A new tool for examining the nature of the universe’s enigmatic dark energy may yield clues to the future of the cosmos. In the late 1960's two Russian scientists, Rashid Sunyaev and Yakov … more

At 16,000 feet and in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains, northern Chile's virtually cloudless, extremely arid Atacama Desert1 provides an ideal location for large telescopes. Free from light … more

Triangulation1 may sound like a horrible way to die (on par with the rack), but in fact the term refers to a method for measuring distances to faraway objects. As far back as 600 BC, the Greeks used … more

Scientists don't take kindly to the notion that luck plays a large role in achieving good results. It is well-thought-out experiments and plain hard work, not unpredictable luck that produce the best … more

Why would anyone want to build a large telescope for use in space? The cost is prohibitive (about $2.4 billion) and, if repairs are needed, it almost takes an act of Congress to fix one. Critics have … more

I once saw a toy that served as a visual example of the saying "one in a million". It consisted of a clear plastic ball about 4 inches in diameter filled with literally a million little plastic cubes. … more

What does science have in common with games of chance? Is RTB now hooking up with gamblers to establish its creation model? You may be surprised to learn that many of the most difficult problems … more

Measurement of the universe's expansion (essential for knowing its size and age) critically depends on what astronomers call the cosmic distance scale. Distances to the farthest objects in the heavens … more

Sometimes scientific instruments themselves are quite remarkable. Take, for example, modern telescopes. Their amazing measuring capacities and the stunning images they provide buoy astronomers' hopes … more