91av - Space 91av - Space / 91av - Space /build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png daily 1 We may have finally solved an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray puzzle /article/2487950-we-may-have-finally-solved-an-ultra-high-energy-cosmic-ray-puzzle/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:30:28 +0100 The IceCube neutrino detector has allowed researchers to resolve a debate about what types of particles make up ultra-high-energy cosmic rays – but much remains unknown about these rare events 2487950-we-may-have-finally-solved-an-ultra-high-energy-cosmic-ray-puzzle|2487950 Astronomers found a completely new type of plasma wave near Jupiter /article/2487736-astronomers-found-a-completely-new-type-of-plasma-wave-near-jupiter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 10 Jul 2025 17:00:11 +0100 Observations from NASA’s Juno spacecraft reveal that Jupiter’s strong magnetic field and the unique properties of its plasma can produce a truly novel kind of extraterrestrial wave near its poles 2487736-astronomers-found-a-completely-new-type-of-plasma-wave-near-jupiter|2487736 The cosmos is vast, so how do we measure it? /article/mg26735510-100-the-cosmos-is-vast-so-how-do-we-measure-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The awe-inspiring distances of the cosmos are hard to visualise, so how can we be certain we are measuring them correctly? Chanda Prescod-Weinstein explains mg26735510-100-the-cosmos-is-vast-so-how-do-we-measure-it|2487153 Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS might be the oldest comet ever seen /article/2487772-interstellar-visitor-3i-atlas-might-be-the-oldest-comet-ever-seen/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:33:13 +0100 Astronomers tracking an interstellar object flying through the solar system think it comes from a star at least 8 billion years old, almost twice the age of our sun 2487772-interstellar-visitor-3i-atlas-might-be-the-oldest-comet-ever-seen|2487772 Did something just hit Saturn? Astronomers are racing to find out /article/2487252-did-something-just-hit-saturn-astronomers-are-racing-to-find-out/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:10:12 +0100 Around seven asteroids or comets are thought to hit Saturn every year, but we have never spotted one in the act. Now, it seems one astronomer may have caught the moment of impact and the hunt is on for other images to verify the discovery 2487252-did-something-just-hit-saturn-astronomers-are-racing-to-find-out|2487252 Meteorite causes rethink of how and when our solar system formed /article/2486915-meteorite-causes-rethink-of-how-and-when-our-solar-system-formed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:19:14 +0100 Rocky bodies called protoplanets were thought to have formed slightly earlier in the inner solar system than those beyond the asteroid belt, but now a meteorite from the outer solar system is rewriting that view 2486915-meteorite-causes-rethink-of-how-and-when-our-solar-system-formed|2486915 Bioplastic habitats on Mars could be built from algae /article/2486653-bioplastic-habitats-on-mars-could-be-built-from-algae/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:00:55 +0100 A lab experiment that simulated Mars conditions showed that green algae can grow in plastic containers made from the same algae, setting the stage for a self-sustaining system to build habitats on the planet 2486653-bioplastic-habitats-on-mars-could-be-built-from-algae|2486653 New Horizons images enable first test of interstellar navigation /article/2486823-new-horizons-images-enable-first-test-of-interstellar-navigation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:12:47 +0100 By looking at the shifting of stars in photos from the New Horizons probe, astronomers have calculated its position in the galaxy – a technique that could be useful for interstellar missions 2486823-new-horizons-images-enable-first-test-of-interstellar-navigation|2486823 Interstellar comet hurtling through solar system named 3I/ATLAS /article/2486670-interstellar-comet-hurtling-through-solar-system-named-3i-atlas/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:24:15 +0100 An object from another star has been seen entering the solar system at high speed, and is expected to whip around the sun in the coming months 2486670-interstellar-comet-hurtling-through-solar-system-named-3i-atlas|2486670 Stunning image of a supernova reveals a dead star that exploded twice /article/2486512-stunning-image-of-a-supernova-reveals-a-dead-star-that-exploded-twice/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:00:52 +0100 Pictures of a distant supernova remnant show two concentric rings, providing clear evidence that exploding white dwarf stars go boom twice in the blink of an eye 2486512-stunning-image-of-a-supernova-reveals-a-dead-star-that-exploded-twice|2486512 Why are the physical constants of the universe so perfect for life? /article/2483986-why-are-the-physical-constants-of-the-universe-so-perfect-for-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:00:22 +0100 Conditions in our little pocket of the universe seem to be just right for life - and the much-debated anthropic principle forces us to wonder why 2483986-why-are-the-physical-constants-of-the-universe-so-perfect-for-life|2483986 Read an extract from Adam Roberts’s far future-set Lake of Darkness /article/2485990-read-an-extract-from-adam-robertss-far-future-set-lake-of-darkness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 27 Jun 2025 10:45:31 +0100 In this passage from near the opening of Lake of Darkness, the latest read for the 91av Book Club, we are given an insight into how deep-space travel works in Adam Roberts’s universe 2485990-read-an-extract-from-adam-robertss-far-future-set-lake-of-darkness|2485990 Mystery fireball spotted plummeting to Earth over the US /article/2486081-mystery-fireball-spotted-plummeting-to-earth-over-the-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:09:37 +0100 There have been hundreds of reports of sightings of a “fireball” in the skies over the southern US – it may have been a meteor breaking up as it falls through Earth’s atmosphere 2486081-mystery-fireball-spotted-plummeting-to-earth-over-the-us|2486081 Look inside the revolutionary Vera C. Rubin Observatory /video/2485807-look-inside-the-revolutionary-vera-c-rubin-observatory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:05:56 +0100 After decades of planning and construction, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is about to begin a 10-year survey of the southern sky . This enormous telescope has already produced stunning new images of the heavens and discovered thousands of new asteroids . 