Science

Photos of Pluto reveal a 'toy store' of surprises
This week the New Horizons space probe sent back the first detailed pictures humans have ever been able to see of Pluto and its five moons.
Science: 2014 was hottest yet recorded, on land and sea
The international report card's out and confirms the hottest average on record -- for a third time in 15 years. More than 400 scientists contributed data, finding a spike in sea and air temperatures.
'Buckyballs' solve century-old mystery about interstellar space
Scientists have long wondered what's in the wispy cloud of gas floating in the space between the stars, absorbing starlight. Turns out it's a form of carbon named after architect Buckminster Fuller.
'Aurora' journeys in a new direction
Veteran sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson returns with a tale of that classic genre trope, the generation ship. Critic Alan Cheuse says this story of spacefaring colonists goes to unexpected places.