moon and sending them on to Mars. See the latest NASA news.

Related Topics: Apollo Program, China Space Program, Incredible Space Tech, International Space Station, Interstellar Travel

Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity explains how space and time are linked, but it doesn't include acceleration. By including acceleration, Einstein later developed the theory of general relativity, which explains how massive objects in the cosmos distort the fabric of space-time. The theory explains how this distortion is felt as the force of gravity, as it predicts how much the mass of an object curves space-time. Scientists test relativity by observing objects in space and seeing if their behaviors match up with Einstein's explanations of space-time and gravity, for instance by observing how light bends around massive objects as it travels towards Earth.

Related Topics: The Big Bang Theory, Black Holes, Dark Matter, Gravitational Waves, Multiverse

Big Bang theory is the leading explanation for how our universe began. According to the theory, the entire universe began as a tiny singularity that went through an explosive expansion 13.8 billion years ago, gradually expanding into the cosmos we see today. Today, astronomers can detect an "echo" from the Big Bang in the cosmic microwave background, a phenomenon that can be detected with radio telescopes. Big Bang Theory is also the name of a popular CBS sitcom about scientists, where several real-life scientists and astronauts have appeared.

Related Topics: Black Holes, Dark Matter, Gravitational Waves, The Theory of Relativity in Space 

Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time created by the interaction of massive objects in space, such as black holes and neutron stars. Their existence was first predicted by Albert Einstein in his 1916 paper describing his theory of general relativity. In 2015, scientists made the first detection of gravitational waves, observing ripples from the collision of two black holes. The discovery won astrophysicists Kip Thorne, Barry Baris and Rainer Weiss the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics. Subsequent observations have also detected gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars. Learn more about gravitational waves here.

Related Topics: Black Holes, Dark Matter, The Theory of Relativity in Space

Roughly 80 percent of the mass of the universe appears to be dark matter: an invisible material that seems to interact with ordinary matter only through gravity, without emitting light or energy. Scientists cannot detect dark matter directly and don't yet know what it's made of, but they track its influence based on the motions of stars and galaxies. The presence of dark matter is necessary to explain the universe's current structure.

Related Topics: The Big Bang Theory, Black Holes, The Theory of Relativity in Space, Gravitational Waves

On April. 8, 2024 a total solar eclipse will be visible across the Americas. Check out our total eclipse 2024 guide for everything you need to know about that total solar eclipse. 

You can watch the total solar eclipse live here on Space.com and follow along with live updates on our eclipse live blog. 

Related stories: 

— What is a solar eclipse? 

— When is the next solar eclipse? 

— How to photograph a solar eclipse

"We Don't Planet" is a new series of short explainer videos covering the most interesting objects and topics in the universe. Watch each new video, and learn about its subject matter, here.

Related Topics: Expert Voices - Paul Sutter

Learn more about the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft that arrived at Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on Aug. 6, 2014.

Related Topics: Comets, Asteroids, Meteors, Shooting Stars and Fireballs, NASA

The European Space Agency and Russia's Federal Space Agency have teamed up on the ExoMars orbiter and rover mission to the Red Planet. See the latest news, images, videos and more on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Rover mission here.

Related Topics: Mars, Mars Rover Opportunity, Curiosity Mars Rover Mission 

NASA and Russia launched a joint one year mission to the International Space Station. NASA's Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko lifted off to the orbiting outpost on March 27, 2015, and landed 340 days later after just under a year in microgravity.

The Kavli Foundation, based in Southern California, advances science for the benefit of humanity, promotes public understanding of scientific research, and supports scientists and their work. The Foundation's mission is implemented through an international program of research institutes in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience and theoretical physics, and through the support of meetings, conferences, symposia, endowed professorships and other activities. The Foundation is also a founding partner of the biennial Kavli Prizes, which recognize scientists for their seminal advances in three research areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience.

Related Topics: Expert Voices, Expert Voices - Don Lincoln, Expert Voices - Leroy Chiao, Expert Voices - Paul Sutter, Expert Voices - Robert Lawrence Kuhn 

Leroy Chiao is a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station (ISS) commander. Chiao holds appointments at Rice University and the Baylor College of Medicine, and is the special advisor for human spaceflight to the Space Foundation. Chiao has worked extensively in both government and commercial space programs, and has held leadership positions in commercial ventures and NASA. In his 15 years with NASA, Chiao logged more than 229 days in space, more than 36 hours spent in Extra-Vehicular Activity (spacewalks). From June to September 2009, he served as a member of the White House appointed Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee, and currently serves on the NASA Advisory Council.

Related Topics: Expert Voices, Expert Voices - Don Lincoln, Expert Voices - Paul Sutter, Expert Voices - Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Expert Voices - The Kavli Foundation 

Paul M. Sutter is a theoretical cosmologist at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University and a guest researcher at the Flatiron Institute in New York City. An award-winning science communicator, he is the author of Your Place in the Universe and How to Die in Space, and the host of the "Ask a Spaceman" podcast.

Related Topics: Expert Voices, Expert Voices - Don Lincoln, Expert Voices - Leroy Chiao, Expert Voices - Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Expert Voices - The Kavli Foundation 

Don Lincoln, senior scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and adjunct professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame, conducts his research using the Compact Muon Solenoid detector located at the Large Hadron Collider. His scientific interest is broad, spanning such questions as the nature of dark matter, understanding why we see no antimatter in the universe and whether the familiar quarks and leptons are composed of even smaller particles. In addition to his contributions to Space.com and on Live Science, you can follow him on Facebook.