91av got a behind-the-scenes look at the telescope during the first few … 2485807-look-inside-the-revolutionary-vera-c-rubin-observatory|2485807 Weird line of galaxies may have been created by a cosmic bullet /article/2485692-weird-line-of-galaxies-may-have-been-created-by-a-cosmic-bullet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:00:16 +0100 A high-speed crash between two dwarf galaxies might explain a unique feature in space – and provide useful information on dark matter 2485692-weird-line-of-galaxies-may-have-been-created-by-a-cosmic-bullet|2485692 Vera Rubin Observatory has already found thousands of new asteroids /article/2485526-vera-rubin-observatory-has-already-found-thousands-of-new-asteroids/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:46:51 +0100 In just 10 hours of observing the night sky, the powerful new telescope detected more than 2000 new asteroids, including a few that will pass near Earth 2485526-vera-rubin-observatory-has-already-found-thousands-of-new-asteroids|2485526 Stellar flares may hamper search for life in promising star system /article/2485408-stellar-flares-may-hamper-search-for-life-in-promising-star-system/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:00:53 +0100 Astronomers have been trying to detect atmospheres on planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, but bursts of radiation from the star make this challenging 2485408-stellar-flares-may-hamper-search-for-life-in-promising-star-system|2485408 Stunning first images show the power of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory /article/2485201-stunning-first-images-show-the-power-of-the-vera-c-rubin-observatory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 23 Jun 2025 06:00:19 +0100 A powerful new telescope in Chile is set to transform astronomy, and its first pictures of stellar nurseries and galaxies have just been unveiled 2485201-stunning-first-images-show-the-power-of-the-vera-c-rubin-observatory|2485201 This is the best time of the year to marvel at the Milky Way /article/mg26635480-800-this-is-the-best-time-of-the-year-to-marvel-at-the-milky-way/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Milky Way viewing is at its best right now, especially if you’re in the southern hemisphere. Here's what to look out for, says Abigail Beall mg26635480-800-this-is-the-best-time-of-the-year-to-marvel-at-the-milky-way|2484242 Dead NASA satellite unexpectedly emits powerful radio pulse /article/2485157-dead-nasa-satellite-unexpectedly-emits-powerful-radio-pulse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:00:23 +0100 Astronomers are puzzled by a strong burst of radio waves traced back to a NASA satellite that had been inactive since the 1960s 2485157-dead-nasa-satellite-unexpectedly-emits-powerful-radio-pulse|2485157 91av recommends a new space show at the Hayden Planetarium /article/mg26635480-400-new-scientist-recommends-a-new-space-show-at-the-hayden-planetarium/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that 91av staff have enjoyed this week mg26635480-400-new-scientist-recommends-a-new-space-show-at-the-hayden-planetarium|2484227 Asteroid on collision course with moon could fire shrapnel at Earth /article/2484769-asteroid-on-collision-course-with-moon-could-fire-shrapnel-at-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:38:32 +0100 Earth is no longer at risk of a direct collision with the asteroid 2024 YR4, but an impact on the moon in 2032 could send debris hurtling towards our planet that could take out orbiting satellites 2484769-asteroid-on-collision-course-with-moon-could-fire-shrapnel-at-earth|2484769 Why you should join a watch party for the first Vera C. Rubin images /article/2484544-why-you-should-join-a-watch-party-for-the-first-vera-c-rubin-images/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:00:50 +0100 The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is releasing its first images on 23 June, showing us galaxies as we’ve never seen them before. Here’s how you can join a party to see those shots in full definition 2484544-why-you-should-join-a-watch-party-for-the-first-vera-c-rubin-images|2484544 The Milky Way's black hole may be spinning at top speed /article/2484311-the-milky-ways-black-hole-may-be-spinning-at-top-speed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:00:06 +0100 Using machine learning to analyse data from the Event Horizon Telescope, researchers found the black hole at the centre of our galaxy is spinning almost as fast as possible 2484311-the-milky-ways-black-hole-may-be-spinning-at-top-speed|2484311 Stunning pictures show the first ever artificial solar eclipse /article/2484343-stunning-pictures-show-the-first-ever-artificial-solar-eclipse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:30:16 +0100 The Proba-3 mission, consisting of two spacecraft that fly in close formation to study the sun, has returned images of the first ever artificial solar eclipse 2484343-stunning-pictures-show-the-first-ever-artificial-solar-eclipse|2484343 Perseverance rover may hold secrets to newly discovered Mars volcano /article/2484193-perseverance-rover-may-hold-secrets-to-newly-discovered-mars-volcano/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:00:07 +0100 There