Astronomers are puzzling over a paucity of planets in the galaxy measuring between 1.5 and two times Earth’s size.

The billionaire tycoon’s ideas draw from the vision of physicist Gerard K. O’Neill, who pioneered concepts for space settlements in the 1970s.

Physicist Gerard K. O’Neill proposed a space settlement design based on giant cylinders. Rick Guidice / NASA.

A new study wants to protect the solar system from runaway human industry by making 85% of extraterrestrial resources off-limits.

Right now Chandra is gazing at a galaxy cluster in Draco. Nearby is the famous Tadpole Galaxy, seen here with thousands of galaxies in the background! The Tadpole’s tail of stars is over 280,000 light years long, stretched by gravity during a previous close encounter with another galaxy!

NASA finally seems serious about a crewed lunar return; this time with the first female astronaut to walk on the Moon’s surface.

Using a special liquid, engineers are designing new treatments for spacesuits so that they can better resist puncturing from tiny meteorites and other hazards.

After billions of years of cooling, the Moon continues to shrink. This NASA study shows how wrinkle ridges, curved hills and shallow trenches are forming as the Moon loses heat: https://go.nasa.gov/2VpcOR3

Proposal calls for wilderness protection as startup space miners look to the stars.