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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 ...

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Astrobiology
Between eternal night and day, the faces of two cousins of Earth
Astronomy
First Proba-3 science: Surprisingly speedy solar wind found in inner corona
Space Exploration
Artemis II crew used modern photography to tell the story of their lunar journey—and update some classic Apollo images
Planetary Sciences
Is the moon more iron-rich than what we thought?
Planetary Sciences
The moon just got a new scar
Space Exploration
NASA already has next Artemis flight in its sights following astronauts' triumphant moon flyby
Astronomy
Astronomers find the strongest evidence yet for the universe's first stars
Astronomy
Space telescopes track nearby quasar's dramatic X-ray state transition
Astronomy
Advanced mirror technology now powers a breakthrough X-ray telescope
Space Exploration
How Artemis II's Earthset photo compares with the iconic Earthrise image from 1968
Astronomy
Scientists spot a solar flare with surprising spectral behavior
Space Exploration
JAXA plans to bring back pristine early solar system samples from a comet
Astrobiology
Meet Orpheus—A hopper mission built to hunt for life in Martian volcanoes
Space Exploration
Artemis crew urges unity on 'lifeboat' Earth
Space Exploration
After Artemis II, NASA looks to SpaceX, Blue Origin for moon landings
Astronomy
Astronomers find evidence for three subpopulations of merging black holes
Space Exploration
Artemis II's record-breaking journey around the moon ends with dramatic splashdown
Space Exploration
Artemis II lunar mission draws flood of conspiracy theories
Space Exploration
Top takeaways from the Artemis II mission
Space Exploration
'Howl at the moon': NASA's bid to boost space enthusiasm

Other news

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
Plants & Animals
Birds that put more energy into parenthood age faster and die younger, research shows
Archaeology
Ethiopia's Afar Rift provides glimpse into life and death 100,000 years ago
Plants & Animals
Discovery of Addison's disease gene in dogs could help humans as well
Ecology
After 9,000 years of cultivation, rice has reached its thermal limit
Optics & Photonics
Copper blasted into a million-degree plasma strips away 22 electrons in a flash before atoms recover
Nanomaterials
Graphene as a charge mirror: Why water droplets 'see' graphene—but don't show it
Plants & Animals
Bonobos' peaceful reputation cracks after a rival group attack leaves an infant dead
Earth Sciences
Saltwater is closing in on coastal groundwater, putting billions and food supplies at risk
Analytical Chemistry
Ph.D. student solves persistent problem in high-entropy alloys
Archaeology
Using computed tomography to study DNA from ancient humans without destroying samples
Earth Sciences
Glaciers may flow into the ocean more quickly than we think
Earth Sciences
Super magma reservoirs discovered beneath Tuscany
General Physics
Droplet impacts reveal surprising physics in shear-thickening fluids
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
Condensed Matter
A silicon-compatible path toward scalable quantum systems
Ecology
Picky methane-consuming microorganisms prefer carbon monoxide, opening the door to more greenhouse gas release

Parachutes: A vital part of Artemis II's trip home

As the Orion spacecraft hurtles home, friction caused by reentry into Earth's atmosphere will drastically decrease its speed from a potential 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour).

Major new telescope on Chilean summit opens window on universe

Thirty-four years after Cornell University scientists first conceived it, the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) now rises above the Atacama Desert, near the summit of Cerro Chajnantor in Chile. FYST will help answer ...

Artemis astronauts to shed light on space health risks

While the Artemis II astronauts have been protected from the icy vacuum of space on their journey, their bodies have nonetheless been left exposed to possibly high levels of radiation—a danger of space travel that NASA is ...