Astronomy

Astronomy

Readers ask about supernovas, dark energy and more

Readers had questions about a supernova that continuously erupts, the difference between dark energy and dark matter, and more.

Astronomy

SpaceX just launched its biggest rocket for the first time

SpaceX just launched the Falcon Heavy — the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V — for the first time.

Astronomy

Some of TRAPPIST-1’s planets could have life-friendly atmospheres

The seven planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1 are probably rocky and some may have life-friendly atmospheres, two new papers suggest.

Astronomy

Universes with no weak force might still have stars and life

An alternate universe that lacks one of the four fundamental forces might still have galaxies, stars, planets and perhaps life, a new study suggests.

Cosmology

Readers wonder about the universe’s expansion and more

Readers had questions about the universe's accelerating expansion, a hidden void in the Great Pyramid of Giza and what happens to human waste in space.

Astronomy

The X-ray glow keeps growing after the recent neutron star collision

X-rays from a neutron star collision have been getting brighter, and scientists are debating why.

Astronomy

Stars with too much lithium may have stolen it

Some small stars have extra lithium before they grow old, suggesting they get extra amounts of the element from an external source.

Astronomy

Mysterious high-energy particles could come from black hole jets

Three types of high-energy cosmic particles could all have the same source: black holes in galaxy clusters.

Astronomy

Speed of universe’s expansion remains elusive

A discrepancy between two measures of the universe’s expansion rate suggests the presence of some unknown astronomical feature.

Astronomy

Spaceships could use blinking dead stars to chart their way

Timing signals from five pulsars allowed scientists to pinpoint an experiment’s place in space.

Astronomy

Trio of dead stars upholds a key part of Einstein’s theory of gravity

A cosmic test fails to topple the strong equivalence principle.

Astronomy

Pollution is endangering the future of astronomy

Astronomers discuss multiple threats from pollution that will make it harder to observe the night sky.