Astronomy - Page 43

Monstrous space explosions may be showering nearby galaxy in gold

September 2, 2019

Monstrous space explosions may be showering nearby galaxy in gold

Mergers of this magnitude are so violent they rattle the fabric of space-time, releasing gravitational waves that spread through the cosmos like ripples on a pond. These mergers also fuel cataclysmic explosions that create heavy metals in an instant, showering their galactic neighborhood in hundreds of planets' worth of gold and platinum, the authors of the new study said in a statement. (Some scientists suspect that all the gold and platinum on Earth formed in explosions like these, thanks to ancient neutron-star mergers close to our galaxy.)

Darth Vader's birthplace found? Evidence of dangerous volcano, lava world spotted in deep space

August 30, 2019

Darth Vader's birthplace found? Evidence of dangerous volcano, lava world spotted in deep space

Researchers believe they have discovered what they describe as "the first volcanically active exomoon," a celestial body eerily reminiscent of the tiny, fiery "Star Wars" planet, Mustafar, where Anakin Skywalker turned into Darth Vader.

Astronomers baffled by 'cosmic mountain ranges' jutting through the Milky Way

August 30, 2019

Astronomers baffled by 'cosmic mountain ranges' jutting through the Milky Way

To us, the night sky may look like a random splattering of stars, but astronomers are learning that in some regions of our galaxy, stars have clumped into features that resemble ones on Earth — streams, waves, arches and mountain ridges.

NASA's long-delayed James Webb telescope is finally assembled for the first time

August 29, 2019

NASA's long-delayed James Webb telescope is finally assembled for the first time

Nearly a year after it was supposed to launch, NASA has finally assembled the James Webb Space Telescope, the long-awaited successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Quantum gravity could reverse cause and effect

August 29, 2019

Quantum gravity could reverse cause and effect

You've probably heard of Schrödinger's cat, the unfortunate feline in a box that is simultaneously alive and dead until the box is opened to reveal its actual state. Well, now wrap your mind around Schrödinger's time, a situation in which one event can simultaneously be the cause and effect of another event.

Strange giant planet 'unlike any other' discovered

August 27, 2019

Strange giant planet 'unlike any other' discovered

Astronomers have spotted a giant exoplanet that they say is unlike any other.

Alien planets could be better suited for life than Earth: study

August 26, 2019

Alien planets could be better suited for life than Earth: study

Earth's oceans have made it the perfect environment for biodiversity, but a new study suggests that it may not have the best conditions in the galaxy.

Scientists are building a real-life version of the Starship Enterprise's life scanner

August 23, 2019

Scientists are building a real-life version of the Starship Enterprise's life scanner

When the crewmembers of the Starship Enterprise pull into orbit around a new planet, one of the first things they do is scan for life-forms. Here in the real world, researchers have long been trying to figure out how to unambiguously detect signs of life on distant exoplanets.

Scientists discover 2nd alien planet around star Beta Pictoris — and it's huge

August 22, 2019

Scientists discover 2nd alien planet around star Beta Pictoris — and it's huge

The solar system around a star called Beta Pictoris was already a pretty interesting place, with a large planet scientists have actually seen and a huge amount of rubble flying around.

Rocky 'Star Wars' exoplanet with three suns discovered

August 21, 2019

Rocky 'Star Wars' exoplanet with three suns discovered

A distant rocky exoplanet has gone one better than Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s home planet on “Star Wars,” which is famously depicted as having two suns in its sky.