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Webb redefines the dividing line between planets and stars

Planets, like those in our solar system, form in a bottom-up process where small bits of rock and ice clump together and grow larger over time. But the heftier the planet, the harder it is to explain its formation that way.

The quietest place we've ever listened from

We have been searching for signals from other civilizations for over sixty years. Radio telescopes on Earth have swept the sky, listened patiently, and found nothing but silence. It is a search that demands extraordinary ...

Self-interacting dark matter may solve three cosmic puzzles

A study led by UC Riverside physicist Hai-Bo Yu suggests that a new type of dark matter could explain three astrophysical puzzles across vastly different environments. Published in Physical Review Letters, the study proposes ...

See and hear galaxies evolve from the dawn of the universe

The most realistic picture yet of how galaxies formed and then evolved from the beginning of time has been revealed in a suite of new and unique audiovisual simulations. These data, accepted for publication in the Monthly ...

Scientists spot a solar flare with surprising spectral behavior

On August 19, 2022, solar astronomers using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) on the Hawaiian island of Maui caught the fading remnants of a C-class solar flare. Their observations showed something unusual: very ...

Other news

Planetary Sciences
Subaru telescope captures comet 3I/ATLAS composition change
Earth Sciences
Copper's 'gatekeeper' could unlock cleaner energy future
Bio & Medicine
This nasal spray rewinds the aging brain, restoring memory and reversing inflammation in preclinical models
Archaeology
Ethiopia's Afar Rift provides glimpse into life and death 100,000 years ago
Plants & Animals
Birds that put more energy into parenthood age faster and die younger, research shows
Plants & Animals
Discovery of Addison's disease gene in dogs could help humans as well
Optics & Photonics
Copper blasted into a million-degree plasma strips away 22 electrons in a flash before atoms recover
Ecology
After 9,000 years of cultivation, rice has reached its thermal limit
Plants & Animals
Bonobos' peaceful reputation cracks after a rival group attack leaves an infant dead
Astrobiology
Young stars dim quickly in their X-ray output, potentially benefiting orbiting planets
Nanomaterials
Graphene as a charge mirror: Why water droplets 'see' graphene—but don't show it
Earth Sciences
Saltwater is closing in on coastal groundwater, putting billions and food supplies at risk
Earth Sciences
Super magma reservoirs discovered beneath Tuscany
General Physics
Droplet impacts reveal surprising physics in shear-thickening fluids
Analytical Chemistry
Ph.D. student solves persistent problem in high-entropy alloys
Earth Sciences
Glaciers may flow into the ocean more quickly than we think
Archaeology
Using computed tomography to study DNA from ancient humans without destroying samples
Evolution
Simple rules guide how proteins assemble and evolve, study finds
Quantum Physics
Smart cable sharing gives quantum computers a big boost
Nanomaterials
AI-guided electron microscope provides unique glimpse into the world of MXenes