Direct detection of an exoplanet atmosphere

This article describes the first visible light directly detected from an exoplanet. This is something like seeing what color the sky is in New York is from Los Angeles. 

Voyager at the edge of the solar system

I have followed the Voyager probes with interest since I was a kid. It made a great impression on me and taught me about the importance of all sorts of things (planetary science, rocketry, propulsion, communication, exploration,...)

After a period of debate, it now appears that Voyager 1 has left the solar system. Scientists have debated exactly where the edge of the solar system lies, until now it seems. Between the shift of magnetic fields (from solar to galactic) and the change in flux of particles (fewer from the sun and more from elsewhere) Voyager appears to now be in a region of space where nothing from Earth has ever gone.

What is weather like on exo-planets?

I find this topic particularly fascinating. Not only can we detect the presence of exo-planets (planets orbiting stars other than our own) we can search for evidence of their atmospheres. And this article is particularly well-written. 

http://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/blueshift/index.php/2015/01/29/exoplanet-weather/

How smart are smart materials?

Materials that know how to bend and respond to conditions. How smart are they?

Is quantum mechanics spooky for you?

I think the authors have a point here: are we doing a disservice to quantum mechanics (and the understanding of q.m. by the general public) by emphasizing the "spooky" behavior? Is any news good news? Or are we essentially calling quantum mechanics some kind of pseudo science when we do this?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/physics/2014/09/whos-afraid-of-quantum-mechanics/

Who runs CERN?

Inside the control room(s) at CERN.

http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/march-2015/inside-the-cern-control-centre

What exactly is an asteroid anyway?

An asteroid-comet hybrid??

http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/asteroid-comet-hybrid-found-with-surprise-ring-system-15031.htm?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Mythbusters&hootPostID=1b49302613d566cf70599e493e7b3d67

I also want to recognize my hard-working astronomy club students, who are hard at work at building an electromagnet.