Distant comet cracks into two halves after being heated by the sun
24 June 2023
A fragmentation event has given astronomers a new way to study a comet from the outer reaches of the solar system
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Premium
Fast-growing galaxy seen by JWST offers window on the early universe
12 June 2023
A galaxy seen 700 million years after the big bang appears surprisingly mature, suggesting some pockets of the early universe were more tranquil than expected
Astronomers are using a new supernova to search for alien signals
9 June 2023
If any alien civilisations have spotted the new supernova SN 2023ixf in the Pinwheel galaxy, they may use it to try to make contact
Planned moon landings could pelt orbiting spacecraft with dusty debris
1 June 2023
The large landing vehicles planned for NASA’s upcoming moon missions could throw up large amounts of dust from the lunar surface, posing a possible danger to orbiters
We are finally closing in on the cosmic origins of the “OMG particle”
30 May 2023
Three decades ago, we spotted the single most energetic particle ever seen, nicknamed the 'Oh-My-God particle'. Since then, we have seen many more ultra-high-energy cosmic rays – and now we are unravelling the mystery of what produces them
Fake alien message sent to Earth to prepare us for first contact
25 May 2023
A coded message has been sent from a spacecraft orbiting Mars to simulate potential communication from an advanced alien civilisation
Asteroids that speed up unexpectedly may be ‘dark comets’ in disguise
21 March 2023
Some asteroids appear to accelerate in ways that can’t be accounted for by gravity, suggesting they might be firing out invisible jets of gas - like those of comets
We're hurtling into a new region of interstellar space. What now?
15 February 2023
As we speed towards a mysterious new bubble of interstellar space, new insights are revealing its exotic chemistry, strange waves and vast bubbles, and their ramifications for life on Earth
Supernovae might be a good place to hunt for alien broadcasts
26 January 2023
Other intelligent civilisations may send transmissions after a bright galactic event like a supernova to make them more visible to others, according to SETI researchers
‘Forbidden’ planet somehow escaped consumption by its dying host star
26 January 2023
The planet 8 Ursae Minoris b should have been destroyed when its star became a red giant, but it continues to orbit strangely close to it
