Space & Future
Jupiter was once twice its size—and helped shape the solar system
New research suggests that Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, was once even bigger—about twice its current size—and had a magnetic field...
Clouds could enhance the search for life on exoplanets
When searching for life in the Universe (aka. astrobiology), scientists use strategies that go by various names.
For example, there's the "follow the water" approach,...
After awesome launch, SpaceX’s Starship spins out of control
SpaceX’s Starship super-rocket got off to a great start today for its ninth flight test, but the second stage ran into a host of...
One star once orbited inside the other in this bizarre binary system
Binary star systems are pairs of stars held together by gravity, orbiting a common center of mass.
More than half of all stars in our...
How faraway planets like Planet Nine might have formed, new study reveals
A new study may finally explain how planets can end up orbiting their stars at extremely large distances—sometimes hundreds or even thousands of times...
How likely are habitable exo-moons
Of the roughly 6,000 exoplanets we've discovered, a significant number are in the apparent habitable zones of their stars.
Most are giant planets; either gas...
Far beyond Pluto: Scientists spot mysterious new world on solar system’s edge
Scientists have discovered a mysterious new object far beyond Neptune, and it could be one of the most distant dwarf planets ever found.
Named 2017...
Scientists may have solved the mystery of the moon’s missing magnetism
For decades, scientists have been puzzled by a strange feature of the Moon: while the Moon today has no magnetic field, some of the...
Is Venus hiding dangerous asteroids
Twenty years ago, the US Congress instructed NASA to find 90% of near-Earth asteroids threatening Earth.
They've made progress finding these asteroids that orbit the...
Is there life on distant planet K2-18b? Scientists say it’s too soon to tell
In April, the scientific world—and the public—was abuzz with the thrilling news that a distant planet called K2-18b might show signs of life.
Researchers from...
Black hole winds could be firing the universe’s most energetic bullet
Scientists may be a step closer to solving a cosmic mystery that has puzzled researchers for decades: where do the universe’s most powerful particles—ultra-high-energy...
Twin stars, wild storms: Strange magnetism discovered in binary systems
Scientists have long known that a star’s magnetic activity—responsible for dramatic flares, sunspots, and energetic outbursts—is linked to how fast the star spins.
Generally, faster...
Deep Space
How small planets can form ‘sandwiched’ in between two larger planets
Scientists at the University of Warwick have uncovered a fascinating new explanation for how small planets might form.
Supervillains take note. Here’s a new way to destroy a star
If you’re an evil genius supervillain looking to freak out your enemy with a big messy space kablooie, here’s a novel way to do it.
Saturn’s moon Enceladus harbors phosphates, a ‘building block of life’
Researchers report that water on Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, holds phosphates. Phosphorus, in the form of phosphates, is vital for all life on Earth.
Scientists may just have discovered a new class of black holes
The discovery shows there may be an entire class of black holes astronomers did not know existed.
Black holes are an important part of how...
Latest discoveries about exoplanets
For centuries, humanity has wondered whether we are alone in the universe. The search for life beyond Earth has taken a giant leap forward...