Space & Future
Astronomers discover missing planets around the galaxy’s most common stars
Astronomers have discovered something surprising about planets beyond our solar system.
Even though planets are incredibly common—scientists now estimate there is at least one planet...
Why one side of the Milky Way is hotter than the other
Scientists have discovered a surprising reason why one side of our galaxy is warmer than the other, and the explanation is something you might...
How the Milky Way’s smallest neighbors reveal the early universe
Astronomers have long been fascinated by tiny galaxies that orbit the Milky Way.
These faint and fragile systems, known as ultra-faint dwarf galaxies, are often...
Binary stars form lots of exoplanets, but many of them are ejected as rogue...
Astronomers don't have to work hard to find binary stars in the Milky Way.
They're common, even abundant. For a long time, they thought that...
Scientists finally discover the true edge of the Milky Way
For many years, astronomers have wondered where the Milky Way truly “ends.” Unlike a solid object, our galaxy does not have a clear boundary.
Its...
Potential signs of life on distant planets sound exciting, but confirmation can take years
Astronomers can use telescopes to find specific molecules in the atmospheres of neighboring planets, in nebulae—clouds of interstellar dust and gas—hundreds or thousands of...
Astronomers find the edge of the Milky Way’s star-forming disc
Where exactly is the edge of the Milky Way?
That question is harder to answer than one might expect. Since we’re inside of the galaxy...
Forget our Sun—Planets might form more easily around double stars
For a long time, scientists believed that having two stars in one system would make it difficult for planets to form.
The strong gravitational pull...
Do stars slow down before they die? New study reveals a surprising twist
Stars may look calm and steady in the night sky, but deep inside they are constantly moving and changing.
One of the most important changes...
Young sun-like stars are not as menacing as thought
Scientists know that the behaviour of stars can dictate planetary habitability.
Research shows that young stars emit powerful radiation that can strip planetary atmospheres away.
And...
Curiosity rover uncovers 3.5-billion-year-old organic matter on Mars
NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered a surprising variety of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals that scientists consider important building blocks for life on...
Scientists map hidden magnetic fields on the sun’s far side
From Earth, we only ever see half of the sun.
The other half—the far side—is always hidden from view. But what happens there still matters.
Powerful...
Deep Space
Scientists discover new evidence for Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis
In a new study, researchers have discovered new evidence to support the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis.
The theory suggests that a fragmented comet slammed into...
There’s a particle accelerator at the center of the Milky Way
Nestled on the slopes of Cerro La Negra at an elevation of 13,000 feet is an unusual-looking observatory.
Known as the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC)...
A space mission to Triton and Neptune would unlock their mysteries
A town in the Austrian Alps might not seem like the most conducive place to come up with daring space missions.
But, for the last...
If astronomers see these chemicals in a planet’s atmosphere, there’s likely an advanced civilization...
In an age of ever-growing numbers of exoplanets circling other stars, it’s natural that astronomers search for signatures of advanced civilizations.
Such signatures may have...
A giant stream of stars is flowing in deep space
The space between galaxies has long been considered a dead area.
Single rogue stars may pop stars may pop up here or there, but the...