appears to be a volcano near Jezero crater on Mars and the Perseverance rover might already have samples from it that we could use to precisely date the activity of another planet's volcano for the first time 2484193-perseverance-rover-may-hold-secrets-to-newly-discovered-mars-volcano|2484193 The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is about to totally transform astronomy /article/2483846-the-vera-c-rubin-observatory-is-about-to-totally-transform-astronomy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:27:37 +0100 With the ability to scan the entire southern night sky every three days, the huge Vera C. Rubin Observatory could be about to start solving the mysteries of the universe, from dark matter to Planet Nine 2483846-the-vera-c-rubin-observatory-is-about-to-totally-transform-astronomy|2483846 Trump's proposed science cuts will have huge consequences /article/mg26635470-200-trumps-proposed-science-cuts-will-have-huge-consequences/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The universe will still be there to marvel at, despite brutal cuts set to hit NASA and the National Science Foundation's budgets. But the damage to future research will be long-lasting, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein mg26635470-200-trumps-proposed-science-cuts-will-have-huge-consequences|2483474 These images are the first time we have seen the sun's south pole /article/2483674-these-images-are-the-first-time-we-have-seen-the-suns-south-pole/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:00:53 +0100 The Solar Orbiter spacecraft, a joint mission between the European Space Agency and NASA, is the first to venture into a tilted orbit around the sun, letting it take some unusual pictures 2483674-these-images-are-the-first-time-we-have-seen-the-suns-south-pole|2483674 'Impossible' particle that hit Earth may have been dark matter /article/2483828-impossible-particle-that-hit-earth-may-have-been-dark-matter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 11 Jun 2025 13:09:15 +0100 We may already have had our first-ever encounter with dark matter, according to researchers who say a mysteriously high-energy particle detected in 2023 is not a neutrino after all, but something far stranger 2483828-impossible-particle-that-hit-earth-may-have-been-dark-matter|2483828 Starlink satellites are leaking radio signals that may ruin astronomy /article/2483574-starlink-satellites-are-leaking-radio-signals-that-may-ruin-astronomy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:00:55 +0100 Our ability to study faint radio signals from when the first stars began to form is being threatened by SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which seem to be unintentionally leaking radio signals that overpower astronomers' telescopes 2483574-starlink-satellites-are-leaking-radio-signals-that-may-ruin-astronomy|2483574 Life of first US woman in space Sally Ride makes a moving documentary /article/mg26635460-500-life-of-first-us-woman-in-space-sally-ride-makes-a-moving-documentary/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 A new documentary sheds light on the extraordinary story of the US's first woman astronaut, Sally Ride, who defied all expectations in both her career and personal life mg26635460-500-life-of-first-us-woman-in-space-sally-ride-makes-a-moving-documentary|2482481 Japan's Resilience moon lander has crashed into the lunar surface /article/2483366-japans-resilience-moon-lander-has-crashed-into-the-lunar-surface/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:03:09 +0100 An attempt to become the third successful private landing on the moon has ended in failure, as ispace's Resilience probe crashed due to a malfunctioning laser sensor 2483366-japans-resilience-moon-lander-has-crashed-into-the-lunar-surface|2483366 We may have discovered the first-ever stars powered by dark matter /article/2483302-we-may-have-discovered-the-first-ever-stars-powered-by-dark-matter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 06 Jun 2025 11:23:49 +0100 Dark stars were first suggested in 2007, but now observations with the James Webb Space Telescope hint that we may have actually found some of these unusual cosmic objects 2483302-we-may-have-discovered-the-first-ever-stars-powered-by-dark-matter|2483302 Why it's taking a century to pin down the speed of the universe /article/2482594-why-its-taking-a-century-to-pin-down-the-speed-of-the-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 03 Jun 2025 19:00:58 +0100 The Hubble constant, a set number that connects a galaxy’s speed to its distance from Earth and tells us how fast the universe is expanding, was first described more than a hundred years ago – but astronomers have debated it ever since 2482594-why-its-taking-a-century-to-pin-down-the-speed-of-the-universe|2482594 Private ispace Resilience probe will attempt lunar landing this week /article/2482828-private-ispace-resilience-probe-will-attempt-lunar-landing-this-week/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:05:30 +0100 If successful, Resilience will be only the third private spacecraft to complete a landing on the moon, and the first operated by a non-US company 2482828-private-ispace-resilience-probe-will-attempt-lunar-landing-this-week|2482828 Trillion dollars' worth of platinum waiting to be mined on the moon /article/2482664-trillion-dollars-worth-of-platinum-waiting-to-be-mined-on-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:00:29 +0100 Mining craters on the moon could be more practical than extracting precious metals from asteroids, but it might also introduce new legal difficulties 2482664-trillion-dollars-worth-of-platinum-waiting-to-be-mined-on-the-moon|2482664 Will SpaceX’s Starship rocket ever work – and what if it doesn’t? /article/2482339-will-spacexs-starship-rocket-ever-work-and-what-if-it-doesnt/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 29 May 2025 12:25:39 +0100 The failure of SpaceX’s ninth Starship launch has raised fresh concerns about the future of the rocket, but is there any alternative to Elon Musk’s approach to space? 