How 3D printing is changing how we explore the universe
Space exploration is one of humanity's most ambitious ventures, but it comes with enormous challenges. Rockets and spacecraft must carry everything needed for the...
How reusable rockets are changing space travel
Space travel has always been expensive, partly because rockets were traditionally single-use. Imagine throwing away an airplane after every flight—it would make air travel...
Astronomers discover 44 ancient stars with cosmic magnifying glass
Astronomers have made an extraordinary discovery, spotting 44 stars in a distant galaxy called the "Dragon Arc," located 6.5 billion light-years away.
Using NASA's powerful...
Here’s how Pluto and Charon became a bizarre double planet
On July 14th, 2015, the New Horizons probe made history by accomplishing the first flyby of Pluto and its largest satellite, Charon.
The stunning images...
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...
An early supermassive black hole took a little break between feasts
In the last couple of decades, it’s become increasingly clear that massive galaxies like our own Milky Way host supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in...
How to get solar power from space
The idea of collecting solar energy in space and beaming it down to Earth sounds like something out of science fiction, but recent advances...
Humans will soon be able to mine on the moon—but should we
By the end of this decade, nations and private companies may well be mining the surface of the moon.
But as space becomes accessible to...
Scientists create ultra-sensitive infrared detector for starlight detection
A research team led by Professor Zhang Zhiyong at Peking University has developed groundbreaking technology that allows for the detection of extremely faint starlight...
Scientists discover fast-spinning white dwarf in unusual binary system
Astronomers have uncovered fascinating details about a rare binary star system called HD 49798/RX J0648.0–4418, located 1,700 light-years away in the southern sky.
Recent research...