Space Exploration

Japan's HTV-X cargo ship captured by space station

Japan's upgraded HTV-X cargo spacecraft was successfully captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm on Wednesday, soaring 260 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean. Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui announced the capture, hailing it as a historic event for Japan's space program. The mission delivers supplies and experiments, representing a new era for the nation's contributions to the ISS.

NASA acting administrator critiques SpaceX moon lander delay

NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy has publicly questioned SpaceX's progress on a lunar lander, signaling potential changes to the agency's moon landing plans. In two television appearances on Monday morning, Duffy highlighted delays and openness to alternatives. This comes amid efforts to return humans to the moon.

James Webb telescope detects carbon-rich disk around young exoplanet

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has observed a carbon-rich disk surrounding the exoplanet CT Cha b, 625 light-years from Earth, potentially serving as a moon factory. The disk, separate from the star's own disk, offers insights into early planet and moon formation. The young star system is just 2 million years old.

Early universe radio waves may reveal dark matter

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have proposed detecting faint radio waves from the cosmic dark ages to uncover dark matter's properties. These signals, emitted by hydrogen gas influenced by dark matter clumps just 100 million years after the Big Bang, could be best observed from the Moon. The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, highlight a new method to probe the Universe's earliest moments.

Scientists create laptop tool to simulate universe structure

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed Effort.jl, a new tool that allows scientists to simulate the universe's large-scale structure using just a laptop. This innovation reduces computation time from days on supercomputers to hours, enabling faster analysis of vast cosmic datasets. The tool emulates complex models like the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure (EFTofLSS).

Astronomers achieve sharpest view of distant star using single telescope

A UCLA-led team has captured the most detailed image ever of a disk around the distant star beta Canis Minoris using a innovative photonic lantern on a single telescope. This breakthrough reveals hidden structures without needing multiple telescopes. The discovery uncovers a lopsided hydrogen disk 162 light-years away.

Scientists uncover ozone rise in Mars' polar vortex

Researchers have observed a dramatic buildup of ozone inside Mars' north polar vortex, where extreme cold and darkness freeze out water vapor. This phenomenon, detected using data from ESA and NASA orbiters, offers insights into the planet's ancient atmospheric chemistry and potential habitability. The findings were presented at a joint meeting in Helsinki.

Gaia telescope uncovers giant wave rippling through Milky Way

2025년 10월 22일 Theo Klein

Astronomers using the European Space Agency's Gaia telescope have discovered a colossal wave propagating through the Milky Way galaxy, affecting stars tens of thousands of light-years away. This undulating motion, visible in the galaxy's disc, resembles ripples in a pond and involves both stellar positions and movements. The origin of this phenomenon remains unknown, though it may stem from a past galactic collision.

3D images confirm ancient asteroid crater beneath Atlantic

2025년 10월 27일 Theo Klein

Researchers have unveiled high-resolution 3D images of the Nadir Crater, a 9 km-wide impact site hidden 300 meters below the Atlantic seafloor. Formed 66 million years ago by an asteroid strike, the crater coincides with the dinosaur-extinction event linked to the Chicxulub impact. The data reveals details of the immediate aftermath, including massive tsunamis and liquefied sediments.

Ryugu asteroid samples show late water activity

Scientists analyzing samples from asteroid Ryugu have discovered evidence of liquid water activity that persisted over a billion years after its formation. This finding, based on Japan's Hayabusa2 mission, challenges assumptions about water processes on asteroids and could reshape theories on how Earth acquired its oceans. The research highlights the role of carbon-rich asteroids in delivering water to our planet.

CO2 ice blocks carve mysterious gullies on Mars

Scientists have uncovered how blocks of frozen carbon dioxide dig eerie channels into Martian dunes through explosive sublimation. Lab experiments replicating Martian conditions revealed the process, matching observed features on the Red Planet. The discovery explains a long-standing geological puzzle without needing water or life.

Scientists detect torsional Alfvén waves in sun's corona

Researchers have captured the first direct evidence of small-scale torsional Alfvén waves in the Sun's corona, potentially explaining its extreme heat. Using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, the team observed these magnetic waves twisting through the solar atmosphere. The discovery, published on October 24 in Nature Astronomy, validates theories dating back to the 1940s.