2482339-will-spacexs-starship-rocket-ever-work-and-what-if-it-doesnt|2482339 Amazing images reveal new details in the sun's atmosphere /article/2482320-amazing-images-reveal-new-details-in-the-suns-atmosphere/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 29 May 2025 12:01:09 +0100 City-sized droplets and twisting streams of plasma have been picked up by incredibly detailed images of the sun’s corona, showing our star as we’ve never seen it before 2482320-amazing-images-reveal-new-details-in-the-suns-atmosphere|2482320 The sun is killing off SpaceX's Starlink satellites /article/2481905-the-sun-is-killing-off-spacexs-starlink-satellites/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 27 May 2025 15:00:28 +0100 There have never been so many satellites orbiting Earth as there are today, thanks in part to the launch of mega constellations like SpaceX's Starlink internet service - and now we are learning just how the sun's activity can affect them 2481905-the-sun-is-killing-off-spacexs-starlink-satellites|2481905 Was Planet Nine exiled from the solar system as a baby? /article/2481931-was-planet-nine-exiled-from-the-solar-system-as-a-baby/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 27 May 2025 16:00:20 +0100 The chance of a planet forming in the outer reaches of the solar system – a hypothetical Planet Nine – could be as high as 40 per cent, but it would have been a rough start 2481931-was-planet-nine-exiled-from-the-solar-system-as-a-baby|2481931 Physicists are waging a cosmic battle over the nature of dark energy /article/2481555-physicists-are-waging-a-cosmic-battle-over-the-nature-of-dark-energy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 26 May 2025 13:00:26 +0100 Results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) suggest that dark energy, a mysterious force in the universe, is changing over time. This would completely re-write our understanding of the cosmos - but now other physicists are challenging this view 2481555-physicists-are-waging-a-cosmic-battle-over-the-nature-of-dark-energy|2481555 New dwarf planet spotted at the edge of the solar system /article/2481477-new-dwarf-planet-spotted-at-the-edge-of-the-solar-system/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 22 May 2025 21:00:23 +0100 The unusual orbit of a possible dwarf planet, known as 2017 OF201, makes it less likely that our solar system contains a hidden ninth “Planet X” 2481477-new-dwarf-planet-spotted-at-the-edge-of-the-solar-system|2481477 Weird planet is orbiting backwards between two stars /article/2480992-weird-planet-is-orbiting-backwards-between-two-stars/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 21 May 2025 17:00:29 +0100 After two decades of debate, research confirms that an odd binary star system has an equally odd planetary companion 2480992-weird-planet-is-orbiting-backwards-between-two-stars|2480992 China is readying a mission to two rocky bodies in our solar system /article/2479469-china-is-readying-a-mission-to-two-rocky-bodies-in-our-solar-system/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 21 May 2025 11:00:01 +0100 China's ambitious Tianwen-2 mission will soon be heading to two extremely different space rocks, and should provide vital data to help us understand the nature of asteroids and comets 2479469-china-is-readying-a-mission-to-two-rocky-bodies-in-our-solar-system|2479469 Earliest galaxy ever seen offers glimpse of the nascent universe /article/2480956-earliest-galaxy-ever-seen-offers-glimpse-of-the-nascent-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 20 May 2025 19:00:08 +0100 The galaxy MoM-z14 dates back to 280 million years after the big bang, and the prevalence of such early galaxies is puzzling astronomers 2480956-earliest-galaxy-ever-seen-offers-glimpse-of-the-nascent-universe|2480956 Astronomers double down on claim of strongest evidence for alien life /article/2480740-astronomers-double-down-on-claim-of-strongest-evidence-for-alien-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 20 May 2025 11:44:42 +0100 Are there aliens living on the exoplanet K2-18b? Some astronomers believe they have evidence for molecules on the planet that must have a biological origin, but others disagree 2480740-astronomers-double-down-on-claim-of-strongest-evidence-for-alien-life|2480740 Strange 'sticky' dark matter could be lurking in a distant galaxy /article/2480602-strange-sticky-dark-matter-could-be-lurking-in-a-distant-galaxy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 19 May 2025 12:00:18 +0100 Dark matter is thought to only interact through gravity, which is why it is so difficult to spot, but now evidence is growing for a type of dark matter that can also stick to itself 2480602-strange-sticky-dark-matter-could-be-lurking-in-a-distant-galaxy|2480602 Already know the Big Dipper? There's more to this group of stars /article/mg26635430-800-already-know-the-big-dipper-theres-more-to-this-group-of-stars/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 14 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Most of us can spot the group of stars known as the Plough or the Big Dipper. But there’s more to explore here, says Abigail Beall mg26635430-800-already-know-the-big-dipper-theres-more-to-this-group-of-stars|2479655 Risk of a star destroying the solar system is higher than expected /article/2480410-risk-of-a-star-destroying-the-solar-system-is-higher-than-expected/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:27 +0100 Stars that pass close to the solar system could pull planets out of alignment, sending them hurtling into the sun or out into space 2480410-risk-of-a-star-destroying-the-solar-system-is-higher-than-expected|2480410 A doe-eyed look at space exploration is inadequate for the zeitgeist /article/mg26635430-300-a-doe-eyed-look-at-space-exploration-is-inadequate-for-the-zeitgeist/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 