Space
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We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
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AstronomyMost distant galaxy lens discovered
Astronomers have discovered a galaxy about 9.4 billion light-years from Earth that is magnifying the light of an even more distant galaxy. It’s the most distant gravitational lens found to date.
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AstronomyGalaxy’s gas molecules reveal its structure
Astronomers have tracked carbon monoxide flowing both toward and away from NGC 1433’s central supermassive black hole.
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AstronomyGalaxy’s petal-like structures came from collision
A cosmic crash of two huge masses of stars, gas and dust probably gave way to a new galactic structure with both young and old star clusters.
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AstronomyWater seen in rubble around star
Hubble sees debris that was part of an asteroid with the ingredients for habitable planets.
By Meghan Rosen -
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AstronomyVoyager’s view
Though the 1970s-era space probe has finally slipped into an interstellar realm, in some senses it is still very much within the bounds of the solar system.
By Andrew Grant -
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AstronomyTiny sphere bends light like a black hole does
Previously seen at the megascale, gravitational lensing goes micro.
By Andrew Grant -
AstronomyThe NASA take on ‘Gravity’
An astronaut and a NASA expert consider the reality of the film’s space dangers.
By Andrew Grant -
Planetary ScienceSupervolcanoes once erupted on Mars
Giant eruptions billions of years ago left behind huge craters
By Meghan Rosen -
Planetary ScienceMaps reveal clouds on distant exoplanet
Astronomers chart the atmosphere of Kepler-7b, some 1,000 light-years away.