Astronomy

Scientists have for the first time measured how time flowed five times slower in the early universe, just a billion years after the Big Bang. Key Takeaways Quasars act as cosmic ‘clocks,’ revealing the early universe was five times slower than today’s time. Using nearly 200 quasars, scientists have unlocked the mystery of time dilation…

At first glance, the question seems trivial: “What color is the sun?” Everyone “knows” the sun is yellow, right? You can see it in the sky (though, please, don’t stare directly at it). But the reality is more complex. The answer to this seemingly simple question depends on several factors, and there’s more than one…

A newly formed black hole was launched at a speed of about 5 million kilometers per hour, thanks to gravitational waves. Key Takeaways Gravitational waves propelled a newly formed black hole at incredibly high speed, similar to a cosmic ‘kick.’ The black hole’s speed reached about 5 million kilometers per hour, equivalent to 200 times…

Half of this strange star’s surface pulsates, creating a unique, teardrop shape. Key Takeaways Amateur astronomers discovered a star with unusual pulsations occurring only on one hemisphere. This star is part of a binary system with a red dwarf star, which distorts its shape and pulsations. The star’s unique pulsation pattern has been theorized since…

Astronomers find a gas cloud 10 billion times the Sun’s mass, drifting in space. Key Takeaways A massive gas cloud, larger than the Milky Way, was found in the Leo Cluster. The cloud, likely stripped from a galaxy, has stayed intact for hundreds of millions of years. Magnetic fields are believed to help the cloud…

60% of Antarctic lichen cells survived Mars-like conditions outside the ISS for 18 months. Key Takeaways Antarctic lichen survived extreme conditions on the ISS’s exterior for 18 months. In simulated Martian conditions, over 60% of lichen cells remained intact, proving resilience. Survival in outer space was tougher, with only 35% of cells maintaining membrane integrity….

AI finds 27,000 hidden asteroids, unlocking secrets of our solar system’s past. Key Takeaways AI-powered algorithms uncovered over 27,000 previously overlooked asteroids in archival telescope images. Most of these asteroids reside in the belt between Mars and Jupiter, with 150 near-Earth. The THOR algorithm connects light specks across sky images to identify asteroid movements. AI…

Europa’s icy shell shifts over an ocean holding twice Earth’s water volume. Key Takeaways NASA’s Juno spacecraft confirms Europa’s icy crust is likely free-floating over a hidden ocean. The moon’s icy shell appears to have shifted from its original location, revealing surface activity. High-resolution images from Juno’s SRU revealed intricate ridges, fractures, and cryovolcanic evidence….

Astronomers confirm Einstein’s theory: Black holes have a plunging region where matter falls in. Key Takeaways Astronomers observed the “plunging region” of a black hole, confirming Einstein’s gravity theory. The discovery provides first-hand data on this previously unobserved area near black holes. Using X-ray telescopes, scientists studied MAXI J1820+070, a black hole 10,000 light-years away….

A planet 1.5x Jupiter’s size but lighter than styrofoam discovered 1,181 light-years away. Key Takeaways Astronomers have discovered WASP-193b, a planet with a density similar to cotton candy. This gas giant is 50% larger than Jupiter but 7 times less dense. WASP-193b defies standard planet formation theories due to its unusually low density. The planet…