Astronomy

Physics

Trio wins physics Nobel Prize for gravitational wave detection

Pioneers of LIGO collaboration win for finding spacetime ripples from two spiraling black holes.

Astronomy

How a meteor shower helped solve the case of the vanishing comet

A missing comet has been linked to a long-lost meteor shower, helping astronomers recover both.

Astronomy

New questions about Arecibo’s future swirl in the wake of Hurricane Maria

The iconic Arecibo Observatory was damaged in Hurricane Maria, but not as much as originally thought. But its funding is still in doubt.

Astronomy

Ice in space might flow like honey and bubble like champagne

Zapping simulated space ice with imitation starlight makes the ice act more like a liquid than a solid, meaning similar ices in space might be good places for organic chemistry.

Physics

Trio of detectors tracks gravitational waves to their home

LIGO and Virgo spot spacetime ripples in their first joint detection.

Astronomy

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays come from outside the Milky Way

The biggest cosmic ray haul ever points toward other galaxies as the source of the rays, not our own.

Astronomy

Readers ponder mini-spacecraft and Canaanites’ genomes

Readers have questions about miniature spacecraft project and Canaanite genealogy.

Astronomy

R.I.P. Cassini

After 20 years, nearly 300 orbits and pioneering discoveries, the Cassini spacecraft plunges to its death in Saturn’s atmosphere — taking data until its very last breath.

Astronomy

These are Cassini’s parting shots of the Saturn system

In its last hours before plunging into Saturn’s atmosphere, the Cassini spacecraft turned its cameras to some of the system’s well-known features.

Astronomy

So long, Titan. Cassini snaps parting pics of Saturn’s largest moon

The last swing past Saturn’s largest moon sent Cassini heading directly towards the planet — and showed how future spacecraft will explore other moons.

Astronomy

The sun’s strongest flare in 11 years might help explain a solar paradox

The sun tends to release its biggest flares at the ends of solar cycles — and we might finally be able to test why.

Astronomy

Final flyby puts Cassini on a collision course with Saturn

A “last kiss goodbye” with Saturn’s largest moon sent the Cassini spacecraft on its final trajectory into the planet’s atmosphere.