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
Black hole collisions reveal deeper secrets of the universe
A groundbreaking study published in Nature has set a new standard in understanding some of the universe's most extreme events: the collisions of black...
Scientists discover a new way to spot alien life by looking for hidden patterns
For many years, scientists searching for life beyond Earth have focused on one main question: what kinds of molecules should they look for on...
Astronomers find missing link for water in the Solar System
Astronomers have detected gaseous water in the planet-forming disc around the star V883 Orionis with the ALMA.
Did some of Earth’s water come from the solar wind?
The source of Earth’s water is an enduring mystery that extends to exoplanets and the notion of habitability.
In broad terms, Earth’s water was either...
Medium-sized black holes eat stars like messy toddlers
If they exist, intermediate-mass black holes likely devour wayward stars like a messy toddler — taking a few bites and then flinging the remains...