Total solar eclipse, May 29, 1919, at Sobral, Brazil

Total Solar Eclipse, 2024 Edition

A total solar eclipse crosses North America on Monday, April 8. Be prepared!
Astronomical diagram of the seasons and signs of the zodiac, c. 1860

Earth Isn’t the Only Planet With Seasons

But they can look wildly different on other worlds.
Flag of the Chinese Empire under the Qing dynasty (1889-1912)

Dragon Swallows the Sun: Predicting Eclipses in China

China had a long history of astronomy before the arrival of Europeans, but the politics of absolute rule led to the eventual embrace of Western methods.
The eclipse of Agathocles

How Astronomers Write History

Scientists’ approach to dating past eclipses changed when they stopped treating classical texts as authoritative records.
Alvin, the Navy research submarine

A Cold War Baby: Happy Birthday, Alvin!

The submersible Alvin is sixty years old this year. Numerous overhauls and upgrades have kept the craft going down (and coming back up!).
Coal burning power plant with pollution in a twilight situation.

Not All Forms of Carbon Removal Are Created Equal

The carbon market and offsetting system have created “carbon cowboys” and perpetuated forms of neo-colonialism and other inequities.
Artist's impression of ʻOumuamua

Why Interstellar Objects Like ʻOumuamua and Borisov May Hold Clues to Exoplanets

The detection of two celestial interlopers careening through our solar system has scientists eagerly anticipating more.
Total solar eclipse, May 29, 1919, at Sobral, Brazil

Bridging The Gap of War: Einstein’s Eclipse

Astronomer Arthur S. Eddington argued that astronomy should be above politics, even when politics leads to world war.
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis: Labor and the Tea Plant

Consumed as tea around the world, Camellia sinensis raises questions about plantation labor practices and the environmental impact of monocultures.
Andromeda Galaxy

100 Years after the “Great Debate”: How Edwin Hubble Expanded the Cosmos

In 1924, Edwin Hubble found proof that the Milky Way isn't the only galaxy in the Universe.