Astronomers spot a Jupiter-like planet with possible ice clouds
Astronomers have discovered a distant planet similar to Jupiter that may be covered with thick clouds, offering new insights into how giant planets form...
Tough fungi could survive the journey to Mars, study finds
Fungi are already known for being tough, but new research suggests that some types might be strong enough to survive the long and harsh...
Mars may have had a giant ocean—Scientists spot a “bathtub ring” clue
Scientists have found new evidence that Mars may once have been home to a vast ocean covering about one-third of the planet.
The discovery comes...
Laser-powered propulsion could cut travel to Alpha Centauri to just 20 years
Traveling to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri, is far beyond the reach of today’s rockets. With current technology, such a journey would take...
Astronomers find stunning birthplace of cosmic “buckyballs” in deep space
Astronomers have captured stunning new images of a distant cloud of gas and dust where unusual molecules called “buckyballs” are formed.
Using the powerful James...
Exploding stars, black holes, and the forbidden gap
When the first gravitational wave (GW) was detected back in 2015, scientists said they had opened a new window into the Universe.
While most of...
NASA shuts off instrument on Voyager 1 to keep spacecraft operating
On April 17, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California sent commands to shut down an instrument aboard Voyager 1 called...
Scientists map 47 million galaxies in largest 3D universe map ever
Scientists have created the largest and most detailed 3D map of the universe ever made, offering a fresh way to understand how the cosmos...
Astronomers discover rare alien solar system changing in real time
Astronomers have discovered a remarkable planetary system where three very different objects orbit a distant star—and their paths are constantly changing.
The system, known as...
Invisible clumps of dark matter may explain three strange cosmic mysteries
Scientists have long known that most of the matter in the universe is invisible. This hidden material, called dark matter, makes up about 85%...