Space & Future
Astronomers crack the case of mysterious radio relics in galaxy clusters
Galaxy clusters are the largest structures held together by gravity in the universe.
Each cluster contains hundreds or even thousands of galaxies, along with hot...
Our solar system is moving three times faster than expected
A new study has found that our solar system is racing through the universe much faster than current theories predict.
This surprising discovery, led by...
The rust that could reveal alien life
Iron rusts.
On Earth, this common chemical reaction often signals the presence of something far more interesting than just corroding metal for example, living microorganisms...
Astronomers discover the Pleiades is part of a giant hidden star family
The Pleiades, also known as the “Seven Sisters,” is one of the most recognizable sights in the night sky.
For centuries, people around the world...
Astronomers discover a superheated galaxy building stars at record speed
Astronomers have found a distant galaxy that’s building stars 180 times faster than our own Milky Way—offering a new clue to how galaxies grew...
How cloud-dwelling microbes could help us find life on other worlds
Clouds may seem like a barrier when looking for life on distant planets, but new research shows they could actually be the key.
Scientists at...
The impossible black holes that shouldn’t exist
In 2023, gravitational wave detectors picked up the signature of a collision 7 billion light years away.
Two black holes had merged in an explosion...
Rare meteor strike on Mars triggers dust avalanches and new streaks
A rare meteoroid impact on Mars has given scientists a glimpse into how the planet’s dusty surface is constantly reshaped.
When a space rock struck...
The mystery of the colliding black holes solved
In 2023, astronomers detected one of the most extraordinary cosmic events ever seen — a collision between two enormous black holes, located about seven...
Is the universe slowing down? New evidence challenges what we know about dark energy
For more than 25 years, scientists have believed that the universe is expanding faster and faster, pushed apart by a mysterious force called dark...
Tiny dwarf galaxies help solve a 40-year dark matter debate
For decades, scientists have puzzled over why galaxies spin faster than expected.
The stars in their outer regions move so quickly that, by the laws...
Space snacks with legs: How insects might feed astronauts on Mars
Before humans ever ventured into space, insects were already making the trip — and thriving.
Lightweight, adaptable, and packed with nutrients, insects are now being...
Deep Space
Can Webb find the first stars in the universe
The Universe’s very first stars had an important job.
They formed from the primordial elements created by the Big Bang, so they contained no metals.
It...
Ancient space secrets: Scientists unveil Bennu asteroid samples
Inside a vacuum-packed container within a FedEx box lies a piece of ancient history: a small sample from the Bennu asteroid.
This 120-milligram sample holds...
Gravity telescope could image exoplanets, shows Stanford study
In the time since the first exoplanet was discovered in 1992, astronomers have detected more than 5,000 planets orbiting other stars.
But when astronomers detect...
This young star’s magnetic heartbeat runs 10 times faster than the Sun’s
Astronomers have taken a close look at the magnetic activity of a young star strikingly similar to our own sun—and discovered that it has...
Oops. Astronauts lost a tool bag during a spacewalk!
I know for a fact it’s one of the most annoying things that can happen.
I’ve done it lots; whether that be out at night...