Space & Future
Astronomers find hidden star that solves a major cosmic dust mystery
Only 70 light-years from Earth, a star called Kappa Tucanae A hosts one of astronomy’s strangest mysteries.
Around it swirls dust so scorching—more than 1,000...
Asteroid Bennu holds clues to how life began: Sugars, organics, and stardust
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission brought back pristine pieces of the asteroid Bennu in 2023—and these tiny grains are turning out to be a treasure chest...
What time is it on Mars? Scientists finally have a precise answer
On Earth, telling time is easy. Our clocks are synchronized using atomic clocks, GPS satellites, and fast communication networks.
But according to Einstein’s theory of...
Scientists detect static discharge on airplanes using giant European telescope
Scientists have accidentally uncovered a surprising behavior in commercial airplanes: they emit radio waves when they release built-up static electricity.
This discovery, made by an...
Two hot stars passed near our solar system and left a lasting mark
Around 4.4 million years ago—long before humans existed—two massive, blazing-hot stars swept past our solar system.
They didn’t come close enough to pose any danger,...
Chang’e-6 uncovers strange “sticky” soil on the moon’s far side
Scientists have finally taken a close look at the first-ever soil samples brought back from the far side of the moon, and the results...
Why galaxies die faster in crowded regions
Astronomers have long known that galaxies grow and change over billions of years, but new results from a major international project show that where...
The universe was warm before it was bright
So first the Big Bang happens. Everything is incredibly hot and dense; there are photons flying everywhere, but they keep colliding with electrons and...
Scientists capture ultra-rare, ultra-sharp images of powerful solar flares
Scientists have achieved something that almost never happens in solar research: they captured high-resolution images of an active region on the sun at the...
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...
Deep Space
Scientists find the source of rare mineral on Mars
Planetary scientists have an answer to a mystery that’s puzzled the Mars research community since NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered a mineral called tridymite in...
A sail to the stars: New ultra-thin lightsail could power future space travel
Scientists have taken an exciting step toward sending tiny spacecraft to other stars.
A team from Brown University in the U.S. and TU Delft in...
Scientists discover supermassive black hole growth like baby stars
Supermassive black holes have long puzzled astronomers, particularly how they grow so large.
An international team of astronomers, including researchers from Chalmers University of Technology...
Scientists use artificial intelligence to detect gravitational waves
When gravitational waves were first detected in 2015 by the advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), they sent a ripple through the scientific community,...
Astronomers detect rare radio signals from comet 12P/Pons-Brooks
Astronomers have picked up radio signals from comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, offering new insights into the mysterious outbursts and icy composition of this spectacular space visitor.
The...