Space

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

More Stories in Space

  1. Astronomy

    See a 3-D map of stellar nurseries based on data from the Gaia telescope

    The map, spanning 4,000 light-years from the sun in all directions, combines a chart of space dust with the effects of a rare type of young, hot star.

    By
  2. Planetary Science

    Dwarf planet Makemake sports the most remote gas in the solar system

    The methane gas may constitute a rarefied atmosphere, or it may come from erupting plumes on Makemake’s surface.

    By
  3. Space

    This black hole flipped its magnetic field

    Event Horizon Telescope data reveal the magnetic field around M87* shifted, weakened and then flipped, defying theoretical expectations.

    By
  4. Planetary Science

    Enceladus’ ocean may not have produced precursor chemicals for life

    Building blocks of life have been found on this moon of Saturn. They may come from chemical reactions beyond Enceladus’ possible life-supporting ocean.

    By
  5. Particle Physics

    A primordial black hole may have spewed the highest energy neutrino ever found

    The Big Bang may have spawned these theoretical black holes, whose lives are thought to end in a burst of extremely energetic particles.

    By
  6. Space

    How a Harvard maverick forever changed our concept of the stars

    At just 25, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin applied quantum physics to a treasure trove of astronomical observations to show that stars are mostly hydrogen and helium.

    By
  7. Planetary Science

    Future Martians will need to breathe. It won’t be easy

    Asteroid impacts, microbes, mining: These are a few tactics engineers might one day use to create an Earthlike atmosphere on Mars.

    By
  8. Physics

    A ‘ringing’ black hole matches scientists’ predictions

    Gravitational waves emitted after two black holes coalesced agree with theories from physicists Stephen Hawking and Roy Kerr.

    By
  9. Planetary Science

    Seismic waves suggest Mars has a solid heart

    NASA’s InSight lander listened to Marsquakes for four years. The tremors revealed that Mars may have a solid inner core.

    By