14 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 In highly politicised times, is living off-world something we should entertain, let alone do? Adriana Marais's futurist dream Out of This World and Into the Next feels tone deaf mg26635430-300-a-doe-eyed-look-at-space-exploration-is-inadequate-for-the-zeitgeist|2479640 One half of the moon is hotter than the other /article/2480137-one-half-of-the-moon-is-hotter-than-the-other/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 14 May 2025 17:00:48 +0100 Anomalies in the moon’s gravitational field suggest our satellite’s insides are warmer on one side than the other – which means that its interior is asymmetric 2480137-one-half-of-the-moon-is-hotter-than-the-other|2480137 Alien megastructures would likely self-destruct before we spot them /article/2479677-alien-megastructures-would-likely-self-destruct-before-we-spot-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 12 May 2025 13:00:57 +0100 Dyson spheres, a type of huge megastructure designed to capture the energy output of a star, would be a sign of an alien civilisation – if we can find one before they disappear 2479677-alien-megastructures-would-likely-self-destruct-before-we-spot-them|2479677 Was a famous supernova an alien invader from another galaxy? /article/2479634-was-a-famous-supernova-an-alien-invader-from-another-galaxy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 09 May 2025 18:00:07 +0100 Kepler's Supernova, seen in 1604, is one of the most famous exploding stars ever seen, and now astronomers think it may have been an interloper from another galaxy 2479634-was-a-famous-supernova-an-alien-invader-from-another-galaxy|2479634 Failed Soviet probe will soon crash to Earth – and we don't know where /article/2479550-failed-soviet-probe-will-soon-crash-to-earth-and-we-dont-know-where/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 08 May 2025 22:20:41 +0100 Kosmos 482, a Soviet spacecraft that never made it beyond Earth’s orbit on its way to Venus, is due to come crashing down on 9 or 10 May 2479550-failed-soviet-probe-will-soon-crash-to-earth-and-we-dont-know-where|2479550 Dark energy bombshell sparks race to find a new model of the universe /article/2478344-dark-energy-bombshell-sparks-race-to-find-a-new-model-of-the-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 02 May 2025 13:00:46 +0100 ‘Shocking’ results from a major astronomical study have raised doubts about the standard model of cosmology, forcing scientists to consider new ways of understanding dark energy and gravity 2478344-dark-energy-bombshell-sparks-race-to-find-a-new-model-of-the-universe|2478344 How astonishing observatories could do big physics from the moon /article/mg26635401-600-how-astonishing-observatories-could-do-big-physics-from-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0100 As humanity prepares to return to the moon, scientists also have ideas for huge lunar experiments that could revolutionise astrophysics mg26635401-600-how-astonishing-observatories-could-do-big-physics-from-the-moon|2477154 Signs of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b may just be statistical noise /article/2477928-signs-of-alien-life-on-exoplanet-k2-18b-may-just-be-statistical-noise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:49:21 +0100 Last week astronomers reported hints of biological activity on a distant planet, but a re-analysis of their data suggests the claimed molecules may not be there at all 2477928-signs-of-alien-life-on-exoplanet-k2-18b-may-just-be-statistical-noise|2477928 Powerful blasts of X-rays could reveal a black hole waking from sleep /article/2477594-powerful-blasts-of-x-rays-could-reveal-a-black-hole-waking-from-sleep/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:00:16 +0100 Unusual signals called quasi periodic eruptions appear to come from black holes, but we don't know what creates them. Now astronomers have seen the most powerful one of these signals ever, and have a new idea about their cause 2477594-powerful-blasts-of-x-rays-could-reveal-a-black-hole-waking-from-sleep|2477594 Claims of alien life are overhyped – and miss the real accomplishment /article/2477392-claims-of-alien-life-are-overhyped-and-miss-the-real-accomplishment/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:14:03 +0100 Whenever there’s even a slight chance that an exoplanet shows signs of biological activity, people understandably get excited – but it’s never been aliens, and we shouldn’t jump to conclusions, not this time or the next, says Chris Lintott 2477392-claims-of-alien-life-are-overhyped-and-miss-the-real-accomplishment|2477392 Most accurate space clock to launch – and count down to destruction /article/2476091-most-accurate-space-clock-to-launch-and-count-down-to-destruction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:00:16 +0100 A network of Earth's best clocks will be synchronised with the most accurate one ever sent into space. But the device has a short shelf life: it will burn up in the atmosphere at the end of the decade as the ISS deorbits 2476091-most-accurate-space-clock-to-launch-and-count-down-to-destruction|2476091 Will we ever have confirmation of life outside our solar system? /article/2477290-will-we-ever-have-confirmation-of-life-outside-our-solar-system/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 17 Apr 2025 17:07:19 +0100 The report of possible biosignatures on the exoplanet K2-18b is exciting, but we are a long way from establishing beyond doubt that there is life on such a distant world 2477290-will-we-ever-have-confirmation-of-life-outside-our-solar-system|2477290 Astronomers claim strongest evidence of alien life yet /article/2477008-astronomers-claim-strongest-evidence-of-alien-life-yet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 17 Apr 2025 01:01:56 +0100 On a faraway planet, the James Webb Space Telescope has picked up signs of molecules that, on Earth, are produced only by living