Astronomy

Quantum signals could travel across the Milky Way, carrying possible alien messages undisturbed. Key Takeaways: Scientists suggest that intelligent aliens might use quantum communication to send messages to Earth. Quantum particles, like X-ray photons, could travel across interstellar space without losing their quantum nature. The study found that X-ray photons could traverse hundreds of thousands…

Scientists discovered hemolithin, the first extraterrestrial protein, inside a meteorite from space. Key Takeaways: Researchers have detected a protein in a meteorite, marking the first extraterrestrial protein ever found. The protein, called hemolithin, was discovered in the Acfer 086 meteorite, which landed in Algeria in 1990. High deuterium/hydrogen ratios in the protein confirm its formation…

Ceres, once thought to be dry, hides a vast underground ocean beneath its cratered surface. Key Takeaways: Scientists have confirmed that Ceres is an ocean world with reservoirs of salty water beneath its surface. The discovery was made using high-resolution images from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, orbiting just 35 km above Ceres. Infrared imaging revealed hydrohalite,…

For the first time, astronomers mapped the turbulent motions of gas on a distant star. Key Takeaways: Astronomers have captured the sharpest-ever image of a star’s surface and atmosphere. The breakthrough was made using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile. Antares, a red supergiant 600 light-years away, was the subject of this detailed…

A tiny star just 12 light-years away may host two Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone. Key Takeaways: Scientists have identified two potentially habitable, Earth-sized planets orbiting the nearby Teegarden’s star. These planets, Teegarden’s star b and c, are close enough for detailed future observations. The host star is extremely old and unusually calm, increasing…

Scientists confirm multiple salty lakes beneath Mars’ south pole, raising hopes for alien life. Key Takeaways: Researchers have confirmed the existence of multiple liquid water bodies beneath Mars’ south pole. The discovery supports earlier findings of a large subsurface saltwater lake first detected in 2018. The lakes likely contain hypersaline water, which remains liquid despite…

For the first time, scientists have isolated distinct tones from a newborn black hole’s ringing. Key Takeaways: Researchers have successfully detected specific tones in the ringing of a newly formed black hole. The findings support Einstein’s theory that a black hole’s ringing reveals its mass and spin. The study provides the first direct test of…

A white dwarf in Andromeda has erupted so often that it created a 400-light-year-wide shell. Key Takeaways: Astronomers found a star in Andromeda that has erupted every year for over a million years. This white dwarf, M31N 2008-12a, is the most frequently recurring nova ever discovered. Its explosions have formed one of the largest known…

One exoplanet may have lost its outer layers in a massive planetary collision, leaving behind a dense, iron-rich core. Key Takeaways: Astronomers found the first evidence of a giant collision between exoplanets, marking a groundbreaking discovery. Kepler-107c is nearly three times as massive as its twin, likely due to a past planetary impact. The collision…

Two young stars, 28 AU apart, are warping their planet-forming disks into a cosmic pretzel. Key Takeaways: Astronomers imaged two baby stars twisting their planet-forming disks into a pretzel-like shape. These stars, locked in a binary system, provide new insights into how such systems evolve. The disks, similar in size to our asteroid belt, contain…