Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week – Feb. 16, 2014

Roadmap in the Sky, China Moon Rover Survives and More

NASA/IBEX/UNH

Last week scientists reported a strange ribbon at the edge of the solar system that might serve as a "roadmap in the sky," China's first moon rover apparently survived its second lunar night after reports of its death, a prominent alien hunter predicted the first detection of intelligent extraterrestrial life will likely come within the next quarter-century. See the best stories from last week here.

FIRST STOP: Bold Prediction: Intelligent Alien Life Could Be Found by 2040

Bold Prediction: Intelligent Alien Life Could Be Found by 2040

ESO.

The first detection of intelligent extraterrestrial life will likely come within the next quarter-century, a prominent alien hunter Seth Shostak predicts.

[Full Story]

NEXT: Mysterious Energy Ribbon at Solar System's Edge a 'Cosmic Roadmap'

Mysterious Energy Ribbon at Solar System's Edge a 'Cosmic Roadmap'

NASA/IBEX/UNH

A strange ribbon of energy and particles at the edge of the solar system first spotted by a NASA spacecraft appears to serve as a sort of "roadmap in the sky" for the interstellar magnetic field, scientists say.

[Full Story]

NEXT: New US Military Space Plane Aims for 2017 Liftoff

New US Military Space Plane Aims for 2017 Liftoff

DARPA

The US military is working to develop an unmanned space plane that could make getting payloads to orbit much cheaper and faster.

[Full Story]

NEXT: China Moon Rover Survives Lunar Night, 'Stands a Chance' of Recovery

China Moon Rover Survives Lunar Night, 'Stands a Chance' of Recovery

CASC/China Ministry of Defense

It's alive! … Sort of. Reports of the death of China's first moon rover have been greatly exaggerated. According to state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua, Yutu, the nation's first moon rover, is now awake and has apparently survived its second lunar night.

[Full Story]

NEXT: United Nations Takes Aim at Asteroid Threat to Earth

United Nations Takes Aim at Asteroid Threat to Earth

Sandia National Laboratories

As the anniversary of last year's surprise Russian meteor explosion nears, a United Nations action team is taking steps to thwart dangerous space rocks, including setting up a warning network and a planning advisory group that would coordinate a counterpunch to cosmic threats.

[Full Story]

NEXT: 'Star Wars' Dresses Bring the Force to NYC Fashion Show

'Star Wars' Dresses Bring the Force to NYC Fashion Show

Rodarte

Yoda and high fashion are a surprising pair, but that's what audience members at Rodarte's New York Fashion Week show were treated to Tuesday (Feb. 11).

[Full Story]

NEXT: Ancient Star May Be Oldest in Known Universe

Ancient Star May Be Oldest in Known Universe

The Australia National University

Astronomers have found the oldest known star in the universe. The ancient star formed not long after the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago, according to Australia National University scientists.

[Full Story]

NEXT: NASA Photos Show Possible Water Flows on Mars (Images)

NASA Photos Show Possible Water Flows on Mars (Images)

NASA/JPL-Caltech/UA/JHU-APL

Scientists are getting a better understanding of the puzzling dark streaks that appear seasonally in some Martian locales, though the origin of the lines remains a mystery.

[Full Story]

NEXT: Hubble Telescope Reveals One of the Youngest Galaxies Ever Seen

Hubble Telescope Reveals One of the Youngest Galaxies Ever Seen

NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz, M. Mountain, A. Koekemoer, and the HFF Team (STScI)

A new deep view of the universe from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revealed one of the youngest galaxies ever observed by astronomers.

[Full Story]

NEXT: Will SpaceX Super Rocket Kill NASA's 'Rocket to Nowhere'? (Op-Ed)

Will SpaceX Super Rocket Kill NASA's 'Rocket to Nowhere'? (Op-Ed)

SpaceX

With private spacecraft, such as SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, poised to outperform NASA's exorbitantly expensive Apollo replacement, the Space Launch System, why is the U.S. government wasting its money?

[Full Story]

NEXT: How Our Milky Way Galaxy Got Its Spiral Arms

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Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.