Astronomers use “sunglasses” to find cloud bands on a brown dwarf
Astronomers have detected what appear to be bands of clouds streaking across the surface of a cool star-like body known as a brown dwarf.
The...
How we will search for signs of life in exoplanets
Whether there is life elsewhere in the universe is a question people have pondered for millennia; and within the last few decades, great strides...
Galaxies like our Milky Way are more likely to harbor intelligent life, says study
Giant elliptical galaxies are not as likely as previously thought to be cradles of technological civilizations such as our own, according to a recent...
Scientists establish new timeline for ancient magnetic field on Mars
Mars had a global magnetic field much earlier—and much later—in the planet's history than scientists have previously known.
A planet's global magnetic field arises from...
ALMA reveals unusual composition of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov
A galactic visitor entered our solar system last year -- interstellar comet 2I/Borisov.
Last December 15 and 16, astronomers directly observed for the first time...
Long-dead stars can yield clues to life in the cosmos
Astronomers may one day decipher the atmospheres of Earth-like rocky exoplanets shown in the picture.
The next generation of powerful Earth- and space-based telescopes will...
Jezero crater on Mars may harbor signs of life
A new analysis of satellite imagery supports the hypothesis that the Jezero crater on Mars could be a good place to look for markers...
Elegant solution reveals how the universe got its structure
The universe is full of billions of galaxies—but their distribution across space is far from uniform.
Why do we see so much structure in the...
Hungry galaxies grow fat on the flesh of their neighbors
Galaxies grow large by eating their smaller neighbors, new research reveals.
Exactly how massive galaxies attain their size is poorly understood, not least because they...
Fleets of ‘nanocardboard’ aircraft could explore Mars
A fleet of tiny “nanocardboard” aircraft could help explore Mars, researchers say.
They each weigh about as much as a fruit fly and have no...