Scientists unveil dark comets: the mysterious space objects that could have brought water to...
Up to 60% of near-Earth objects might be dark comets—mysterious asteroids that likely contain or once contained ice.
These dark comets orbit the sun and...
Scientists propose new definition of planets: Beyond our Solar System
Planetary scientists are suggesting a new definition of what makes a planet, aiming to replace the old, sun-focused criteria.
The current definition, set by the...
How astronomers work out the size of the solar system
The size of the solar system is defined by the volume of space over which the sun's influence exceeds those of other nearby stars...
Supermassive black holes have masses of more than a million suns, but their growth...
Black holes are remarkable astronomical objects with gravity so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape them.
The most gigantic ones, known as “supermassive”...
NASA’s Hubble measures distance to a distant supernova
Measuring the distance to far-off objects like galaxies and supernovae is essential for understanding the universe, especially its early stages.
However, this task is quite...
Exoplanet could be an enormous version of Europa
Certain exoplanets pique scientists’ interest more than others. Some of the most interesting are those that lie in the habitable zone of their stars.
However,...
How galaxies stay alive: The secret of their cosmic “heart and lungs”
New research has discovered how galaxies avoid an early death. Just like our bodies have a heart and lungs to keep us alive, galaxies...
Scientists explore how gravitational waves could reveal dark matter and early universe secrets
Gravitational waves, ripples in space-time first predicted by Einstein nearly a century ago, were finally detected in 2015.
Now, a new study led by Yanou...
Webb detects the smell of rotten eggs in an exoplanet’s atmosphere
Studying the atmospheres of exoplanets is helpful for several reasons. Sometimes, it helps in understanding their formation.
Sometimes, it helps define whether the planet might...
Astronomers discover the closest massive black hole in Omega Centauri
Astronomers have found the nearest massive black hole, which could be the missing link in understanding how massive black holes form.
This discovery was made...