Uranus’s Magnetic Shield “Breathes” as the Planet Spins
Uranus is one of the strangest planets in our solar system, and new research shows that its unusual orientation causes the planet’s magnetic environment...
Particles Don’t Disappear—They Transform into Something Much Stranger
For about 40 years, physicists have puzzled over a strange problem:
What happens when an electrically charged particle encounters a hypothetical magnetic monopole?
Some calculations suggested...
Trillion-Mile Gas Stream May Explain a Bizarre Triple-Star System
Astronomers have discovered an enormous stream of gas flowing toward a young system of three stars, potentially explaining why its planet-forming disks are strangely...
Scientists Discover a New Way to Separate Fusion Fuels Using Quantum Physics
Fusion energy promises a future of clean, nearly limitless electricity, but making it work requires more than creating extremely hot plasmas and powerful magnetic...
Pluto’s Frozen Heart May Still Be Alive with Flowing Liquid Nitrogen
Pluto may be far colder than any place on Earth, but scientists have discovered evidence that something surprising may still be moving beneath its...
Scientists Unlock Hidden Power of Quantum Dots with Magnetic Manganese
Scientists have discovered a new way to make tiny semiconductor crystals, known as quantum dots, use sunlight more efficiently to power chemical reactions.
The breakthrough...
Scientists Detect Possible Signs That Pluto’s Atmosphere Is Freezing Out
Scientists may have detected the first signs that Pluto's thin atmosphere is beginning to collapse as the dwarf planet slowly travels farther from the...
Hidden black hole blast revealed years later by a powerful radio glow
Astronomers have uncovered remarkable new evidence of a rare "missing-link" black hole after detecting a powerful burst of radio waves that continued growing brighter...
Hidden Moon Ice May Soon Be Found by Listening to Moonquakes
Scientists may have found a new way to search for water ice hidden beneath the Moon's surface—by listening to the vibrations caused by moonquakes.
A...
Ancient Stardust Helped Build the First Solid Pieces of Our Solar System
Scientists have uncovered new evidence that tiny grains of ancient stardust may have played a key role in creating the first solid material in...