SUNSET: 
The Curious Case of Martian Methane
Mars, it seems, is not quite dead. A team of observers has found methane in the Red Planet's atmosphere. This finding proves either that Mars has (or once had) life — or that the planet's interior occasionally burps.
Martian Mega-Rover Gets a "Time Out"
Plagued by a technical obstacles that could threaten its success, a $2 billion Mars rover has been postponed two years by NASA officials. The Mars Science Laboratory's new launch date is 2011.
Martian Dirt is Friendly to Life
The Phoenix lander's first wet chemical analysis of the Martian surface confirms water’s thumbprint and finds the kinds of inorganic minerals you'd have in a backyard garden.
Is Mars Too Salty for Life?
A just-published study, coincidentally appearing as Phoenix prepares to get the dirt on Martian habitability, argues that the Red Planet's soil is at least 10 to 100 times saltier than Earth's oceans.
A Rich Protoplanetary Soup
Infrared observations reveal a star with a protoplanetary disk infused with helpful organic compounds.
A Star with Five Planets
The Sun-like star 55 Cancri, just 41 light-years away, is now known to have at least five planets orbiting it.
One Less "Possibility of Life"?
Just because Saturn's moon Enceladus has active geysers doesn't mean it harbors alien life. That's the take-home message from an upcoming scientific paper.
