Space & Future
Scientists discover “rotten egg” planet with a massive ocean of lava
Astronomers have discovered a strange new kind of planet beyond our solar system—one that may be covered by a vast, long-lasting ocean of molten...
A giant space rock’s scars may reveal how planets were born
Asteroid 16 Psyche has puzzled scientists for more than 200 years.
Now, new research suggests that its large craters could hold the key to understanding...
A “cotton candy” planet wrapped in haze leaves scientists puzzled
Astronomers have taken a closer look at one of the strangest planets ever discovered, and it is raising more questions than answers.
The planet, called...
Scientists discover one of the oldest stars ever, with almost no iron
Astronomers have discovered one of the oldest and most primitive stars ever found, offering a rare glimpse into the early universe.
The star, named PicII-503,...
Nearby galaxies suggest the universe may be expanding more slowly than thought
For decades, scientists have tried to measure how fast the universe is expanding.
This expansion rate is known as the Hubble constant, and it plays...
Astronomers discover powerful “cosmic laser” shining from halfway across the universe
Astronomers using a powerful radio telescope in South Africa have discovered an extraordinary cosmic signal coming from more than 8 billion light-years away.
The signal...
Astronomers discover alcohol-rich interstellar comet passing through our solar system
Astronomers studying a rare interstellar comet have discovered something surprising: it contains unusually large amounts of methanol, a type of alcohol.
The discovery offers a...
Why are some stars always visible while others come and go with the seasons
As a space scientist, every time I go outside with my family, I tell my children to look up at the sky.
The front door...
Can life grow on the moon or Mars? New experiments offer surprising clues
As scientists plan future missions to the Moon and Mars, one major question remains: could humans grow food or even support life on these...
What’s inside a neutron star? New study points to answers in gravitational waves
Neutron stars are among the most mysterious objects in the universe.
Formed when massive stars collapse after exploding as supernovae, these incredibly dense objects pack...
Scientists decode ancient magnetic signals in asteroid Ryugu samples
Scientists studying tiny samples from the asteroid Ryugu have uncovered new clues about the magnetic environment that existed when the solar system first formed.
The...
How old is the universe? The oldest stars in the Milky Way may hold...
How old is the universe?
Scientists have long tried to answer this question, but different measurement methods have produced conflicting results.
Now, researchers from the University...
Deep Space
Our solar system is moving three times faster than expected
A new study has found that our solar system is racing through the universe much faster than current theories predict.
This surprising discovery, led by...
Scientists take pioneering image of massive jet spewing from black hole
Scientists anchored by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, which is known for capturing the first image of a black hole in the galaxy Messier...
Fossil carbon burned by asteroid impact may have killed all dinosaurs
An asteroid impact 66 million years ago may have released trillions of pounds of partially burned fossil carbon into Earth’s upper atmosphere as a...
Mars’s northern ice cap is surprisingly young
If you’ve ever looked at Mars through a telescope, you probably noticed its two polar ice caps.
The northern one is made largely of water...
There’s a Type 1a supernova in the making, just 150 light-years away
A Type 1a supernova represents one of the most powerful and consistent explosions in our universe.
These spectacular events occur when a white dwarf star...