From newborn earthworms to poop removal technology, the year laid the groundwork for the future space travelers among us.

The former military intelligence operative quit the Pentagon but will continue to work on identifying UFOs that are still baffling scientists.

They’re not habitable, but the dual discoveries change how we’re going to hunt for the next Earth.

Constellations of spots on these school bus-sized animals were hard to track, until now.

The agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory can find the tiniest microorganisms—something that turned out handy for breast-cancer researchers.

On Sunday, a rare synergy will bring a brilliant spectacle of a giant full moon.

Need some space? NASA’s got you.