Space

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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

More Stories in Space

  1. Planetary Science

    How alien ‘canals’ sparked debate over life on Mars

    In The Martians, journalist David Baron recounts scientific and public debate over purported intelligent life on the Red Planet.

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  2. Planetary Science

    Cosmic rays could, in theory, sustain life on other worlds

    The hypothesis could extend the search for extraterrestrial life to include frigid planets with thin atmospheres and underground water.

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  3. Planetary Science

    A giant planet may orbit our closest sunlike neighbor

    Alpha Centauri A, four light-years from Earth, may host a gas giant. If confirmed, no Earthlike planets orbit in the star’s habitable zone.

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  4. Astronomy

    Seven superclouds sit just beyond the solar system

    The superclouds probably produce star-forming clouds of gas, since most nearby stellar nurseries are located within the giants.

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  5. Astronomy

    The Webb space telescope spies its first black holes snacking on stars

    These star-shredding black holes sit within dusty galaxies that block many telescopes’ views. That’s not an issue for JWST.

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  6. Quantum Physics

    A quantum computer goes to space

    Quantum computers in space could be useful for communications networks or for testing fundamental physics.

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  7. Astronomy

    Two colliding galaxies may have birthed this black hole

    An infinity symbol–shaped galaxy hosts an active supermassive black hole. The growing giant may have come from the aftermath of a galactic smashup.

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  8. Astronomy

    Betelgeuse’s companion star revealed in new images

    Revealed by advanced imaging, the long-sought "Betelbuddy" is much smaller and fainter than Betelgeuse and orbits within the supergiant’s atmosphere.

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  9. Planetary Science

    This star offers the earliest peek at the birth of a planetary system like ours

    A young sunlike star called HOPS 315 seems to host a swirling disk of gas giving rise to minerals that kick-start the planet formation process.

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