China launches ambitious attempt to land rover on Mars

China has launched its most ambitious Mars mission yet in an attempt to join the United States in successfully landing a spacecraft on the red planet.

Columbus Zoo searching for missing red panda, a recent mother of two cubs

Staff at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium were searching dense vegetation within the complex for a red panda that disappeared from its habitat.

Dazzling comet will make closest approach to Earth July 23 — here’s how to watch

In March, the comet was faint, but this month, the comet is relatively easy to observe with binoculars or a telescope. This comet continues to brighten, and is becoming visible to the naked eye.

San Antonio Zoo's tortoise beats the heat amid record temperatures

A tortoise held its head in front of a streaming faucet at the San Antonio Zoo last week, as a record temperature of 105 degrees was recorded in the Texas city.

SpaceX breaks space shuttle's record for rocket turnaround time

The ANASIS-II satellite blasted off from breezy Cape Canaveral at 5:30 p.m. atop a Falcon 9 rocket – but not just any Falcon 9 rocket. This particular booster was the same one that hoisted two astronauts on the first-ever flight of a private crewed spacecraft to the space station.

Red-winged blackbird photographed hitching a ride on bald eagle’s back

New York wildlife officials shared a rare photograph Monday of a red-winged blackbird hitching a ride on the back of a hunting bald eagle.

Astronomers discover huge galactic wall hidden behind Milky Way

It was discovered when scientists saw galaxies in different directions around it were affected by its gravitational pull.

Elephant helps struggling calf scale roadside barrier in India

A trio of elephants on the move in India met an obstacle in the shape of a roadside barrier that was too tall for the smallest of them. Luckily, a helping trunk was soon at hand.

Look out, Mars: Here we come with a fleet of spacecraft

The U.S., China and the United Arab Emirates are sending spacecraft to Mars in quick succession beginning this week.

TMZ: Cadaver dogs alert on alligator pit at zoo once owned by Joe Exotic

Cadaver dogs have allegedly picked up on human remains at an Oklahoma zoo formerly owned by Joe Maldonado-Passage, AKA Joe Exotic, according to TMZ.