organisms – but researchers say we must interpret the results cautiously 2477008-astronomers-claim-strongest-evidence-of-alien-life-yet|2477008 Exoplanet found in odd perpendicular orbit to brown dwarf star pair /article/2477039-exoplanet-found-in-odd-perpendicular-orbit-to-brown-dwarf-star-pair/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:00:10 +0100 It is rare to find brown dwarf stars orbiting in pairs, and this pair has an even more unusual exoplanet companion 2477039-exoplanet-found-in-odd-perpendicular-orbit-to-brown-dwarf-star-pair|2477039 The race to visit the asteroid making the closest pass by Earth /article/2476805-the-race-to-visit-the-asteroid-making-the-closest-pass-by-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:00:16 +0100 Space agencies from the US, Europe and Japan are all making plans to visit the asteroid Apophis when it makes an extremely close flyby in 2029 to learn how to deflect others like it 2476805-the-race-to-visit-the-asteroid-making-the-closest-pass-by-earth|2476805 How to spot the 2025 Lyrids and Eta Aquarids meteor showers /article/2476328-how-to-spot-the-2025-lyrids-and-eta-aquarids-meteor-showers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:00:56 +0100 The Lyrids and Eta Aquarids meteor showers can both be seen starting in late April, with viewing opportunities in both the northern and southern hemispheres 2476328-how-to-spot-the-2025-lyrids-and-eta-aquarids-meteor-showers|2476328 How to spot Haumea, one of the solar system's strangest objects /article/mg26635380-600-how-to-spot-haumea-one-of-the-solar-systems-strangest-objects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 09 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Pluto isn’t the only dwarf planet in our solar system's outer reaches. Now is an ideal time to look for the egg-shaped Haumea, says Abigail Beall mg26635380-600-how-to-spot-haumea-one-of-the-solar-systems-strangest-objects|2475120 Ringworld extract: Read a section from Larry Niven’s timeless classic /article/2476056-ringworld-extract-read-a-section-from-larry-nivens-timeless-classic/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:30:13 +0100 In this extract from the classic science fiction novel, the latest read for the 91av Book Club, we meet Ringworld’s protagonist Louis Wu, as he travels a future Earth 2476056-ringworld-extract-read-a-section-from-larry-nivens-timeless-classic|2476056 Can Amazon's soon-to-launch Kuiper satellites rival Musk's Starlink? /article/2475330-can-amazons-soon-to-launch-kuiper-satellites-rival-musks-starlink/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:11:47 +0100 Amazon is aiming to launch its first operational satellites today to provide speedy internet connections in remote regions, but it will still take some time to catch up with its main competitor, SpaceX's Starlink   2475330-can-amazons-soon-to-launch-kuiper-satellites-rival-musks-starlink|2475330 How long is a day on Uranus? Slightly longer than we thought, it seems /article/2475523-how-long-is-a-day-on-uranus-slightly-longer-than-we-thought-it-seems/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:46:58 +0100 Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, we now know that a day on Uranus lasts for 28 seconds longer than previously thought – a difference that could be crucial in planning future missions to the gas giant 2475523-how-long-is-a-day-on-uranus-slightly-longer-than-we-thought-it-seems|2475523 Astronomer reviews the sci-fi movies that get creative with physics /video/2475308-astronomer-reviews-the-sci-fi-movies-that-get-creative-with-physics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:00:27 +0100 Space is a favourite setting for many Hollywood films, but just how accurate are their portrayals? Patricia Skelton, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, sheds some light on the scientific rigour of her favourite movies. For example, during an explosive space battle scene in Star Trek, a crew member is tossed out into space … 2475308-astronomer-reviews-the-sci-fi-movies-that-get-creative-with-physics|2475308 Quantum eavesdropping could work even from inside a black hole /article/2474089-quantum-eavesdropping-could-work-even-from-inside-a-black-hole/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:00:25 +0100 An eavesdropper hiding inside a black hole could still obtain information about quantum objects on its outside, a finding that reveals how effectively black holes destroy the quantum states near their event horizons 2474089-quantum-eavesdropping-could-work-even-from-inside-a-black-hole|2474089 We could make solar panels on the moon by melting lunar dust /article/2474931-we-could-make-solar-panels-on-the-moon-by-melting-lunar-dust/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:00:31 +0100 Researchers used a synthetic version of moon dust to build working solar panels, which could eventually be created within – and used to power – a moon base of the future 2474931-we-could-make-solar-panels-on-the-moon-by-melting-lunar-dust|2474931 NASA cut $420 million for climate science, moon modelling and more /article/2474255-nasa-cut-420-million-for-climate-science-moon-modelling-and-more/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:35:06 +0100 Under pressure from Elon Musk’s DOGE task force, NASA is cancelling grants and contracts for everything from lunar dust research to educational programmes 2474255-nasa-cut-420-million-for-climate-science-moon-modelling-and-more|2474255 Asteroid 2024 YR4 could still hit the moon, JWST observations reveal /article/2474150-asteroid-2024-yr4-could-still-hit-the-moon-jwst-observations-reveal/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:21:45 +0000 Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe asteroid 2024 YR4, which earlier this year seemed to be at risk of hitting Earth in 2032. Earth is now safe, but astronomers are cheering on a possible collision with the moon 2474150-asteroid-2024-yr4-could-still-hit-the-moon-jwst-observations-reveal|2474150 Watch the partial solar eclipse from London's Royal Observatory /video/2474340-watch-the-partial-solar-eclipse-from-londons-royal-observatory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Sat, 29 Mar 2025 10:02:38 +0000 On 29 March, a partial solar eclipse will pass over Canada and parts of northern Europe, including London.  