New results from looking at the split-second after the Big Bang indicate the universe is 80 million years older than previously thought and provide ancient evidence supporting core concepts about the cosmos _ how it began, what it's made of and where it's going.
Drilling into a rock near its landing spot, the Curiosity rover has answered a key question about Mars: The red planet long ago harbored some of the ingredients needed for primitive life to thrive.

An earthquake hit a wide swath of Southern California on Monday morning, with tremors reported in Los Angeles and San Diego.
California Institute of Technology President Jean-Lou Chameau plans to step down from the top job at the prestigious institute to lead a new Saudi Arabian university.
Caltech hadn't won since Feb. 15, 2003. "It was almost as if they had been there before," first-year coach Matthew Mark said.
California Institute of Technology's baseball team ended a 228-game losing streak Saturday with a 9-7 victory over Pacifica _ the Beavers' first win in nearly 10 years.
Scientists have zeroed in on a Martian target for the Curiosity rover to drill into: A rock outcrop as flat as a pool table that's expected to yield fresh insight into the red planet's history.
Since captivating the world with its acrobatic landing, the Mars rover Curiosity has fallen into a rhythm: Drive, snap pictures, zap at boulders, scoop up dirt. Repeat.
Since captivating the world with its acrobatic landing, the Mars rover Curiosity has fallen into a rhythm: Drive, snap pictures, zap at boulders, scoop up dirt. Repeat.