The Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) experienced its third coolant leak in less than a year, raising concerns about the reliability of the country’s space program. While officials assured that the crew members were not in danger, the incident has sparked questions about the overall integrity and effectiveness of the Russian space
Space
A recent breakthrough in scanning telescope images for faint signs of rock beyond Pluto has led to an intriguing discovery about our Solar System. For decades, astronomers believed that the Kuiper Belt, a field of icy boulders extending 48 times the distance between Earth and the Sun, suddenly thinned out. However, new evidence suggests that
On July 4, 2023, the Perseverance Rover celebrated its 842nd Martian day on Mars. As the red sky above began to grow dark, the adventurous robot turned its left navigation camera to the hazy horizon. With one snap, it captured a spectacularly alien sunset, around which the red planet’s sky glowed a brilliantly strange cool
Astronomers have recently discovered a perplexing cosmic phenomenon known as luminous fast blue optical transients (LFBOTs). These bizarre explosions, with their exceptional brightness and short duration, have left scientists scratching their heads. Initially believed to be massive supernovae confined within galaxies, a rare LFBOT named the Finch (AT2023fhn) has now been observed in intergalactic space,
In 2009, the astronomical community was captivated by the sudden disappearance of a massive star, N6946-BH1, which had been expected to erupt into a supernova. However, instead of a grand explosion, the star underwent a period of intense brightening, reaching a luminosity equivalent to a million Suns, only to fade away into obscurity. The inability
Space debris has become a growing concern, as the number of satellites and space missions continues to increase. In a milestone decision, US authorities have imposed a $150,000 fine on satellite television provider Dish for failing to properly deorbit a satellite named EchoStar-7. This is the first-ever fine issued for space debris and highlights the
In the vastness of our Solar System, Mercury has always been a planet of intrigue. As the closest planet to the Sun, scientists have long been aware of its unique characteristics, one of which is its gradual shrinkage over billions of years. Mercury’s interior, despite its scorching proximity to the Sun, has been slowly cooling
Determining the mass of the Milky Way is no easy task. It’s like a single cell in your body attempting to measure your total mass. Despite the difficulty, a recent study has managed to calculate a more accurate mass for our galaxy, and the results are surprising. One way to estimate a galaxy’s mass is
When the first-ever image of a black hole was released in 2019, it captivated the world. However, this supermassive monster known as Messier 87 (M87) still held more secrets. After analyzing 22 years of observations, scientists have now confirmed that the black hole at the core of M87 is indeed spinning. This groundbreaking discovery sheds
Earlier this year, the astronomical community was disheartened when the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) revealed that TRAPPIST-1b, one of the most Earth-like exoplanets ever discovered, lacks a detectable atmosphere. Despite its similarities in size to Earth, being 1.4 times the mass and 1.1 times the radius, this exoplanet is still uninhabitable due to the
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has set its sights on unraveling the mysteries of the early universe. Among its principal science goals is to observe the epoch during which the first galaxies were formed, shedding light on their formation, evolution, and composition. With each deep dive into the cosmic past, the telescope continues to
In a groundbreaking revelation, astronomers have determined that carbon dioxide found on Jupiter’s moon Europa originates from its vast subsurface ocean. The detection of carbon dioxide on Europa’s surface has raised hopes of potentially finding extraterrestrial life in our Solar System. While scientists have long believed that Europa harbors a massive saltwater ocean beneath its
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has been ongoing for decades, with scientists exploring various technosignatures as potential indicators of advanced civilizations. One such technosignature is the hypothetical megastructure known as a Dyson Sphere. These massive structures, conceived by physicist Freeman Dyson, are thought to be capable of harnessing the energy of a star. Traditionally,
The grand finale of a massive star’s life is marked by a spectacular event called a supernova. When these colossal stars exhaust their fuel, they detonate in a cataclysmic explosion. However, the mechanics underlying such phenomena, particularly exotic supernovae, remain shrouded in mystery. Exotic supernovae represent the rarest and brightest forms of stellar explosions, challenging
The search for water on the Moon has taken a new turn as recent analysis suggests that the lunar craters, which were once considered potential reservoirs of ancient water ice, are actually too young to retain such reserves. Physicist Norbert Schorghofer from the Planetary Science Institute and astrophysicist Raluca Rufu from the Southwest Research Institute
