As we look up at the night sky, it’s easy to forget just how small we are in the grand scheme of the universe. The Earth orbits an average star, our Sun, which in turn orbits the centre of our Galaxy, the Milky Way. But beyond this familiar territory lies a vast and mysterious landscape.
Space
Recent discoveries have shed light on two streams of ancient stars within the Milky Way, believed to be almost as old as the Universe itself. These celestial bodies, named Shiva and Shakti by astrophysicist Khyati Malhan and astronomer Hans Walter-Rix, provide a glimpse into the early stages of our galaxy when it was still in
The stability of planetary systems has long been a topic of interest for physicists and astronomers alike. While we have a good grasp on the rules governing the orbits of two celestial bodies, the introduction of a third (or more) adds a level of complexity that leads to unpredictable instabilities. This so-called “three-body problem” has
A cosmic event of epic proportions is on the horizon, as a nearby star is gearing up to burst in a massive explosion known as a nova. Situated 3,000 light-years away from Earth, this spectacular show is expected to outshine even our North Star. The event is anticipated to be so grand that it will
The idea of the Universe being 13 billion years older than currently believed challenges the very foundation of cosmology. The proposal put forward by theoretical physicist Rajendra Gupta suggests that the Universe’s age has been misrepresented due to the tricks played by light. This challenges the existing notion of dark matter and dark energy, two
Exploring the mysteries of Mars has always been a fascinating subject for scientists. In a recent discovery, researchers have unearthed a massive, ancient volcano hidden beneath the region known as Noctis Labyrinthus. This finding has sparked new interest in the equatorial site as a potential location for uncovering clues about the planet’s past, particularly in
Our Solar System is not an isolated entity in the vastness of space. It was born within a stellar nursery, surrounded by hundreds of sibling stars and interstellar objects. Over time, these interactions have shaped our understanding of the cosmos and prompted researchers to search for traces of interstellar material on Earth. Recently, a study
The recent measurement of the expansion rate of the Universe has brought forth a significant dilemma that has perplexed scientists for years. The Hubble constant, which measures the rate at which the Universe is expanding, has been a subject of debate due to discrepancies in various measurement methods. However, a new measurement conducted using data
As NASA’s Artemis program gears up to return astronauts to the Moon and private companies work towards commercial space travel, a new frontier emerges in the field of forensics: astroforensics. This discipline, still in its infancy, is driven by the unique challenges presented by the harsh and unfamiliar environment of space. From altered gravity to
Upon closer examination of the seismic signals believed to have originated from an interstellar meteor’s impact on Earth, it appears that there may have been a significant misinterpretation. While initially thought to be evidence of an extraterrestrial event, it has been suggested that the seismic data might actually be attributed to terrestrial causes. Benjamin Fernando,
Europa, one of Jupiter’s icy moons, has long been considered a promising candidate for hosting extraterrestrial life within our solar system. The recent Juno mission to Jupiter provided a groundbreaking opportunity to directly sample Europa’s atmosphere in unprecedented detail. This mission aimed to shed more light on the habitability of this intriguing moon. Evidence from
The Universe experienced a very active phase in its early years, with gas clouds collapsing to form new stars. Galaxies required a rich supply of gas to continue star formation. However, when the galaxy JADES-GS-z7-01-QU was observed, there was little evidence of ongoing star formation. It appeared to be in a ‘quenched’ state, suggesting that