Earlier this month, NASA reported that its Kepler planet-hunting telescope had gone offline, and was in "safe mode." In other words, the failure of one of its reaction wheels -- a crucial component of the $600 million telescope -- had derailed the spacecraft.

Changes in technology have opened up new opportunities in the entertainment industry, offering platforms for the most scrappy or eclectic of musicians, filmmakers and other creative artists.

A special kind of thunderstorm called a "supercell thunderstorm" produces tornadoes. The wind shear creates a horizontal spinning effect that veers from a southeast to a southwesterly direction, increasing in speed as it rises.

President Barack Obama announced he would posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sally Ride, the first woman in space. NewsHour's science correspondent Miles O'Brien reflects on Ride's legacy and her impact as an educator who encouraged young women to study science, technology, engineering and math.

Last week, the Smithsonian unveiled the first known recordings of Alexander Graham Bell's voice.

The developers of a building billed as the world's "greenest" hope to inspire similar projects.

As newspapers cut staff and trim pages, the Internet is finally finding room for long-form content.

Think you could inspire a movie? Director Ron Howard has a few short films he'd like your help with.