Space & Future
Stars surprisingly survive near the Milky Way’s black hole, study finds
Astronomers have long believed that the region around the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, is one of the most dangerous places in...
Meteorites are ancient time capsules that reveal how our solar system was born
When a meteor flashes across the night sky, it’s more than a beautiful streak of light.
It’s a delivery from deep space—an ancient piece of...
Astronomers discover 400 “sibling” star clusters hidden in the Milky Way
Astronomers have uncovered more than 400 pairs of star clusters in our Milky Way—cosmic siblings that were born together or later became partners as...
Living microbes found in a meteorite crater may offer clues to life on Mars
Scientists have discovered living, methane-producing microbes deep inside a massive meteorite impact crater in Sweden, and the find could change the way researchers think...
Scientists discover a fast-spinning red giant star orbiting a silent black hole
Astronomers have uncovered the unusual history of a distant red giant star by “listening” to tiny vibrations rippling through it.
These vibrations, known as starquakes,...
Scientists capture the sound of sparks on Mars
For the first time, scientists have confirmed that tiny bursts of electricity are happening in the atmosphere of Mars.
These sparks were picked up by...
Mysterious ultraviolet light found in baby star nurseries
Astronomers have discovered something unexpected in the birthplaces of young stars: ultraviolet (UV) radiation where it should not exist.
Using the powerful James Webb Space...
After nearly 100 years, dark matter may finally have been seen
Nearly 100 years ago, astronomer Fritz Zwicky made a strange discovery while studying the movement of galaxies.
He noticed that galaxies were moving far faster...
Scientists find possible boiling oceans hidden beneath icy moons
Out in the cold, distant reaches of our solar system, many moons are wrapped in thick layers of ice.
At first glance, these worlds look...
Cosmic dust could help create life in space
Scientists have discovered that tiny particles of cosmic dust may play a much more important role in creating the building blocks of life than...
Why Earth has moving plates and Venus doesn’t
Scientists have taken an important step toward solving one of the biggest mysteries in planetary science: why Earth is covered in moving tectonic plates,...
Maybe Mars isn’t hiding liquid water under its south pole after all
For years, scientists have been intrigued by a mysterious signal coming from the icy south pole of Mars.
In 2018, a radar instrument called MARSIS,...
Deep Space
Life needs black holes to survive
Life is rare, and it requires exactly the right environmental mix to establish itself. And there’s one surprising contributor to that perfect mix: gigantic...
Scientists discover the first exposed planetary core
The newly discovered exoplanet TOI 849 b offers the unique opportunity to peer inside the interior of a planet and learn about its composition.
It...
Amazon, Netflix algorithms can help satellites see the Earth better
Algorithms that help consumers decide what to stream or buy online can do more than predict customers’ habits:
They can help satellites see the Earth...
Scientists map vast void in our Milky Way neighborhood
Scientists reveal more of the vast cosmic structure surrounding the Milky Way galaxy in a recent study
The universe is a tapestry of galaxy congregations...
We might find life just under the surface on Europa
What does it take to have life at another world?
Astrobiologists say you need water, warmth, and something for life to eat. If it’s there,...