Space & Future
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...
Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus may hide a long-lived ocean that could support life
Scientists have discovered that Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus is warmer than they thought — and that its hidden ocean may have remained liquid for...
Many “mini-Neptunes” once thought to be lava worlds may have solid surfaces
Astronomers have long puzzled over a strange and abundant type of planet found across the galaxy—known as “mini-Neptunes.”
These worlds are smaller than Neptune but...
Astronomers observe a black hole in another galaxy tearing a star apart
During the 1950s, the study of the cosmos was revolutionized with the introduction of radio astronomy.
In the ensuing decades, astronomers detected numerous bright radio...
Deep Space
The early universe was surprisingly filled with spiral galaxies
If we could travel far beyond our galaxy, and look back upon the Milky Way, it would be a glorious sight.
Luminous spirals stretching from...
Since aliens obey the laws of physics, can we guess what they look like?
Since time immemorial, humans have gazed up at the stars and wondered if we’re alone in the universe.
We have asked if there are other...
Cosmic airburst might spark agriculture in Syria 12,800 years ago, shows study
Once upon a time, nearly 13,000 years ago, something extraordinary happened that would eventually reshape the way humans lived and survived.
This story isn’t a...
Webb Telescope reveals the winds that shape planet-forming disks
Every second, more than 3,000 stars are born across the universe, and many of these stars are surrounded by what astronomers call protoplanetary disks—swirling...
The universe’s first monster: Astronomers confirm earliest known black hole
Astronomers have confirmed the most distant black hole ever found, giving us a glimpse of one of the universe’s very first cosmic giants.
The discovery...