Related Topics: Expert Voices, Expert Voices - Leroy Chiao, Expert Voices - Paul Sutter, Expert Voices - Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Expert Voices - The Kavli Foundation 

Robert Lawrence Kuhn is the creator, writer, host and executive producer of the PBS television series "Closer to Truth" (produced and directed by Peter Getzels) and he has published more than 30 books including The Mystery of Existence: Why is there Anything At All? (2013, with philosopher John Leslie), "Closer to Truth: Science, Meaning and the Future" (2007) and "The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin" (China’s best-selling book in 2005). Kuhn is a commentator for the BBC, CNN, CCTV, and Bloomberg, and a featured columnist in the South China Morning Post and China Daily. His Ph.D. is in anatomy/brain research (UCLA).

Related Topics: Expert Voices, Expert Voices - Don Lincoln, Expert Voices - Leroy Chiao, Expert Voices - Paul Sutter, Expert Voices - The Kavli Foundation 

Learn more about Virgin Galactic's plan to make space tourism and personal space travel a reality with SpaceShipTwo.

Related Topics: Space Tourism, SpaceX, NASA Space Launch System

Military forces have a long association with spaceflight, with modern rockets evolving from missiles developed during World War II. Today's armed forces rely on space-based assets for reconnaissance, weather tracking, communication, navigation and more. The U.S. Air Force regularly launches GPS and missile-defense tracking satellites, and operates two classified X-37B robotic space planes. Learn more about military satellites, space weapon, the Space Force and more here.

Related Topics: NASA

The night sky is filled spectacular cosmic treasures, from the moon and other planets to distant stars and galaxies. See amazing pictures of the night sky as seen by veteran observers and amateur astronomers here. 

Related Topics: Space History Photos

India's Mars Orbiter Mission marks the country's first mission to the Red Planet and first entry into interplanetary spaceflight. The unmanned Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, will map the surface of the Red Planet and test technologies needed for future Indian space missions.

Related Topics: Curiosity Mars Rover Mission, ExoMars, Mars, Mars Rover Opportunity, MAVEN Mars Mission

Space books and science fiction put the depths of space in the palm of your hand. See Space.com’s latest space and science fiction book coverage here. 

Related Topics: Stargazer Photos, Space History Photos, SpaceKids 

From Star Wars and Star Trek to 2001 and beyond, see Space.com’s latest coverage on space documentaries and science fiction films here. 

Related Topics: Space Books, Space History Photos 

The rise of 3D printing technology is not confined to Earth. Private companies, NASA and other groups are quickly developing new concepts to launch 3D printing into the final frontier. See the latest news, videos and photos of 3D printing in space here.

NASA's MAVEN mission is investigating the mystery of how ancient Mars went from being a wet world to the cold, dry desert it is now. The MAVEN (short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) probe will investigate the Red Planet's thin atmosphere, searching for signs of how the planet became what it is today. See the latest MAVEN news, photos and video here. 

Related Topics: Curiosity Mars Rover Mission, ExoMars, India Mars Orbiter Mission, Mars, Mars Rover Opportunity 

The history of space exploration is rich with photos from NASA that detail the history of space travel, breakthrough propulsion systems, groundbreaking astronauts and missions, and robotic exploration. Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight, from the early days of the space race through the space shuttle era, from the years of the first rockets and satellites to the test-flight era that preceded human spaceflight, and of course beyond.

Related Topics: Stargazer Photos, SpaceKids, Space Books

Learn the latest news about space tourism and space tourist trips into outer space. Space.com looks at the growing business of space tourism. 

Related Topics: SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Incredible Space Tech, International Space Station, Interstellar Travel 

See our amazing collection of stories and features about the increasingly important topic of space weather (aka solar storms).

Related Topics: Solar Eclipse, Aurora Borealis 

The amount of trash in Earth orbit, from spent rocket stages, broken satellites and micrometeoroids, is growing. Scientists are working on methods to combat the threat of space junk and orbital debris collisions.

Related Topics: International Space Station, Incredible Space Tech, Military Space, NASA

SPACE.com invites experts in space exploration, science & technology to provide insightful commentary and informed perspective on news, current events, innovations, big ideas and ongoing research. Expert Voices includes Op-Ed analysis and opinion as well as interesting observations from the field and space exploration efforts around the world.

Related Topics: Expert Voices - Don Lincoln, Expert Voices - Leroy Chiao, Expert Voices - Paul Sutter, Expert Voices - Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Expert Voices - The Kavli Foundation 

Scientists say a giant impact knocked off the raw ingredients for the moon off the primitive molten Earth and into orbit.

Related Topics: Earth, Apollo Program, Moon Phases 

Over the years, we’ve gotten a lot of questions about planets, comets, asteroids, stars, galaxies, black holes and more, often from kids and sometimes from kids-at-heart. Inside SpaceKids on SPACE.com, you’ll find some great big questions and very simple, straightforward answers about everything from the moon to Mars and beyond into our Milky Galaxy and the universe itself. 

Related Topics: Space Books, Space Movies, Space History Photos 

Each day we highlight a spectacular picture from space. See space exploration photos, astronaut pictures and more in our Image of the Day galleries.

Related Topics: Black Holes, Aurora Borealis, Stargazer Photos, International Space Station, Meteors, Shooting Stars and Fireballs