Space Exploration

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 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).

NASA acting administrator critiques SpaceX moon lander delay

October 22, 2025 Theo Klein

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.

Dark matter may leave subtle color traces in passing light

October 23, 2025 Theo Klein

Researchers at the University of York suggest that dark matter could subtly tint light red or blue as it passes through, challenging the idea that it is completely invisible. This indirect interaction might allow detection using next-generation telescopes. The finding could simplify the search for the mysterious substance that dominates the universe.

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.

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.

AI software fixes James Webb telescope's image distortions

Two PhD students from the University of Sydney have developed innovative software to correct blurring in images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Their tool, AMIGO, restores the telescope's sharp vision using AI without requiring a space mission. This breakthrough enhances observations of distant celestial objects.

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.

Rogue black hole produces fastest radio signals outside galaxy center

Astronomers have observed a black hole tearing apart a star far from its galaxy's center, producing the fastest-changing radio signals ever recorded from such an event. Named AT 2024tvd, this tidal disruption event reveals supermassive black holes can exist and remain active in unexpected locations. The discovery, led by an international team, suggests complex, delayed energy releases from black holes.

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.

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.

MIT uncovers traces of proto-Earth in ancient mantle rocks

Researchers at MIT have identified chemical remnants of Earth's earliest form, preserved deep within the planet's mantle. The discovery reveals a potassium isotope imbalance pointing to material from 4.5 billion years ago, surviving a cataclysmic collision. This finding challenges assumptions about Earth's formative history.