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Milky Way. Night sky and silhouette of a standing man

Questions I dread: How did the universe begin, and what is space-time?

24 May 2023

As a theoretical cosmologist, you would think I'd welcome the chance to answer these questions - but it isn't clear this is an inquiry that physics can answer, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein


A dense collection of stars covers the view. Towards the centre the stars become even more dense in a circular region, and also more blue. Around the edges there are some redder foreground stars, and many small stars in the background.

Why darkness between stars reveals more about the universe than light

5 May 2023

When looking up at the night sky, light from stars draws attention. But the darkness between the light can reveal even more about the universe, says Nobel prize-winning astrophysicist Adam Riess


The four puzzles that tell us a cosmological revolution is coming

The four puzzles that tell us a cosmological revolution is coming

22 July 2020

A century ago, we missed the loose threads that told us our picture of the universe would unravel. Let’s not be so complacent now, says cosmologist Dan Hooper


The surprising benefits of contemplating the death of the universe

The surprising benefits of contemplating the death of the universe

20 May 2020

Cosmologist Katie Mack spends her days pondering the end of everything. Whether the cosmos dies a slow heat death or winks out of existence tomorrow, she finds it helps put everyday troubles in perspective


We may have spotted a parallel universe going backwards in time

We may have spotted a parallel universe going backwards in time

8 April 2020

Strange particles observed by an experiment in Antarctica could be evidence of an alternative reality where everything is upside down


A man gazes at the Milky Way

Figuring out what the Milky Way looks like is akin to a murder mystery

29 January 2020

How can we get a picture of the whole Milky Way if we are inside it? Good sleuthing is needed to combine all the clues, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein


Geraint Lewis at New Scientist Live 2019

The search for aliens: Is anybody out there?

12 December 2019

Intelligent life in the universe seems to be vanishingly rare. Astrophysicist Geraint Lewis reveals our odds of us ever meeting aliens


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