A Chinese satellite tests orbital refuelling
Satellites often face a disappointing end: despite having fully working systems, they are often de-orbited after their propellant runs out.
However, a breakthrough is on...
Ancient blazar discovery suggests early universe had more supermassive black holes
Scientists have discovered the oldest and most distant blazar ever seen, named J0410–0139.
This powerful object is located 12.9 billion light-years away and provides a...
Scientists witness birth of a super star cluster in a nearby galaxy
Astronomers have made an exciting discovery about how young stars form in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a small galaxy near the Milky Way.
Using...
Cosmic radiation altered virus evolution in Africa, study finds
Astronomers have known for some time that nearby supernovae have had a profound effect on Earth’s evolution.
For starters, Earth’s deposits of gold, platinum, and...
How astronomers make deep maps of the Milky Way
Have you ever wondered how astronomers manage to map out the Milky Way when it’s so incredibly vast?
One of the most powerful tools is...
Are we alone? Intelligent life may be common in the universe, study finds
For a long time, scientists believed that human-like life was extremely rare in the universe.
The "hard steps" theory, proposed in 1983 by physicist Brandon...
NASA downgrades the risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 to below 1%
NASA astronomers have been continuing to monitor the trajectory of asteroid 2024 YR4.
The initial calculations suggested a 1.3% probability of an Earth impact event,...
Strange winds blow through this exoplanet’s atmosphere
Some exoplanets have characteristics totally alien to our Solar System. Hot Jupiters are one such type.
They can have orbital periods of less than 10...
How a distant supernova may have changed viruses on Earth
Millions of years ago, a massive star exploded in space, sending radiation toward Earth.
A new study suggests this cosmic event may have caused big...
Fluffy molecular clouds formed stars in the early universe
Stars form in Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs), vast clouds of mostly hydrogen that can span tens of light years.
These stellar nurseries can form thousands...