Thanks to our friends at the Royal Observatory in London, we can experience this celestial event guided by their astronomers. Want to see a total eclipse? Why not join one of our Discover eclipse tours 2474340-watch-the-partial-solar-eclipse-from-londons-royal-observatory|2474340 Little red dots seen by JWST might be a kind of black hole 'star' /article/2474071-little-red-dots-seen-by-jwst-might-be-a-kind-of-black-hole-star/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:00:10 +0000 Red specks in the early universe are puzzling astronomers, but a proposed explanation suggests they are the progenitors of supermassive black holes 2474071-little-red-dots-seen-by-jwst-might-be-a-kind-of-black-hole-star|2474071 We've spotted auroras on Neptune for the first time /article/2474034-weve-spotted-auroras-on-neptune-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:40:35 +0000 After nearly 36 years of searching, astronomers have finally confirmed Neptune has auroras, thanks to data from the James Webb Space Telescope 2474034-weve-spotted-auroras-on-neptune-for-the-first-time|2474034 An early hint of cosmic dawn has been seen in a distant galaxy /article/2473890-an-early-hint-of-cosmic-dawn-has-been-seen-in-a-distant-galaxy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:00:56 +0000 A galaxy inside a bubble may be evidence that the universe was starting to become transparent 330 million years after the big bang 2473890-an-early-hint-of-cosmic-dawn-has-been-seen-in-a-distant-galaxy|2473890 Is our cosmos just a membrane on the edge of a far stranger reality? /article/mg26535353-900-is-our-cosmos-just-a-membrane-on-the-edge-of-a-far-stranger-reality/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000 String theory may be our best attempt at a theory of everything, except that it can't describe an expanding universe like ours. Now a radical new twist on the idea could finally fix that – but it requires us to completely reimagine reality mg26535353-900-is-our-cosmos-just-a-membrane-on-the-edge-of-a-far-stranger-reality|2472635 NASA has made the first radio telescope observations on the moon /article/2473170-nasa-has-made-the-first-radio-telescope-observations-on-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:00:28 +0000 The Odysseus spacecraft made a rough landing on the moon last year, toppling over and rendering much of its equipment unusable, but an onboard NASA radio telescope called ROLSES-1  was able to make some observations 2473170-nasa-has-made-the-first-radio-telescope-observations-on-the-moon|2473170 German company set for first commercial rocket launch from Europe /article/2472310-german-company-set-for-first-commercial-rocket-launch-from-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Isar Aerospace is preparing to launch its Spectrum rocket from a base in Norway, which would make it the first orbital launch from continental Europe outside Russia 2472310-german-company-set-for-first-commercial-rocket-launch-from-europe|2472310 Dark energy isn't what we thought – and that may transform the cosmos /article/2471743-dark-energy-isnt-what-we-thought-and-that-may-transform-the-cosmos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 19 Mar 2025 22:00:41 +0000 Our current best theories of the universe suggest that dark energy is making it expand faster and faster, but new observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument suggest this mysterious force is actually growing weaker 2471743-dark-energy-isnt-what-we-thought-and-that-may-transform-the-cosmos|2471743 Euclid space telescope captures 26 million galaxies in first data drop /article/2471894-euclid-space-telescope-captures-26-million-galaxies-in-first-data-drop/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:00:40 +0000 The European Space Agency has released the first batch of large-scale images from the Euclid space telescope, which astronomers have already used to find hundreds of strong gravitational lenses 2471894-euclid-space-telescope-captures-26-million-galaxies-in-first-data-drop|2471894 Weird meteorite may be relic of lost planet that no longer exists /article/2472541-weird-meteorite-may-be-relic-of-lost-planet-that-no-longer-exists/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:00:34 +0000 A meteorite discovered in north-west Africa in 2023 didn’t come from a large asteroid or any of the known planets of the solar system – but it might have formed on a planet that was destroyed long ago 2472541-weird-meteorite-may-be-relic-of-lost-planet-that-no-longer-exists|2472541 Best ever map of early universe is double-edged sword for cosmologists /article/2472144-best-ever-map-of-early-universe-is-double-edged-sword-for-cosmologists/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:00:20 +0000 The finest ever map of the cosmic microwave background - the faint evidence of the universe's early form - has yielded precise confirmation of the age of the cosmos and its rate of expansion. But for some scientists, the findings offer a frustrating lack of clues to major cosmological mysteries 2472144-best-ever-map-of-early-universe-is-double-edged-sword-for-cosmologists|2472144 New evidence microbes played a role in mysterious markings on Mars /article/2472570-new-evidence-microbes-played-a-role-in-mysterious-markings-on-mars/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:00:44 +0000 There are a couple potential explanations for distinctive markings found on a Martian rock, but new evidence suggests they are most likely to be related to microbial activity 2472570-new-evidence-microbes-played-a-role-in-mysterious-markings-on-mars|2472570 Dust