Lone exoplanet has most eccentric orbit ever detected around old giant star

Astronomers have detected a planet orbiting an elderly star in our galactic neighbourhood.  The new planet, known as HD76920b, is four times the size of Jupiter and orbits a star much larger than the Sun, nearly 600 light years away in the constellation of Volans — also known as the flying fish.  It has the most eccentric orbit yet detected around any giant star.

Mars 'flowing streams' found to be sand avalanches

What some planetary scientists thought were trickling salty streams on the Red Planet, potentially harbouring microbial life, could be nothing but avalanches of dry sand.

Ancient pottery reveals humans have made wine for at least 8,000 years

Humans have made and quaffed wine for at least 8,000 years, with the earliest evidence for the grape drink found in what is now Georgia. Archaeologists found telltale chemical traces of the fermented drop in pieces of pottery dug from ancient villages.

Colour patterns of feathered dinosaur fossil

A small feathered dinosaur called Sinosauropteryx sported a stripy tail, "bandit mask" across its eyes and a pale belly to help it blend into the background, according to new research. The researchers suggest the bird-like dinosaur that lived 130 million years ago had camouflaging patterns in order* to escape being eaten.

* This misrepresents evolutionary theory.  Adaptations arise 'because of' ('as a result of'), not 'in order to'.  That is, this wording falsely ascribes purpose to evolution instead of reason and result.

Jupiter's two strange auroras pulse to their own X-ray beat

Scientists have detected a powerful X-ray aurora hotspot near Jupiter's south pole and it does not behave how they expected. Rather than pulsing in sync with the northern aurora, the southern hotspot runs to its own regular beat.