Sharmila Kuthunur
Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur.
Latest articles by Sharmila Kuthunur
The mathematically perfect exoplanet system — a great place to search for alien tech
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A newfound exoplanet system with six sub-Neptunes has piqued the interest of scientists who seek extraterrestrial life.
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX asteroid probe wakes up after surviving close pass by the sun
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX probe is back online after a two-month hiatus to protect itself during a close approach to the sun as it makes its way to potentially dangerous asteroid Apophis.
3 tiny new moons found around Uranus and Neptune — and one is exceptionally tiny
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Two will be named after sea gods and nymphs and the other will be named for a Shakespearean character.
Watch Intuitive Machines' private Odysseus lander attempt historic moon landing
By Sharmila Kuthunur last updated
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus probe will attempt a historic landing near the moon's south pole this evening (Feb. 22), and you can watch the action live.
Massive underground laboratory in China joins the quest to find dark matter
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A renovated Chinese underground lab has expanded the search for dark matter, offering new promise for the detection of this abundant yet elusive substance.
China's Chang'e-5 moon samples contain 'perplexing combination' of minerals
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
China's Chang'e-5 moon samples are giving scientists new insights into the history of our moon.
Lunar astronauts could potentially make hummus with moon-grown chickpeas
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A team of researchers has grown chickpeas in simulated moondust for the first time.
Huge stars are born as twins, triplets and more, new images confirm
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A newly imaged star cluster is birthing groups of three, four and five stars, confirming the prevailing wisdom that the universe forms its stars in multiples.
NASA's IMAP probe will launch in 2025 to capture interstellar dust
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
In the spring of 2024, NASA plans to launch a spacecraft to capture minuscule dust particles streaming into our solar system from interstellar space.
Planets can form much faster than thought, new ALMA telescope photos suggest
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Clouds of dust and gas not far from our solar system are giving astronomers a rare glimpse into the earliest stages of planet formation.
This huge exoplanet's comet-like tail is 350,000 miles long and scientists are thrilled
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A hot Jupiter exoplanet's comet-like tail is far longer than previously thought, spanning at least 350,000 miles, scientists say.
Mystery solved! 1st close-up images of giant star explain its bizarre dimming
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The first close-up images of the gigantic star RW Cephei explain why it appeared to mysteriously grow dimmer in recent years before brightening once more.
Astronomers solve mystery of 'Green Monster' in famous supernova remnant (photo)
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The mysterious wispy green light captured by the James Webb Space Telescope last year near the heart of Cassiopeia A turns out to be a result of a blast wave slamming into surrounding material.
Europe's Proba-3 mission will create an 'artificial eclipse' to the study sun's corona
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Europe will launch two satellites in September which will together form an artificial eclipse to help scientists study the sun.
Uranus and Neptune are actually similar blues, 'true' color images reveal
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A fresh analysis of Voyager 2's images of Uranus and Neptune reveal the two ice giants are similar shades of blue.
'Cooling glass' could fight climate change by reflecting solar radiation back into space
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
To combat increasing global temperatures, scientists have developed a new cooling glass paint which effectively uses space as a heat sink.
Spacetime ripples detected in 2023 continue to puzzle astronomers. Could they be from the dawn of the universe?
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The recently detected gravitational waves are a muddled mix of various sources, new study finds.
12 James Webb Space Telescope findings that changed our understanding of the universe in 2023
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
These are the James Webb Space Telescope's most notable discoveries in 2023.
Astronomers discover strangely missing stars in galaxies near Milky Way
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
A newfound population of stars in nearby dwarf galaxies are the long-sought precursors of hydrogen-poor supernovas.
How Solar Orbiter is decoding the sun's mysterious miniflares: 'What we see is just the tip of the iceberg'
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Scientists look back at Solar Orbiter's first three years of operation.
Perseverance Mars rover to climb crater rim next spring in bonus mission
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's Perseverance rover has been exploring Mars' Jezero Crater for nearly three years, but it will soon move on to investigate a vastly different environment.
'What is that material?': Potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu stumps scientists with its odd makeup
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Scientists found signs of organic molecules in the first samples of potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, as well as a 'head scratching' material that has yet to be identified.
Mars' atmosphere swelled like a balloon when solar wind stopped blowing. Scientists are thrilled
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
NASA's MAVEN orbiter has collected data of the unexpected dynamics on Mars, showing how extreme solar events influence the planet's atmosphere, an insight valuable to understanding its evolution.
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