Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week – March 2, 2014

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Dead Pigeons and the Universe's Birth: 5 Weird Facts About Big Bang Theory

NASA/WMAP

Here are five things you didn’t know about the Big Bang theory and the origins of the universe.

[Full Story]

NEXT: Water Found in Atmosphere of Nearby Alien Planet

Water Found in Atmosphere of Nearby Alien Planet

Alexandra Lockwood/Caltech

Water has been detected in the atmosphere of one of the first alien planets ever identified by astronomers, scientists announced.

[Full Story]

NEXT: Construction of Giant Telescope in Hawaii Could Begin This Summer

Construction of Giant Telescope in Hawaii Could Begin This Summer

Thirty Meter Telescope

The Thirty-Meter Telescope is about 80 percent funded, and plans to break ground at Mauna Kea this summer, the observatory's leaders say.

[Full Story]

NEXT: Incredible Technology: Space 'Harpoons' Could Snatch Samples of Asteroids and Moons

Incredible Technology: Space 'Harpoons' Could Snatch Samples of Asteroids and Moons

Chad Truitt, University of Washington

Using a set of long-lined harpoons would allow a mission to grab samples from multiple locations on an asteroid or moon — and to get them from deep beneath the surface, where some of the most interesting material lies, researchers say.

[Full Story]

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.