How space rocks helped bring life’s ingredients to Earth
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London have uncovered new clues about how life’s essential elements arrived on Earth.
They used a...
Did the early universe balloon? A “mirror” universe could be a simpler answer
We live in an amazing time for understanding the universe.
Our powerful telescopes show that the cosmos is simpler than expected on the largest scales.
Meanwhile,...
Titan’s thick methane ice could explain its strange surface and atmosphere
Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is a unique place in our solar system.
It’s the only moon with a thick atmosphere and liquid rivers, lakes, and...
Scientists find possible habitats for life beneath Mars’ icy surface
A new study suggests that beneath Mars’ icy surface, there might be hidden pools of meltwater capable of supporting life.
This discovery could point to...
Red dwarf stars might be able to hold onto their atmospheres after all
Exoplanets are a fascinating aspect of the study of the Universe.
TRAPPIST-1 is perhaps one of the most intriguing exoplanet systems discovered to date with...
Biologists discover a new fossil species of prehistoric fish
What do the ginkgo (a tree), the nautilus (a mollusk) and the coelacanth (a fish) all have in common?
They don't look alike, and they...
Astronomers study a “Zombie Star” at the heart of an ancient supernova
In 1181, a bright "guest star" appeared near the Cassiopeia constellation, shining for six months before fading away.
Ancient Chinese and Japanese observers recorded this...
Could Life at TRAPPIST-1 Survive the Star’s Superflares
The TRAPPIST-1 system is a science-fiction writer’s dream. Seven Earth-sized worlds orbit a red dwarf star just 40 light-years away.
Three of those worlds are...
Scientists discover the first “black hole triple”
Physicists at MIT and Caltech have made an unexpected discovery—a “black hole triple” system, the first of its kind ever found.
While most black holes...
Did some of Earth’s water come from the solar wind?
The source of Earth’s water is an enduring mystery that extends to exoplanets and the notion of habitability.
In broad terms, Earth’s water was either...