Gravitational waves are ripples in time-space that only occur under a handful of extreme cosmic conditions.

Data collected by the Fermi Space Telescope provide conclusive evidence that supernovae are the source of the speedy, energetic particles called cosmic rays, an international research team reports.

These charged particles, which are mostly protons, continuously assail the planet from outer space. There is general consensus among scientists that supernova remnants (the leftovers of a supernova explosion) are the sources of cosmic rays, but the final proof has been elusive because cosmic rays are deflected on their way to Earth.

Boston has a centuries-old history of attracting deep thinkers and curious minds, a trend that will continue 14-18 February, at Boston’s Hynes Convention Center, the site of the 179th AAAS Annual Meeting.

The latest stunning finds from Chinese dinosaur-fossil beds, the connection between global climate change and weather events such as Super-storm Sandy, and medical advances in facial reconstruction are a few of the topics likely to generate headlines during the world’s largest general scientific conference.