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Many versions of Earth disappearing into the distance

Space

The multiverse could be much, much bigger than we ever imagined

A new way of interpreting the elusive mathematics of quantum mechanics could fundamentally change our understanding of reality

Space

There are hints that dark energy may be getting weaker

Space

Early galaxy seen by JWST contains giant young stars and supernovae

Space

Some of the greatest cosmic discoveries have come about by accident

Space

A legendary cosmologist on how to find a deeper theory of the universe

Wolf-Rayet stars are known to be efficient dust producers, and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on NASA?s James Webb Space Telescope shows this to great effect. Cooler cosmic dust glows at the longer mid-infrared wavelengths, displaying the structure of WR 124?s nebula. The nebula is made of material cast off from the aging star in random ejections, and from dust produced in the ensuing turbulence. This brilliant stage of mass loss precedes the star?s eventual supernova, when nuclear fusion in its core stops and the pressure of gravity causes it to collapse in on itself, and then explode. As MIRI demonstrates here, Webb will help astronomers to explore questions that were previously only left to theory about how much dust stars like this create before exploding in a supernova, and how much of that dust is large enough to survive the blast and go on to serve as building blocks of future stars and planets.

Space

How galactic mysteries near and far are poised to shake up cosmology

Beatriz Nascimento Afro-Brazilian academic and activist

Space

Two books to write and the universe to decipher – 2024’s gonna be busy

Abell 370 is a distant collection of several hundred galaxies

Space

Weird cosmic clumping hints our understanding of the universe is wrong

The Horsehead Nebula

Space

Euclid space telescope releases its first stunning full-colour images

Space

Oddly bright burst may mean space is more transparent than we thought

A gamma ray burst seen last year was so powerful that cosmologists might have to update their models of the universe

Space

The quantum experiment that could help find evidence of the multiverse

Space

How the end of the universe was completely rewritten

Space

The universe’s evolution seems to be slowing and we don’t know why

Space

The gravitational waves that could shed light on the cosmic dark age