The universe

Latest about The universe

Artist's conception of the vehicles that would participate in a Mars sample return by NASA and the European Space Agency.

Will China return Mars samples to Earth before the US does?

By Leonard David published

China has moved up its timeline for bringing Mars samples to Earth, aiming to do so as early as 2028 — long before the U.S. is slated to achieve this same ambitious goal.

Mars
Purple and pink smoke with two zoomed in regions shown in blue and white

Can 'failed stars' have planets? James Webb Space Telescopes offers clues

By Robert Lea published

The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered brown dwarfs at the heart of planet-forming disks in the Orion nebula. The discovery could help reveal if these "failed stars" can have planets.

Stars
a bright blue streak of light through a starry night sky

Astrophotographer captures comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS growing an anti-tail (photos)

By Miguel Claro published

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro captured Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) from the Dark Sky Alqueva reserve in Portugal on Oct. 13, 2024 as the comet was displaying an 'anti-tail.'

Comets
An image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, a behemoth dubbed Sagittarius A*, revealed by the Event Horizon Telescope on May 12, 2022.

1st image of our Milky Way's black hole may be inaccurate, scientists say

By Sharmila Kuthunur last updated

The famous doughnut-shaped image of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole may not be fully accurate, an independent analysis of EHT data suggests.

Black Holes

November full moon 2024: Last supermoon of the year joins the Pleiades

By Jesse Emspak last updated

November's full Beaver Moon will occur on Nov. 15 and will shine near the well-known Pleiades star cluster in the Taurus constellation.

The moon
Abstract, futuristic image of blue light streaks radiating outward, giving the impression of rapid movement or traveling at high speed, inspired by the concept of faster-than-light travel

What is the speed of light?

By Vicky Stein last updated

Reference The speed of light puts a speed limit on matter, lets us peer back into the history of our universe, and has deep implications for physics and space travel.

Reference
Artist's illustration depicting the terraforming of Mars — turning into a more Earth-like world.

'First tree on Mars:' Scientists measure greenhouse effect needed to terraform Red Planet

By Leonard David published

What is the amount of greenhouse warming required to heat up the cold climes of Mars enough so that trees can grow on the Red Planet?

Mars
An illustration of the Earth with blue and red lines swirling through the Atlantic

Key Atlantic current could collapse soon, 'impacting the entire world for centuries to come,' leading climate scientists warn

By Sascha Pare published

Leading climate scientists ring alarm bell on key Atlantic Ocean current collapse in open letter.

Climate Change
Graphic illustration of Einstein's theory of general relativity showing two spheres in close proximity and a series of ripples emanating from them.

What is the theory of general relativity? Understanding Einstein's space-time revolution

By Nola Taylor Tillman, Meghan Bartels, Scott Dutfield last updated

Reference Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity is based on the idea that massive objects cause a distortion in space-time, which is felt as gravity.

Reference
a blue and dark red misty galaxy in space, among many stars and other galaxies.

Distorted galaxy whizzes through crowded cluster in new Hubble Telescope image

By Samantha Mathewson published

A new image from the Hubble Space Telescope captures the galaxy IC 3225 with a comet-like tail of gas streaming from its central disk as it moves through the Virgo Cluster.

Galaxies
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