devils on Mars produce lightning-like zaps of electricity /article/2472525-dust-devils-on-mars-produce-lightning-like-zaps-of-electricity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:00:32 +0000 NASA’s Perseverance rover recorded unusual sounds as a Martian dust devil passed directly over the robotic vehicle in 2021, and we now know they came from electrical activity in the storm 2472525-dust-devils-on-mars-produce-lightning-like-zaps-of-electricity|2472525 Most quakes on Mars happen during the summer – and we don’t know why /article/2472440-most-quakes-on-mars-happen-during-the-summer-and-we-dont-know-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:00:08 +0000 NASA’s InSight lander recorded surprisingly large quakes that indicate Mars is more seismically active than we first thought. Mysteriously, they only happen during Martian summers 2472440-most-quakes-on-mars-happen-during-the-summer-and-we-dont-know-why|2472440 Rolling boulders on Titan could threaten NASA's Dragonfly mission /article/2472319-rolling-boulders-on-titan-could-threaten-nasas-dragonfly-mission/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:00:31 +0000 The wind on Saturn's largest moon is strong enough to blow around rocks of up to half a metre in diameter, which could put NASA's upcoming Dragonfly mission at risk 2472319-rolling-boulders-on-titan-could-threaten-nasas-dragonfly-mission|2472319 How a start-up plans to mine the moon for a rare form of helium /article/2472195-how-a-start-up-plans-to-mine-the-moon-for-a-rare-form-of-helium/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:00:26 +0000 A private moon mission planned for 2027 will be the first step towards commercial lunar mining of rare and expensive helium-3 2472195-how-a-start-up-plans-to-mine-the-moon-for-a-rare-form-of-helium|2472195 Giant Milky Way-like galaxy formed unusually soon after the big bang /article/2472476-giant-milky-way-like-galaxy-formed-unusually-soon-after-the-big-bang/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:00:36 +0000 The Big Wheel, discovered using the James Webb Space Telescope, formed just 2 billion years after the big bang - surprisingly early for a spiral galaxy of a similar size to our Milky Way 2472476-giant-milky-way-like-galaxy-formed-unusually-soon-after-the-big-bang|2472476 Starlink satellite part hit a Canadian farm when it fell from orbit /article/2472334-starlink-satellite-part-hit-a-canadian-farm-when-it-fell-from-orbit/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:07:24 +0000 A failed launch left a batch of Starlink satellites in the wrong orbit last year, and it appears that a fragment of one fell to Earth and hit a farm in Canada. Thankfully, no one was injured 2472334-starlink-satellite-part-hit-a-canadian-farm-when-it-fell-from-orbit|2472334 NASA may have to cancel major space missions due to budget cuts /article/2472224-nasa-may-have-to-cancel-major-space-missions-due-to-budget-cuts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:57:55 +0000 Potential cuts of up to 50 per cent of NASA's science budget could mean cancelling missions including the Hubble Space Telescope and the Voyager probes 2472224-nasa-may-have-to-cancel-major-space-missions-due-to-budget-cuts|2472224 Hera asteroid mission takes stunning images of Mars’s moon Deimos /article/2472063-hera-asteroid-mission-takes-stunning-images-of-marss-moon-deimos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:28:04 +0000 A mission to survey the results of a deliberate crash between an asteroid and a NASA spacecraft has taken stunning images of Mars and its moon Deimos 2472063-hera-asteroid-mission-takes-stunning-images-of-marss-moon-deimos|2472063 Quartz crystals on Mars could preserve signs of ancient life /article/2471954-quartz-crystals-on-mars-could-preserve-signs-of-ancient-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Thu, 13 Mar 2025 08:00:15 +0000 NASA’s Perseverance rover found large crystals of quartz with a high purity on Mars, which probably had to have formed in the presence of hot water 2471954-quartz-crystals-on-mars-could-preserve-signs-of-ancient-life|2471954 Saturn gains 128 moons, giving it more than the other planets combined /article/2471071-saturn-gains-128-moons-giving-it-more-than-the-other-planets-combined/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 11 Mar 2025 20:20:38 +0000 Saturn has dozens of new moons, bringing it to a total of 274. All of the new moons are between 2 and 4 kilometres wide, but at what point is a rock too small to be a moon? 2471071-saturn-gains-128-moons-giving-it-more-than-the-other-planets-combined|2471071 The asteroid Bennu is even weirder than we thought /article/2471749-the-asteroid-bennu-is-even-weirder-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 11 Mar 2025 20:11:08 +0000 Analysis of samples brought back to Earth from the asteroid Bennu reveal that it has a bizarre chemical make-up and is unusually magnetic 2471749-the-asteroid-bennu-is-even-weirder-than-we-thought|2471749 The cosmic landscape of time that explains our universe's expansion /article/mg26535332-000-the-cosmic-landscape-of-time-that-explains-our-universes-expansion/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000 A strange new conception of how time warps across the universe does away with cosmology's most mysterious entity, dark energy mg26535332-000-the-cosmic-landscape-of-time-that-explains-our-universes-expansion|2470586 Speeding star offers a rare glimpse of the Milky Way's galactic centre /article/2471098-speeding-star-offers-a-rare-glimpse-of-the-milky-ways-galactic-centre/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=space Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:00:23 +0000 A star has been spotted shooting away from the heart of our galaxy at around 500 kilometres per second, giving astronomers clues about a group of stellar objects that are hard to observe directly 2471098-speeding-star-offers-a-rare-glimpse-of-the-milky-ways-galactic-centre|2471098