Black Hole Bullies Shut Down Star Formation in Their Galaxies
A supermassive black hole in the heart of a galaxy is the ultimate 800-pound gorilla of astrophysics. Not only do…
Can We Use An Asteroid’s Own Dust to Deflect It?
Deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) is one of humanity's most critical long-term efforts to ensure we don't suffer the fate…
How Commercial Satellites Could Track Spy Balloons and Other UFOs
It turns out that you don't need the Men in Black to spot unidentified anomalous phenomena, which are also known…
Saturn’s Energy is Out of Balance
Earth releases about as much energy out into space as it absorbs, arriving at a thermal equilibrium. This means it…
Another Strike Against Primordial Black Holes as an Explanation for Dark Matter
The quest to understand dark matter has taken many twists and turns. It's a scientific tale but also a human…
Do We Now Have an Accurate Map of Nearby Stars?
If the Sun has a stellar neighbourhood, it can be usefully defined as a 20 parsec (65 light-years) sphere centred…
A Combination Drill and Gas Conveyor Could Simplify Asteroid Extraction
Collecting material from an asteroid seems like a simple task. In reality, it isn't. Low gravity, high rotational speeds, lack…
China’s Chang’e-6 Probe Drops Off Samples From Moon’s Far Side
Three weeks after it lifted off from the far side of the moon, China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft dropped off a capsule…
Simulating the Last Moments Before Neutron Stars Merge
When stars reach the end of their life cycle, they shed their outer layers in a supernova. What is left…
Growing Black Holes Have Much in Common With Baby Stars
First looks would tell most observers that supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and very young stars have nothing in common. But…