DigitiMed

Voyager 1 will reach another star in 40,000 years—Voyager 2 needs 300,000 years. Key Takeaways NASA’s Voyager probes, launched in 1977, are still operational and exploring interstellar space. Despite their age, both spacecraft continue sending back groundbreaking data on the outer solar system. Voyager 1 and 2 have revealed surprising details about the heliopause and…

Tiny hibonite crystals in a meteorite contain helium and neon from the Sun’s violent early years. Key Takeaways Ancient crystals in the Murchison meteorite predate Earth and reveal the Sun’s extreme early activity. These crystals, known as hibonites, contain helium and neon atoms produced by intense solar radiation. The findings provide the strongest evidence yet…

Jupiter is so massive that 1,321 Earths could fit inside—but it’s far from a star. Key Takeaways Jupiter is not a failed star—it would need 75 times its mass to ignite fusion. Despite its size, Jupiter falls far short of the mass needed to become a brown dwarf. NASA missions, from Pioneer 10 to Juno,…

A blazing-fast star is racing through the galaxy at 1.3 million mph—and may escape entirely. Key Takeaways Astronomers discovered an ancient star moving at 1.3 million mph, fast enough to leave the Milky Way. This rare “hypervelocity” star, named J1249+36, was found accidentally while searching for Planet 9. The star is an L subdwarf, one…

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has lasted at least 190 years, but it’s not the same one Cassini saw. Key Takeaways The Great Red Spot we see today is not the same one observed by Cassini in 1665. Researchers believe the original “Permanent Spot” disappeared between the 18th and 19th centuries. The Great Red Spot likely…

Jupiter’s gravity may have sent water-rich asteroids crashing into Earth over 4 billion years ago. Key Takeaways Jupiter’s movements may have played a crucial role in delivering water to Earth and other rocky planets. Instead of just scattering debris, Jupiter may have guided water-rich material into the inner solar system. New research suggests that any…

A once-dormant black hole suddenly flared to life, illuminating its galaxy after years of silence. Key Takeaways: Astronomers have witnessed a supermassive black hole awaken in real time for the first time. The black hole in galaxy SDSS1335+0728 became dramatically brighter, marking its transition to an active phase. Observations suggest the brightening could be caused…

The Solar System will stay stable for at least 100 billion years—far longer than Earth itself! Key Takeaways: Scientists estimate that a close stellar flyby capable of destabilizing the Solar System won’t happen for another 100 billion years. Even when a star does pass nearby, it’s still unlikely to disrupt the planets’ orbits significantly. Using…