Space & Future
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...
New laser-treated metal could help keep satellites cool in space
Keeping satellites cool in space is a major challenge. Unlike on Earth, where heat can escape into the surrounding air, space is a vacuum.
This...
Why lunar regolith could be the key to living on the Moon
The moon may look peaceful from Earth, but its surface is one of the harshest environments imaginable.
It is covered by a layer of fine...
Deep Space
A solar radio eclipse ring of fire
On October 14, as most Californians were treated to a partial solar eclipse (see bottom right "visible" image showing the sun's crescent peeking out...
Scientists perform the coldest reaction in the known universe
In temperatures millions of times colder than interstellar space, Harvard researchers have performed the coldest reaction in the known universe.
But that's not all....
Why some meteor showers are so unpredictable
Meteor showers can be spectacular, but predicting when and where they’ll appear in the night sky has often been a challenge.
For a long time,...
Why astronomers are excited about CO2 and methane in the atmosphere of an alien...
Are we alone? This question is nearly as old as humanity itself. Today, this question in astronomy focuses on finding life beyond our planet.
Are...
Mars once had enough water for a planet-wide ocean 300 meters deep, shows study
Today, Mars is colloquially known as the “Red Planet” on a count of how its dry, dusty landscape is rich in iron oxide (aka....