Chemistry
A Supernova Exploded Dangerously Close to Earth 2.5 Million Years Ago
In its 4.5 billion year history, Earth has had to run the gauntlet. Numerous catastrophes have imperilled the planet, from…
Maybe Volcanoes Could Explain the Phosphine in Venus’ Atmosphere
The detection of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere was one of those quintessential moments in space science. It was an unexpected…
Colliding Neutron Stars Don’t Make Enough Gold to Explain What We See in the Universe
Much of the gold we find on Earth was created by colliding neutron stars, but astronomers now know gold must…
Because of Coronavirus Lockdowns, Europe is Having the Same Drop in Pollution that we Saw in China
The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus is creating all kinds of chaos for human society. But for the dear…
We Know We’re Made of Stardust. But Did it Come From Red Giants?
We've all heard this one: when you drink a glass of water, that water has already been through a bunch…
Astronomers See Strontium in the Kilonova Wreckage, Proof that Neutron Star Collisions Manufacture Heavy Elements in the Universe
Astronomers have spotted Strontium in the aftermath of a collision between two neutron stars. This is the first time a…
Traces of One of the Oldest Stars in the Universe Found Inside Another Star
Despite all we know about the formation and evolution of the Universe, the very early days are still kind of…
There Should Be More Iron In Space. Why Can’t We See It?
Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the Universe, along with lighter elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon.…
Lakes on Titan Might Have Exotic Crystals Encrusted Around Their Shores
Titan is a mysterious, strange place for human eyes. It's a frigid world, with seas of liquid hydrocarbons, and a…
Hubble Finds Buckyballs in Space
Scientists working with the Hubble Space Telescope have found a very complex molecule out there in space. Called Buckyballs, after…