Astronomers discover the last three planets the Kepler telescope observed before going dark
More than 5,000 planets are confirmed to exist beyond our solar system. Over half were discovered by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, a resilient observatory that far outlasted its original planned mission. Over nine and a half years, the spacecraft tr.....»»
Biologists discover how plants evolved multiple ways to override genetic instructions
Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered the origin of a curious duplication that gives plants multiple ways to override instructions that are coded into their DNA. This research could help scientists exploit a plant's existin.....»»
New report details what happened to the Arecibo Observatory
In 1963, the Arecibo Observatory became operational on the island of Puerto Rico. Measuring 305 meters (~1000 ft) in diameter, Arecibo's spherical reflector dish was the largest radio telescope in the world at the time—a record it maintained until.....»»
Mighty radio bursts linked to massive galaxies: New clues about how magnetars form
Since their discovery in 2007, fast radio bursts—extremely energetic pulses of radio-frequency light—have lit up the sky repeatedly, leading astronomers on a chase to uncover their origins. Currently, confirmed fast radio bursts, or FRBs, number.....»»
Astronomers use JWST and ALMA to explore the structure of a giant spiral galaxy
Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international team of astronomers have observed a giant spiral galaxy designated ADF22.A1. Results of the observational campaign, published Oc.....»»
Make the most of your smart lights this holiday season with these expert tips
It's dark and dreary this time of year, but if you're using smart lights properly, it's easy to get through the winter. Here's how to optimize your setup......»»
How many additional exoplanets are in known systems?
One thing we've learned in recent decades is that exoplanets are surprisingly common. So far, we've confirmed nearly 6,000 planets, and we have evidence for thousands more. Most of these planets were discovered using the transit method. though there.....»»
Hubble and Webb are the dream team—don"t break them up, researchers say
Many people think of the James Webb Space Telescope as a sort of Hubble 2. They understand that the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has served us well but is now old and overdue for replacement. NASA seems to agree, as they have not sent a maintenance m.....»»
Deaf male mosquitoes don"t mate, researchers discover
Romance is a complex affair in humans. There's personality, appearance, seduction, all manner of physical and social cues. Mosquitoes are much more blunt. Mating occurs for a few seconds in midair. And all it takes to woo a male is the sound of a fem.....»»
Globular cluster Gran 5 hosts two stellar populations, study finds
Using the Gemini-South telescope, astronomers have performed high-resolution near-infrared spectroscopy of stars in a Galactic globular cluster known as Gran 5. They found that this cluster harbors two stellar populations with different metallicities.....»»
Latest space station science reveals news for astronaut health and telescope longevity
Recent findings from the International Space Station address wound healing, fine motor control in space, and radiation resistance by the station's Glowbug gamma-ray telescope......»»
Designs on ancient stone cylinders correspond to origin of writing in Mesopotamia, researchers discover
The origins of writing in Mesopotamia lie in the images imprinted by ancient cylinder seals on clay tablets and other artifacts. A research group from the University of Bologna has identified a series of correlations between the designs engraved on t.....»»
Researchers discover localized pain relief using known chemical reaction
A team of international researchers including those from the University of Adelaide have taken a well-known chemical reaction as the basis of a new generation of targeted pain relief medication......»»
Scientists discover all-optical nuclear magnetic resonance analog with quantum fluids of light
Researchers from Skoltech, the University of Warsaw, and the University of Iceland have demonstrated that by optical means it is possible to excite and stir an exciton-polariton condensate, which emits a linearly polarized light with a polarization a.....»»
Webb confirms a longstanding galaxy model
Perhaps the greatest tool astronomers have is the ability to look backward in time. Since starlight takes time to reach us, astronomers can observe the history of the cosmos by capturing the light of distant galaxies......»»
New book explores the relationship between beauty and crisis
Creating and nurturing beauty in dark times helps us endure another day. Beauty can help us appraise how we live and how we can build better lives. Its presence or absence is a critique of the social and political structures that are necessary to all.....»»
Observations detect hundreds of possible supergiant stars in two nearby galaxies
Using the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), Chinese astronomers have identified nearly 300 candidate supergiant stars in the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies. The finding was reported in a research paper published O.....»»
NASA’s monthly skywatching tips include a rare lunar occultation
November is a good month to view many of the planets in our neighborhood, and some folks will also be able to witness a rare lunar occultation......»»
30 years ago, New York City went dark and NBC’s Must See TV shined brightly
In 1994, three of NBC's main sitcoms participated in an ambitious crossover featuring a power outage in NYC. Thirty years later, the gimmick still feels fresh......»»
10 best dark comedy movies of all time, ranked
The best dark comedy movies are the perfect blend of grim and hilarious, from the satirical modern classic, Parasite, to the '90s crime favorite, Fargo......»»
Learning more about supernovae through stardust
Most of the diverse elements in the universe come from supernovae. We are, quite literally, made of the dust of those long-dead stars and other astrophysical processes. But the details of how it all comes about are something astronomers strive to und.....»»