Topic: Peter Smith

Will NASA's $2.5 billion Mars rover crash on Sunday? (+video)

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover faces a terrifying seven-minute plunge through the Red Planet's atmosphere using a first-of-its-kind landing system involving a supersonic parachute and a 'sky-crane' that will lower the rover to the Martian surface.

Is Mars sucking water from its own atmosphere?

Salty soils on Mars act to collect moisture from the Red Planet's atmosphere, according to new research. The salt and the moisture combine to create a brine that may encourage nutrients.

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander officially kaput

It's official: NASA has declared its Phoenix Mars Lander, which fell silent in November 2008, officially broken.

After the landers of (Mars') summer have gone

An unexpected find on Mars

Perchlorate exists, too, in soils on Earth. Its presence probably has little bearing on prospects for life on Mars, scientists say.

"America Eats: On the Road with the WPA"

A writer takes her own journey to update the WPA's guide to America's eating habits.

Petition: Add 'Bike There' to Google Maps

A bike activist has collected more than 35,000 signatures on an online petition asking Google to add a 'Bike There' feature to its popular online maps application.

Phoenix Mars Lander prepares to begin excavation

A successful landing and Mars's smooth surface sets optimum digging conditions

With Phoenix mission, water hunt to resume on Mars

The lander is scheduled to touch down on the red planet Sunday, marking a turning point in the exploration program.

Prodding Burma's (Myanmar's) neighbors

Western states want Asian nations to pressure Burma to accept help.

China moves quickly in quake zone

The country's deadliest quake in three decades hit central China Monday.