Fast radio burst reveals the Milky Way is emptier than we thought

The intriguing cosmic mystery of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has now shed light (pun intended) on another mystery. By studying the signature of an FRB from a nearby galaxy, astronomers have found that the Milky Way has far less matter than expected.Contin… Continue reading Fast radio burst reveals the Milky Way is emptier than we thought

James Webb spots Milky-Way-like galaxies earlier than thought possible

The James Webb Space Telescope continues to probe greater depths of space and time than any other observatory. Now, the instrument has discovered galaxies with a structure like that of our own Milky Way 11 billion light-years away, which raises questio… Continue reading James Webb spots Milky-Way-like galaxies earlier than thought possible

Gallery: Incredible images from James Webb’s first year in space

In 2022, decades of work finally came to fruition as the James Webb Space Telescope fired up and began training its unprecedented eyes on the universe. From distant galaxies to our nearby neighbors, let’s look back at some of the most impressive images… Continue reading Gallery: Incredible images from James Webb’s first year in space

Giant cosmic map charts from here to the edge of the observable universe

Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created an interactive map of the universe, charting the positions and colors of 200,000 galaxies stretching from here to the very edge of the observable universe.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags… Continue reading Giant cosmic map charts from here to the edge of the observable universe

Study links continent creation to 200-million year galactic comet cycle

Geologists have discovered a long-term cycle that may connect the formation of Earth’s continents to increased comet impacts and the planet’s journey through the galaxy. The team connected fluctuations in tiny grains in stable parts of the crust to the… Continue reading Study links continent creation to 200-million year galactic comet cycle

James Webb keeps breaking records for most distant galaxies ever seen

Even though it hasn’t been collecting data for very long, the James Webb Space Telescope keeps breaking its own records for peering deeper into space and time. The telescope has now detected a galaxy candidate that lies 35 billion light-years from Eart… Continue reading James Webb keeps breaking records for most distant galaxies ever seen

James Webb shines incredible new light on chaotic Cartwheel Galaxy

It didn’t take long for the images from the James Webb Space Telescope to start demonstrating the incredible power of the instrument, revealing some of the universe’s notable landmarks in fascinating new detail. Another stunning example of this has arr… Continue reading James Webb shines incredible new light on chaotic Cartwheel Galaxy

The end of everything: 5 ways the universe could be destroyed

Everything has to end eventually – but does that include the universe itself? And if so, how? And when? It might be hard to imagine a catastrophe big enough to affect the entirety of existence, but physicists do expect it all to end at some point – and… Continue reading The end of everything: 5 ways the universe could be destroyed

What is gravitational lensing and how can the James Webb Telescope use it?

If you’ve seen the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) this week (and let’s face it, how could you not?), you might have heard the term “gravitational lensing” being thrown around. But what does it mean exactly? And how can it help … Continue reading What is gravitational lensing and how can the James Webb Telescope use it?

James Webb vs Hubble: Side-by-side comparisons highlight visual gains

By now you’ve no doubt seen the first batch of images from NASA’s powerful new eye in the sky, the James Webb Space Telescope. But the scope of the achievement can be hard to appreciate without context, so here they are side-by-side with Hubble’s views… Continue reading James Webb vs Hubble: Side-by-side comparisons highlight visual gains