Latest articles by Elizabeth Howell
Unified Field Theory: Tying It All Together
The unified field theory is an attempt to tie all the fundamental forces of nature together in a single theory.
Distant Dwarf Planet DeeDee Stirs Up the Pluto Planethood Debate
Recent observations that a tiny object in our solar system is a likely dwarf planet has some planetary scientists grumbling again about Pluto's demotion to that status.
Photoelectric Effect: Explanation & Applications
The photoelectric effect refers to what happens when electrons are emitted from a material that has absorbed electromagnetic radiation.
Sun's UV Light Helped Spark Life on Earth
High-energy, ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a known as a hazard to life, yet the energy provided by our star has played an important role as the essential driver of life on Earth.
Volcanic Activity on Ancient Mars May Have Produced Organic Life
New research suggests that active volcanoes on the Red Planet could have created an environment habitable to ancient microbes.
Can the Search for Alien Life Be Spurred by a Lottery?
A new paper suggests using a combination lottery and savings bond to ensure funding for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
US-Sized Dust Storms Seen on Mars
Two large dust storms in two weeks, each spanning an area larger than the United States, have researchers pondering the atmospheric dynamics on Mars.
Mars Colonists Might Need to Radically Alter Their Bodies and Minds
Training in Antarctica or on the International Space Station won't provide adequate preparation for human settlement on Mars, according to new research.
Blue Jets Swirl Above Thunderstorm in Photo from Space Station
In views from the International Space Station, a mysterious set of electrical discharges shine above a roiling thunderstorm in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Look Up Friday! Green Comet and Snow Moon Eclipse Team Up for Skywatchers
Skywatchers this weekend will get two special, subtle treats: a penumbral lunar eclipse on Friday (Feb. 10) and a strange green comet reaching its peak viewing time the following morning.
'Alien' Life Could Exist High in Earth's Atmosphere
If high altitude balloons find basic microorganisms in the stratosphere and mesosphere, it could have serious implications for the hunt for extraterrestrial life in the atmospheres of other worlds.
Great, Mysterious Balls of Fire Speed by Dying Star
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has seen planet-size cannonballs of hot gas whipping past a dying star, but the origin of these plasma balls remains a mystery.
NASA Probe Sees the Edge of the Sun
The solar wind's evolution is finally coming to light, thanks to new analysis of observations from NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO).
Watch Earth Spin Through a Full Year in This Spectacular Time-Lapse Video
A sped-up video of Earth spinning through space shows a dizzying array of clouds and continents from a satellite located 1 million miles away.
Solar Probe Plus: We're Going to Dive Into the Sun
NASA's Solar Probe Plus mission is moving ahead with its daring 2018 launch to study the sun's super-heated atmosphere.
Move Over, 'Star Trek' — Hubble Telescope Sees the Real Final Frontier
Just in time for the new "Star Trek" movie arrival in theaters this weekend, the Hubble Space Telescope released its latest image from its "Frontier Fields" program.
