Space & Future
Astronomers discover the earliest flickering black hole ever seen
Astronomers have discovered the earliest known flickering quasar, a powerful object powered by a supermassive black hole.
The discovery is helping scientists learn more about...
Ancient asteroid impacts may have helped life begin on Earth
A new study suggests that the intense asteroid bombardment that struck the young Earth billions of years ago may have played an important role...
Many alien planets may be giant soot factories, scientists discover
When astronauts photograph Earth from space, they capture stunning views of blue oceans, white clouds, and green continents.
But according to a new study, our...
Mysterious signals keep coming from space: Scientists find their ‘Rosetta stone’
A pair of stars spiraling around each other. That's the origin of a new source of repeating radio bursts we've detected, called ASKAP J1745.
In...
How small is too small for life? New study reveals which planets can keep...
Scientists searching for life beyond Earth have developed a new way to identify which distant planets might be able to support life.
Their new tool,...
Scientists finally find the Milky Way’s missing black hole wind
For more than 50 years, astronomers have searched for a powerful wind blowing from the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.
Now,...
Jupiter’s giant shockwave reveals how particles reach near-light speed
Scientists studying Jupiter have captured electrons in the act of being accelerated to extremely high speeds, offering new clues about one of the universe's...
Ancient Martian ocean? Vast clay deposits may hold clues to life on Mars
Scientists have discovered that huge clay deposits near the landing site of the upcoming ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover are much larger than previously thought.
The...
Webb Telescope discovers giant sleeping black hole from the early universe
Astronomers have discovered the most distant dormant black hole ever detected, offering a rare glimpse into the early universe and how massive black holes...
How Jupiter May Have Helped Deliver the Building Blocks of Life to Earth
A new NASA-supported study suggests that Jupiter may have played a surprisingly important role in helping Earth acquire some of the key ingredients needed...
Astronomers Discover Missing Red Dwarf Stars in Ancient Star Cluster
Astronomers studying an ancient star cluster have discovered a strange gap where certain stars should exist but do not.
The finding provides new clues about...
Asteroid dirt is fluffier than we thought
The strength of gravity is different on every body in the solar system.
Whether it's the crushing weight of Jupiter or the miniscule pull of...
Deep Space
Scientists discover the shortest period hot Jupiter yet
Astronomers from the University of Warwick have observed an exoplanet orbiting a star in just over 18 hours, the shortest orbital period ever observed...
Scientists recreate the harsh conditions inside gigantic galaxy clusters
Galaxies rarely live alone.
Instead, dozens to thousands are drawn together by gravity, forming vast clusters that are the largest objects in the universe.
“Galaxy clusters...
Where’s the most promising place to find Martian life
New research suggests that our best hopes for finding existing life on Mars isn’t on the surface, but buried deep within the crust.
Several years...
Scientists discover first binary star near Milky Way’s supermassive black hole
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.
For the first time, researchers have...
Astronomers capture first-ever image of two black holes dancing around each other
For the first time, scientists have captured an image of two black holes orbiting one another.
The pair sits at the heart of a bright,...