Space Exploration

Astronomers have produced the most detailed map of dark matter to date using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, revealing how this invisible substance shaped the formation of galaxies and planets. The research, involving teams from Durham University, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne, was published in Nature Astronomy. The map highlights dark matter's gravitational role in pulling ordinary matter together since the universe's early days.

3. februar 2026 Rapportert av AI

The four astronauts assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission have started a two-week quarantine at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to safeguard their health before launch. The crew, comprising members from NASA, the European Space Agency, and Roscosmos, is preparing for a flight to the International Space Station scheduled no earlier than February 11. This mission highlights ongoing international collaboration in space exploration.

A Sun-like star 3,000 light-years away abruptly dimmed for nine months, revealing a colossal cloud of gas and dust likely from a planetary collision. Astronomers used advanced telescopes to measure metallic winds within the cloud for the first time. The event highlights ongoing chaos in ancient star systems.

25. januar 2026 Rapportert av AI

Scientists have developed a method to monitor space debris reentering Earth's atmosphere using existing earthquake sensors. By detecting sonic booms from the debris, the technique provides precise tracking of its path and potential landing sites. This approach was tested on debris from China's Shenzhou-15 spacecraft.

The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft has provided the clearest evidence yet of how solar flares ignite through a cascading magnetic avalanche. Observations from September 30, 2024, reveal small magnetic disturbances rapidly building into powerful explosions that accelerate particles to near-light speeds. This discovery, detailed in a new study, enhances understanding of these solar events and their potential impacts on Earth.

20. januar 2026 Rapportert av AI

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have observed the ultra-hot gas giant WASP-121b losing its atmosphere over a full orbit, revealing two enormous helium tails extending across more than half its path around its star. This marks the first continuous tracking of such atmospheric escape, providing unprecedented details on the process. The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight the complexity of exoplanetary environments.