Latest articles by Rafi Letzter
Warm pasta helps hot, angry neutron stars cool down
Neutron stars are like the most efficient thermoses in the universe, filled with hot noodle soup. Here's how, over the course of millions of years, they cool down.
Astronomers claimed galaxy was 98% dark matter. They were wrong.
Back in 2016, researchers claimed Dragonfly 44 was a "failed" Milky Way — a galaxy with a huge dark matter mass but almost no stars. Now, on closer examination, that claim has fallen apart.
Physicists keep trying to break the rules of gravity but this supermassive black hole just said 'no'
A new test of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity has proved the 20th Century physicist right again, this time using a supermassive black hole.
Something huge ripped the skin off this star before it died
Something pulled the outer layer of Cassiopeia A off before it detonated to form this gorgeous supernova. But what?
There's too much gold in the universe. No one knows where it came from.
Something is showering gold across the universe. But no one knows what it is, and key theoretical explanations are falling apart
Did NASA detect a hint of life on Venus in 1978 and not realize it?
What if scientists had started hunting for life on Venus in 1978?
Dark matter hunter who found unexpected, giant 'Fermi bubbles' wins $100,000 physics prize
Tracy Slatyer, known for hunting dark matter in our galaxy and discovering evidence of an ancient Milky Way explosion, has won a $100,000 prize funded by tech billionaires.
Rainbow meteorite discovered in Costa Rica may hold building blocks of life
A small, soft smacked into Costa Rica on April 23, 2019. And it carried dust older than our sun, as well as clues regarding how life formed on Earth.
Interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua could still be alien technology, new study hints
The idea that interstellar object 'Oumuamua is a hydrogen iceberg has a flaw.
First ever double hurricane could hit the Gulf of Mexico
There's no record of two hurricanes being in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time. Next week, that could change.
Astronomers bounced a laser off a spacecraft whirling around the moon
That's one precise laser shot.
Entire cities could fit inside the moon's monstrous lava tubes
Vast lava tubes pock the surface of the moon and Mars, and could protect explorers from the elements. But first someone needs to explore them.
Death Valley tops 130 F, setting possible global heat record
California's Death Valley recorded what may be its hottest ever temperature on Sunday (Aug. 16) — a blazing 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius).
Heavy atom spills its guts in decade-long experiment
A new experiment on ultra-rare astatine could open the door to cancer treatments and new research into super-heavy atoms.
Thousands of Earthlike 'blanets' might circle the Milky Way's central black hole
Tens of thousands of planets like Earth and Neptune might orbit the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
Oldest surviving light reveals the universe's true age
One of the most important controversies in physics remains unresolved after a major new study. But at least we have a new precise number for the universe's age.
Origin of 'Mirach's Ghost' perplexes black hole scientists
Physicists are step closer to understanding where the largest black holes in the universe came from. But new data reveals even deeper mysteries around their creation.
Pentagon should release UFO report, Senate intelligence committee argues
How much would a report like this really tell us?
Why some physicists really think there's a 'mirror universe' hiding in space-time
What happens when you turn space-time upside-down?
Einstein's core idea about gravity just passed an extreme, whirling test in deep space
Once again, physicists have confirmed one of Albert Einstein's core ideas about gravity and relativity — this time with the help of a neutron star flashing across space.
An astronomer calculated that Earth's intelligent life is probably 'rare.' Here's what that means.
A new paper used an advanced "Bayesian" model to show that the emergence of intelligent life on Earth was probably a lucky break.
