For 75 years, CU Boulder has been a leader in space exploration and innovation. We travel to space to monitor sea level rise, melting ice, weather patterns and more. Our researchers explore how to track and remove dangerous debris in space. We research the health of humans in space to inform medical applications for people on Earth.Learn more about the latest in space research and science at CU Boulder.

Sunspots appearon the surface of Earth'ssun.

The sun may have a dual personality, simulations suggest

June 11, 2019

A deep dive into the sun's interior provides new clues to the forces that govern that star's internal clock.

An artist's depiction of a superflare on an alien star.

Rare ‘superflares’ could one day threaten Earth

June 10, 2019

New research shows that the sun could experience a massive burst of energy called a superflare sometime in the next several thousand years.

Hurricane

Constellation of weather satellites to cover the globe

May 3, 2019

Want more accurate weather forecasts? You’re in luck: Last month, the first in a planned fleet of satellites launched that will one day record weather data at every point on the globe every 15 minutes.

MAVEN in orbit around Mars

MAVEN sets its sights beyond Mars

April 29, 2019

As NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft enters into a new orbit, researchers reflect on the past and future of this landmark mission that has opened a new window into the evolution of the Red Planet.

Person looking up at space

Beyond Earth: How humans will tackle the next generation of space travel

April 23, 2019

Before humans venture farther into space, we have big questions to answer. When and where will we go? How will we interact with life we find there? Experts weigh in on those questions in this episode of the Brainwaves podcast.

Brian Hynek with CU Boulder flag

The great Antarctic meteorite hunt

March 20, 2019

This winter, astrobiologist Brian Hynek traveled to one of the loneliest places on Earth to hunt for pieces of alien worlds.

Asteroid Bennu

OSIRIS-REx spies on the weird, wild gravity of an asteroid

March 19, 2019

A new study explores the “Alice in Wonderland”-like physics that govern gravity near the surface of the asteroid Bennu.

Aurora borealis

Solar wind fills research sails at space weather center

Feb. 20, 2019

Researchers have landed a new grant to improve forecasts of how solar winds affect Earth's atmosphere.

MAVEN spacecraft

MAVEN ushers in new era by tapping the brakes

Feb. 11, 2019

NASA's atmosphere-sniffing spacecraft will begin a series of maneuvers to tighten its orbit around the Red Planet and prepare for the arrival of the 2020 Mars rover.

Mice galaxies

‘Missing’ galactic mergers come to light with new technique

Jan. 8, 2019

Galaxy mergers aren’t always easy for astronomers to spot. Now, scientists from CU Boulder have developed a new technique for finding these cosmic couplings.

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