Scientific American Space Lab

How Do We Measure the Distance to Stars?

Video | 8 years ago

The answer lies in the tiny shifts we see in a star's position as Earth revolves around the sun.

Do Cosmic Rays Spark Lightning? - Instant Egghead

Video | 8 years ago

Cosmic rays are subatomic particles from deep space that are constantly bombarding the Earth's atmosphere. This video was originally published on ScientificAmerican.com on June 22, 2012.

How Do Earthquake Warning Systems Work?

Video | 8 years ago

Earthquake warning systems save lives by detecting the first signs of shaking.

Comets versus Asteroids - Instant Egghead

Podcast | 8 years ago

If you answered, "one of Santa's reindeer" and "a popular video game from the '80s"--this episode of Instant Egghead is for you. This story was originally published on ScientificAmerican.com on May 14, 2012.

What Does the Universe Sound Like? - Instant Egghead

Video | 8 years ago

With sensitive instruments and some creative translations, astronomers can derive the sounds of a silent universe. This video was originally published on ScientificAmerican.com on September 13, 2013.

Is Our Universe a Hologram? - Instant Egghead

Video | 8 years ago

We take for granted that we exist as 3D beings in a 3D universe, but physicists suggest that our world is just the projection of a reality written in 2D. Scientific American editor Michael Moyer explains. This video was originally published on ScientificAme...

Scientific American Space Lab Live Stream

Stream | 8 years ago

Who Owns Outer Space? - Instant Egghead

Video | 8 years ago

A 1967 United Nations treaty states that outer space isn't up for grabs.This hasn't stopped at least one entrepreneur from selling land on our closest celestial neighbors. Scientific American editor Clara Moskowitz explains. VISIT ScientificAmerican.com for...

Cosmos-Mapping Team wins 2017 Breakthrough Prize in Physics

Video | 8 years ago

This year’s Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was awarded to the team behind NASA’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, or WMAP, a space telescope that launched in 2001 to map the cosmic microwave background—the earliest, oldest light we can detec...

Neutron Star Collisions Create Gold

Video | 9 years ago

Astrophysicists searching for gravitational waves have finally learned what happens when you crash two neutron stars together--and it's very, very shiny.

Cassini Says Goodbye

Review | 9 years ago

After two decades orbiting Saturn and helping scientists investigate some very unusual moons, Cassini's mission has come to an end. Scientific American's Mike Lemonick and Lee Billings review many of the spacecraft's discoveries and bid Cassini farewell.

See Jupiter's Great Red Spot Up Close

Video | 9 years ago

Juno just sent back new photos of the centuries-old storm roiling on Jupiter.