SOLAR

NASA scientists watching the sun are bracing for a big jump in solar activity as the quietest period in decades comes to an end.

Solar Impulse is an European long-range solar powered plane project being undertaken at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The project eventually hopes to succeed in the first circling of the earth with a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power. The project is promoted by Bertrand Piccard, who co-piloted the first balloon to circle the world non-stop.

Google goes green by investing $168 million in Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, California.

Google will join BrightSource Energy Inc. and NRG Solar LLC as an equity investor in the Ivanpah solar electric generating system by making a $168 million investment.

In yet another example of eco-tourism initiatives driving the tourism industry worldwide, Philadelphia Zoo, America's first zoo, will begin with 25 Percent of electricity usage offset by Renewable Energy Certificates.

A pair of white dwarf stars whirling around each other once every 39 minutes will merge and reignite as a helium-burning star in about 37 million years, astronomers said.

A new study by astronomers has shed light on new light on the evolution of stars, including our own sun.

Astronomers have found that a planet's rings can be affected by specific events that occurred decades, not millions of years, ago.

The leaf device effectively mimics the photosynthetic process that natural leaves use to convert sunlight and water into energy.

Solar greenhouses, which have played a vital role in China's agricultural scene for years, may solve issues such as global energy crisis and climate change, according to a new report.

A new study says upcoming wind farm and solar energy projects in in Hawaii could reliably provide energy for 25 percent of the state.

Shares of companies active in Friday's early trade are Nike Inc., Cisco Systems, Lorillard Inc., LDK Solar Co., Celera, Under Armour and Longtop Financial Technologies.

After witnessing two unusually major solar flares in the span of 30 days, space watchers are saying a series of solar activity is bound to take place in the coming days.

GPS vulnerabilities such as solar flare interference and jamming could be solved by eLORAN technology.

NASA said its Glory mission launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Friday at 5:09:45 a.m. EST failed to reach orbit.

NASA explained the mystery behind the decreased solar activity during the Sun's 11-year cycle, linking it to the changing speeds of plasma inside the Sun.

NASA said it has rescheduled a media teleconference to Wednesday 2 p.m. EST to discuss the first computer model that explains the recent period of decreased solar activity during the Sun's 11-year cycle.

The largest solar flare in several years has disrupted some communications, though it was not in the right position to create auroral displays visible from lower latitudes.

A video made by compiling several images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the powerful flares that erupted earlier this week.

The strongest solar flares seen in several years are sending a mass of charged particles towards the Earth, which could cause radio interference and auroral displays.

The most energetic solar flare in five years is expected to unleash a powerful magnetic storm that will come down to Earth on Friday, said a media report.