Astrophysics

Magnetic fields get short shrift. Nobody pays attention to them.

Black holes, quantum mechanics and other big science topics get the bite-size treatment in science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson's new book, "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry."

There's a new way to get your astrophysics fix: "We Don't Planet," a new series of 4- to 6-minute videos that explores some of the most fascinating concepts and objects in the cosmos.

The American astrophysics community is drawing up a roadmap for the next few years, after taking into consideration some successes and unexpected hurdles from the past half-decade.

Tyson will receive the Academy's most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal, in recognition of his extensive efforts to get the public excited about science.