Space

Astronomy

Half of all active satellites are now from SpaceX. Here’s why that may be a problem

Of the roughly 7,300 active satellites in Earth orbit, about 3,600 are part of SpaceX’s growing fleet of Starlink internet satellites.

Space

50 years ago, Earth’s chances of contacting E.T. looked slim

In 1973, a researcher calculated that it could take millions of years to contact aliens. But that hasn’t stopped scientists from trying.

Astronomy

The Milky Way may be spawning many more stars than astronomers had thought

Glowing radioactive debris from massive stars indicates our galaxy mints 10 to 20 new stars a year — double to quadruple the standard number.

Astronomy

The James Webb telescope found six galaxies that may be too hefty for their age

The galaxies formed in the universe’s first 700 million years and may be up to 100 times more massive than predicted.

Space

What has Perseverance found in two years on Mars?

NASA's Perseverance rover has turned up volcanic rocks, signs of flowing water and some of the materials necessary for life.

Astronomy

The James Webb telescope spotted the earliest known ‘quenched’ galaxy

A galaxy dubbed GS-9209 ceased forming stars more than 12.5 billion years ago after a 200-million-year-long sprint.

Astronomy

The Kuiper Belt’s dwarf planet Quaoar hosts an impossible ring

Quaoar’s ring lies outside the Roche limit, an imaginary line beyond which rings aren’t thought to be stable.

Science & Society

Here are 7 new science museums and exhibitions to visit in 2023

The Grand Egyptian Museum is slated to open, as well as new exhibitions dedicated to space travel, the Galápagos Islands and more.

Astronomy

Lots of Tatooine-like planets around binary stars may be habitable

A new simulation suggests that planets orbiting a pair of stars may be plentiful, and many of those worlds could be suitable for life.

Astronomy

New data show how quickly light pollution is obscuring the night sky

Tens of thousands of observations from citizen scientists spanning a decade show that the night sky is getting about 10 percent brighter every year.

Planetary Science

Enceladus is blanketed in a thick layer of snow

Pits on the Saturnian moon reveal the surprising depth of the satellite’s snow, suggesting its plume was more active in the past.

Astronomy

The James Webb telescope found ‘Green Pea’ galaxies in the early universe

The James Webb telescope spotted tiny “green” galaxies that might have helped trigger a dramatic cosmic makeover more than 13 billion years ago.