Aerospace

We might finally know how galaxies grow so large

Astronomers have spent decades trying to understand how galaxies grow so large. One piece of the puzzle is spheroids, also known as galactic bulges. Spiral...

The Sun may be more prone to flares than we thought

This past year saw some significant solar activity. This was especially true during the month of May, which saw more than 350 solar storms, solar...

How to build concrete on Mars from local materials

Imagine you’ve just gotten to Mars as part of the first contingent of settlers. Your first challenge: build a long-term habitat using local materials. Those...

Could planets orbiting two stars have moons

Exomoons are a hot topic in the science community, as none have been confirmed with astronomers finding new and creative ways to identify them. But...

Small but mighty: MIT scientists spot tiny asteroids in the main belt

Astronomers at MIT have made a groundbreaking discovery, spotting the smallest asteroids ever detected in the main asteroid belt—a region between Mars and Jupiter...

How to track hidden comets that could threaten earth

How do you spot a dangerous comet that hasn’t been near Earth for more than 200 years? By following its "footprints"—the meteor showers it leaves...

Scientists discover sun-like stars produce superflares every 100 years

The sun, our temperamental star, is known for its powerful solar storms. These storms can cause dazzling auroras and even disrupt technology on Earth. But could...

Webb weighs an early twin of the Milky Way

What was the Milky Way like billions of years ago? One way we can find out is by looking at the most distant galaxies in...

How supermassive black holes in the early universe grew so fast

Not long ago, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) peered into Cosmic Dawn, the cosmological period when the first galaxies formed less than one...

Scientists unlock secrets of the sun’s history using Thallium decay

The sun, the powerhouse of life on Earth, generates its energy through nuclear fusion and constantly releases neutrinos—tiny particles that act as messengers of...