Earth’s airglow to give NASA a window into space weather waves

Next month, NASA will place a new piece of equipment on the International Space Station (ISS). It will examine a phenomenon known as Earth’s airglow for signs of weather-produced waves that can reach the mesopause and disrupt satellite communications.C… Continue reading Earth’s airglow to give NASA a window into space weather waves

“Modified gravity” could rule out both dark matter and Planet Nine

Our solar system officially houses eight planets, but some scientists say there could be a ninth. And that’s not just Pluto aficionados – evidence suggests a huge undiscovered world lurks on the dark fringes out there. Now, a new study has found the ou… Continue reading “Modified gravity” could rule out both dark matter and Planet Nine

“Starburst” galaxies could solve cosmic dawn mystery raised by Webb

The unprecedented power of the James Webb Space Telescope allows it to look farther back in space and time than ever before – and in doing so, it’s revealed puzzling galaxies that seem to be too advanced for their age. Now astronomers have proposed a n… Continue reading “Starburst” galaxies could solve cosmic dawn mystery raised by Webb

3-million-mile-high tsunamis crash down on “heartbreak” star

From strange stars to weird worlds and other odd objects that defy explanation, the cosmos constantly surprises us. Now astronomers have discovered a “heartbreak” star system where tidal waves, three times taller than the Sun, rise and crash on the sur… Continue reading 3-million-mile-high tsunamis crash down on “heartbreak” star

In a first, water found in disc where Earth-like exoplanets are forming

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has scored another first, detecting evidence of water in a planet-forming disc circling another star where at least two terrestrial-class proto-planets seem to be forming.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: E… Continue reading In a first, water found in disc where Earth-like exoplanets are forming

Galactic-scale detector picks up background distortions in spacetime

The very fabric of spacetime is constantly warping, on unimaginably tiny scales, as ripples from past cataclysms wash over us. Astrophysicists have now detected a background sea of gravitational waves, using a galaxy-scale detector made up of dead star… Continue reading Galactic-scale detector picks up background distortions in spacetime

“Quantum gravity” clues could be hiding in the songs of black holes

Of the four fundamental forces of physics, gravity is the one we’re most familiar with in everyday life, but it’s also the only one that can’t currently be explained by quantum physics. Now scientists have outlined a plan to look for signs of quantum g… Continue reading “Quantum gravity” clues could be hiding in the songs of black holes

Earth hit by brightest gamma-ray burst on record in 1-in-10,000-year event

NASA has confirmed that on October 9, 2022, our solar system was struck by a gamma-ray burst originating 1,900 light years away that was brighter than any since the beginning of human civilization, in what the space agency calls a “1 in 10,000 year” ev… Continue reading Earth hit by brightest gamma-ray burst on record in 1-in-10,000-year event

The galactic hunt for a planet in the Venus Zone has begun

Even though Venus is the closest planet to Earth, there’s still a lot we don’t know about it, especially when it comes to its galactic-scale history. Was it once habitable? Did it ever have water? Was the atmosphere ever different than the toxic cockta… Continue reading The galactic hunt for a planet in the Venus Zone has begun

“Terminator habitability” not in the realm of sci-fi, says research

Unlike Earth, there are millions of planets that have permanent day sides bathed in the light of their star, and permanent night sides cloaked in darkness. The area between these two sides is called the “terminator zone” and is a logical place to searc… Continue reading “Terminator habitability” not in the realm of sci-fi, says research