An interstellar visitor helped shape the orbits of the planets
The orbits of the planets around the Sun have been the source for many a scientific debate.
Their current orbital properties are well understood but...
Do we really know what becomes a Type Ia Supernova
Lots of things out in the Universe can cause a supernova, from the gravitational collapse of a massive star, to the collision of white...
Is the universe fine-tuned for life? Scientists propose a test for the Anthropic Principle”
Is the universe perfectly set up to support life as we know it?
This idea, called the Anthropic Principle, has sparked debate among scientists and...
The Moon’s oldest crater reveals new secrets about its past
The South Pole-Aitken basin is the moon’s largest and oldest visible crater, formed around 4 billion years ago.
It’s like a giant time capsule, holding...
How a rare Venus transit helps scientists study distant planets
In the future, astronomers will study the atmospheres of planets as small as Earth and Venus orbiting other stars.
While Venus and Earth are often...
Scientists use Hubble to get closest look yet at a quasar’s heart
Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to take the closest-ever look at the heart of a quasar—a dazzling galactic center powered by a...
Did ancient Mars flow with liquid carbon dioxide instead of water?
Mars is known for its dry riverbeds and lake basins, which suggest that liquid once flowed on its surface.
For years, scientists have believed that...
Some black holes at the centers of galaxies have a buddy, but detecting these...
Every galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center, much like every egg has a yolk. But sometimes, hens lay eggs with two...
How interstellar objects and rogue planets can be trapped in the Solar System
When Oumuamua traversed our Solar System in 2017 it was the first confirmed Interstellar Object (ISO) to do so.
Then in 2019, Comet 2l/Borisov did...
Could we use an asteroid to shield astronauts on their way to Mars
Radiation is a primary concern for long-duration human spaceflight, such as the planned trips to Mars, which are the stated goal of organizations such...