Space

Astronomy

There’s far more to the galaxy than meets the eye

A new map of the galaxy as seen in submillimeter light reveals intricate details from nearby nebulas to the far-flung galactic center.

Physics

Faint gravitational waves could soon be on LIGO’s radar

In a few years, LIGO could detect hints of faint gravitational waves from black holes too far away to be seen directly.

Astronomy

Odd white dwarf found with mostly oxygen atmosphere

A white dwarf that has been stripped of its hydrogen and helium provides a rare peek inside the core of a dead massive star.

Astronomy

This eclipse goes on and on

The longest known stellar eclipse hides a nearby star for nearly 3.5 years behind a thick clump of orbiting dust once every 69 years.

Astronomy

Earth’s hurricanes have nothing on this quasar

In a remote galaxy, a cosmic hurricane around a supermassive black hole is driving winds at nearly 20 percent of the speed of light.

Astronomy

Japan’s new X-ray space telescope has gone silent

Japan’s newest orbiting X-ray telescope, ASTRO-H, has gone silent and might have broken into several pieces, the Japanese space agency reports.

Astronomy

Companion star could have triggered supernova

An exploding star in another galaxy might have been pushed over the edge by a stellar companion.

Astronomy

The moon’s poles have no fixed address

Ancient deposits of lunar water ice mark where the moon’s poles used to be.

Agriculture

Readers debate GMOs

Genetically-modified food, nuclear fusion, black holes and more reader feedback.

Astronomy

Two chunks of the same comet buzzing Earth this week

Two comets, one a possible fragment of the other, will slip past Earth on March 21 and 22.

Planetary Science

Comets carried noble gases to Earth

Asteroids might have delivered water to Earth, but comets could be responsible for noble gases and amino acids, a new study suggests.

Astronomy

Quasars’ distance no longer in question

Astronomers now know quasars live around black holes in remote galaxies, but 50 years ago, one researcher argued they were much closer.