Space & Future
Binary stars form lots of exoplanets, but many of them are ejected as rogue...
Astronomers don't have to work hard to find binary stars in the Milky Way.
They're common, even abundant. For a long time, they thought that...
Scientists finally discover the true edge of the Milky Way
For many years, astronomers have wondered where the Milky Way truly “ends.” Unlike a solid object, our galaxy does not have a clear boundary.
Its...
Potential signs of life on distant planets sound exciting, but confirmation can take years
Astronomers can use telescopes to find specific molecules in the atmospheres of neighboring planets, in nebulae—clouds of interstellar dust and gas—hundreds or thousands of...
Astronomers find the edge of the Milky Way’s star-forming disc
Where exactly is the edge of the Milky Way?
That question is harder to answer than one might expect. Since we’re inside of the galaxy...
Forget our Sun—Planets might form more easily around double stars
For a long time, scientists believed that having two stars in one system would make it difficult for planets to form.
The strong gravitational pull...
Do stars slow down before they die? New study reveals a surprising twist
Stars may look calm and steady in the night sky, but deep inside they are constantly moving and changing.
One of the most important changes...
Young sun-like stars are not as menacing as thought
Scientists know that the behaviour of stars can dictate planetary habitability.
Research shows that young stars emit powerful radiation that can strip planetary atmospheres away.
And...
Curiosity rover uncovers 3.5-billion-year-old organic matter on Mars
NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered a surprising variety of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals that scientists consider important building blocks for life on...
Scientists map hidden magnetic fields on the sun’s far side
From Earth, we only ever see half of the sun.
The other half—the far side—is always hidden from view. But what happens there still matters.
Powerful...
Cosmic dances reveal the true weight of young stars in Orion
A star’s mass decides almost everything about its life, from how bright it shines to how it eventually dies.
But for young stars hidden deep...
Astronomers spot a Jupiter-like planet with possible ice clouds
Astronomers have discovered a distant planet similar to Jupiter that may be covered with thick clouds, offering new insights into how giant planets form...
Tough fungi could survive the journey to Mars, study finds
Fungi are already known for being tough, but new research suggests that some types might be strong enough to survive the long and harsh...
Deep Space
Dark matter could change the temperature of exoplanets, allowing us to detect it
Ah, dark matter, you continue to allude us.
The stuff is incredibly difficult to study. It doesn’t interact with light, so our evidence of it...
The moon has two grand canyons, carved in minutes by an asteroid impact
Our Moon continues to surprise us with amazing features.
Scientists recently shared new information about two canyons that branch out from a major lunar impact.
The...
Astronomers study a “Zombie Star” at the heart of an ancient supernova
In 1181, a bright "guest star" appeared near the Cassiopeia constellation, shining for six months before fading away.
Ancient Chinese and Japanese observers recorded this...
Dark matter might help explain how supermassive black holes can merge
Although the exact nature of dark matter continues to elude astronomers, we have gained some understanding of its general physical properties.
We know how it...
Monster black hole J0529 spits gas at 10,000 km/s, rewriting its growth story
universe is behaving in an unexpected way.
Instead of quietly swallowing the gas and dust that fall into it, the black hole is blasting gas...