Space & Future

Nearby Earth-like planet may have a rare atmosphere, giving us new hope

A rocky planet about 40 light-years from Earth may have something that scientists have struggled to find on similar worlds—a lasting atmosphere. The planet, called...

This exoplanet hid for 10 years before astronomers finally found it

Astronomers have found a new exoplanet in the Beta Pictoris (β Pic) system. β Pic is about 63 light years away, and is notable for...

Scientists uncover the secret behind Mars’ mysterious metallic-looking sand dunes

A stunning new image from the European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed an ancient crater on Mars filled with dark, wave-like sand dunes that...

Rare Meteorite from New Jersey Contains Clues to the Origins of Life, Scientists Find

A meteorite that crashed through the roof of a home in Hillsborough, New Jersey, has given scientists a rare look at the chemistry of...

Astronomers Uncover A Strange Nearby Planet System Unlike Anything In Our Solar System

Barnard’s Star is one of the most famous stars in the night sky for astronomers because it is so close to Earth. Located just under...

Astronomers find new features hiding in the Orion Nebula

As one of the most prominent features of the night sky, the Orion Nebula has been studied, probed, and imaged by almost every telescope...

Hidden fifth dimension could finally explain the mystery of dark matter, scientists say

Dark matter, the mysterious substance that holds galaxies together, may be connected to a hidden fifth dimension of space, according to a new theory...

Astronomers uncover long-lost black hole hidden among 10 million stars

Astronomers have discovered the first known stellar-mass black hole hiding inside the massive star cluster Omega Centauri, solving part of a mystery that has...

Hidden oceans? Common alien planets may be concealing vast oceans, study finds

Some of the most common planets in our galaxy may be hiding far more water than scientists can currently detect—even with the powerful James...

Scientists detect a sugar in deep space for the first time, offering new clues...

For the first time, scientists have discovered a sugar molecule floating in interstellar space, a breakthrough that could help explain how some of the...

Astronomers discover four dead stars in our cosmic neighborhood

Astronomers have uncovered four previously hidden white dwarfs surprisingly close to Earth, revealing that even our own corner of the galaxy still holds major...

Chemistry reveals the origins of an interstellar comet

Somewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy is an old star that has lost one of its comets. By some quirk of orbital mechanics, that frozen...

Deep Space

Scientists find a massive star-forming region of Milky Way

Scientists find a massive star-forming region of Milky Way

In a new study, researchers have made new observations of a massive star-forming region of the outer Milky Way. This is the first high-resolution, radio...

Scientists discover how an exoplanet with endless day and night could still support life

An unusual planet located about 48.5 light-years from Earth may seem far too extreme for life. One side is permanently exposed to intense heat, while...

New study reveals life forms that could survive on Mars

The extremely salty, very cold, and almost oxygen-free environment under the permafrost of Lost Hammer Spring in Canada’s High Arctic is the one that...

Planets can form in even the harshest conditions

According to the most widely held astronomical model (the Nebular Hypothesis), new stars are born from massive clouds of dust and gas (aka. a...

What is the best radiation shielding for the surface of Mars

The planet Mars is calling to us. At least, that is the impression one gets when examining all the planned and proposed missions to the...