2003
Mesoamerica Burning
May 16, 2003
With help from NASA scientists and satellites, Central American governments are piecing together a "bio-corridor" of protected lands stretching from Mexico to South America. They hope the gigantic preserve will help their people and the environment flourish together.
A New Form of Life
July 30, 2003
NASA scientists have discovered a new extreme-loving microorganism in California's exotic Mono Lake.
Christmas Day Mars Landing
Dec. 17, 2003
In search of alien life, the European Space Agency's Beagle 2 probe will parachute to the surface of Mars on Dec. 25th.
The 2003 Perseid Meteor Shower
July 17, 2003
Earthgrazing meteors. The Moonand Mars. The dependable Perseids. It all happens on August 12th and 13th. Mark your calendar and don't miss the show.
Solar Superstorm
Oct. 23, 2003
Scientists are beginning to understand a historic solar storm in 1859. One day, they say, it could happen again.
Cool Fuel Cells
March 18, 2003
Fuel cells promise to be the environmentally-friendly power source of the future, but some types run too hot to be practical. NASA-funded research may have a solution.
Harvesting Mars
Aug. 20, 2003
A NASA-supported scientist is learning how to use carbon dioxide--the main gas in Mars' atmosphere--to harvest rocket fuel and water from the red planet.
The Pull of Hypergravity
Feb. 7, 2003
By spinning people in a giant centrifuge for 22 hours at a time, a NASA researcher is learning more about the strange effects of artificial gravity on humans.
Approaching Mars
June 18, 2003
Amateur astronomers report that The Red Planetis now so close, you can see its south polar cap through a backyard telescope.
Science that can't be done on Earth
Jan. 16, 2003
This morning the Space ShuttleColumbia left Earth on an extraordinary mission--to study flames that form balls and flit around like UFOs, to collect exotic scents from space-traveling flowers, to reveal the inner workings of the human brain. And much more!