In the vast expanse of the universe, there is a binary star system located 3,000 light years from Earth in the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the “northern crown.” This system is generally too dim to be seen with the naked eye, but every 80 years or so, something extraordinary happens. The two stars
Space
A rare astronomical occurrence is set to captivate skywatchers on April 8. While a total solar eclipse will darken skies across a significant part of the US, there will also be another celestial event to look out for. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, known as the “Mother of Dragons” or “Devil comet,” will be making its closest approach
In a recent announcement, the White House has tasked NASA with creating a unified time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies. This initiative comes as governments and private companies are increasingly exploring opportunities in space. The aim is to set international norms beyond Earth’s orbit to ensure safety and accuracy for missions to
Recent research has shed light on the creation of spherical carbon ‘cages’ known as fullerenes, which play a crucial role in the origins of life. By combining the results of laboratory studies with simulation software, scientists have made a significant discovery. These findings have important implications not only for our understanding of how life emerged
Total solar eclipses are a fascinating astronomical event that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the Sun’s face. This phenomenon plunges observers into a darkness similar to dawn or dusk. These events are relatively rare, happening roughly every 18 months at some location on Earth. The upcoming total solar
A recent discovery in Antarctica has shed light on the presence of a unique grain of olivine in an ancient meteorite. This speck of olivine displays isotope compositions that can only be traced back to a star that perished long before the birth of our Solar System. These presolar grains, although challenging to identify due
Researchers have made an extraordinary discovery by revealing the magnetic fields that spiral around the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* in our galaxy. Using twisted light to detect and measure the effect of polarization in a direct image of the shadow of Sgr A*, scientists have uncovered a magnetic field structure similar to that of
The International Space Station (ISS) is facing an uncertain future, and NASA is actively investing in potential replacements. One such candidate is Orbital Reef, a project developed as a joint venture between Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, and Sierra Space. Recently, NASA announced that Orbital Reef has successfully passed four critical milestones, showcasing its
Mars, often referred to as the “Red Planet,” is home to numerous craters, far more than what can be found on Earth. The primary reason for this stark difference is the lack of weathering forces and strong plate tectonics on Mars, which allows impact craters to remain intact for longer periods of time. While many
The Earth’s location in the vastness of space is a concept that we often struggle to wrap our minds around. It is not just a matter of orbiting an average star – our Sun – but being part of a much larger structure known as the Laniakea Supercluster. This supercluster spans an astonishing 250 million
The search for the first stars that emerged in the early days of the Universe has led scientists to the discovery of one of the oldest stars known to humanity, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. While the star, identified as LMC 119, does not belong to the
The recent discovery of two ancient streams of stars, aptly named Shiva and Shakti, towards the center of the Milky Way has shed new light on the galaxy’s origins. Astrophysicist Khyati Malhan and astronomer Hans Walter-Rix, from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, unearthed these streams using data from the European Space Agency’s
The stability of planetary systems has long been a topic of interest for scientists. While we have a good understanding of the rules governing the orbits of two celestial bodies, the dynamics become much more complex when additional bodies are introduced. This complexity can lead to unpredictable instabilities, resulting in objects being ejected into space
Prepare yourselves for a once-in-a-lifetime event that is set to light up the skies this year. A star located 3,000 light-years away is gearing up for a massive explosion known as a nova, which promises to be a sight to behold. NASA has deemed this event to be so extraordinary that it will be visible
The traditional models of the age of the Universe have been called into question by theoretical physicist Rajendra Gupta from the University of Ottawa. According to Gupta, the Universe might actually be much older than the currently accepted age of 13.7 billion years. His groundbreaking proposal suggests that the Universe’s age has been misinterpreted due