Astronomy
Main Sequence and White Dwarf Binaries are Hiding in Plain Sight
Some binary stars are unusual. They contain a main sequence star like our Sun, while the other is a "dead"…
How Scientists Repurposed a Camera on ESA’s Mars Express Mission
A camera aboard the Mars Express orbiter finds a new lease on life. Sometimes, limitations can lead to innovation. A…
Sun-Like Stars Around Black Holes: What Gives?
Buried in the treasure trove of the Gaia catalog were two strange black hole systems. These were black holes orbiting…
The Strange Pulsar at the Center of the Crab Nebula
Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, we all have a vivid image of the Crab Nebula emblazoned in our mind's…
The Biggest Black Holes May Start From The Tiniest Seeds
The existence of gigantic black holes in the very early universe challenges our assumptions of how black holes form and…
Up to a Third of Stars Ate Some of their Planets
In recent years, astronomers have developed techniques to measure the metal content of stars with extreme accuracy. With that capability,…
America’s Particle Physics Plan Spans the Globe — and the Cosmos
RALEIGH, N.C. — Particle physicist Hitoshi Murayama admits that he used to worry about being known as the "most hated…
What’s Behind the Martian Methane Mystery?
The seasonal variations of methane in the Martian atmosphere is an intriguing clue that there might be life hiding under…
Scientists Develop Technique to Create 3D Models of Cosmic Structures
For decades, astronomers have used powerful instruments to capture images of the cosmos in various wavelengths. This includes optical images,…
It Takes Very Special Conditions to Create This Bizarre Stellar Spectacle
A stellar odd couple 700 light-years away is creating a chaotically beautiful display of colourful, gaseous filaments. The Hubble captured…