[wastedyears]

Massive is still a word used to describe size. The author should’ve said “smaller, but heavier and more dense.” That makes far more logical sense.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Massive is still a word used to describe size. The author should’ve said “smaller, but heavier and more dense.”

It's a scientific article. Scientists use the word "mass" instead of "weight," because weight varies with gravity and mass is constant.

[thackney]

Massive is still a word used to describe size.

No, it primarily is used to mean having a large mass.

massive
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/massive

mas·sive adjective \’ma-siv\

1 : forming or consisting of a large mass:
b : weighty, heavy
c : impressively large or ponderous
d : having no regular form but not necessarily lacking crystalline structure

2
a : large, solid, or heavy in structure
b : large in scope or degree
c (1) : large in comparison to what is typical
(2) : being extensive and severe
(3) : imposing in excellence or grandeur

3: having mass
— mas·sive·ly adverb
— mas·sive·ness noun