Guide to Space
Why Do Galaxies Have Arms?
Spiral galaxies get their name because of their beautiful spiral shape and iconic arms. But why do galaxies have these…
How Far Can You See in the Universe?
When you look into the night sky, you’re seeing tremendous distances away, even with your bare eyeball. But what’s the…
What’s The Fastest Way To Die In Space?
Space is a hostile environment for human beings. No part of it will permit you to survive longer than a…
What Are These Hollows on Mercury?
Emily Lakdawalla from the planetary society describes one of the mysteries that's currently fascinating her. There are strange structures on…
Can Light Orbit A Black Hole?
Since black holes are the most powerful gravitational spots in the entire Universe, can they distort light so much that…
What Happens When The Poles Flip?
Have you heard the terrifying news that the Earth's poles are going to flip? What does "flipping" mean? And if…
How Does Life Recover from Mass Extinctions?
Every few dozen million years there's a devastating event on Earth that kills nearly all the living creatures on our…
Which Star Will Explode Next?
Come on Betelguese, explode already. Or maybe it'll be Eta Carinae. Which of the billions of stars in the galaxy…
How Do You Jumpstart A Dead Star?
It's a staple of science fiction, restarting our dying star with some kind of atomic superbomb. Why is our Sun…
What Is The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation?
The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation is the afterglow of the Big Bang; one of the strongest lines of evidence we…