Astronomers have discovered an infant planet, AU Mic b, orbiting a 25-million-year-old star in the solar system. The planet, about the size of Neptune, takes only eight and a half days to complete one orbit around its host star, AU Microscopii.
Astronomers have discovered 25 debris disks around young stars, revealing evidence of planets in nearly all cases. The high-resolution images were obtained using the Gemini Planet Imager and show a variety of shapes and sizes of stellar systems during their prime planet-forming years.
The University of Melbourne will develop a small, powerful satellite called SpIRIT to launch in 2022. The spacecraft will host an X-ray detector provided by the Italian Space Agency and demonstrate Australian-made space capabilities.
A new study using international radio telescope data reveals galaxies are nearer than predicted, exacerbating a discrepancy in the Hubble Constant measurement. This finding bolsters the need to revise the standard cosmological model of the Universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully tested its deployable tower extension, a critical component that allows the observatory to cool down and unfold in space. The test simulated zero-gravity conditions and performed exactly as predicted, providing valuable insights into the telescope's performance.
Astronomers have measured the Fermi Bubbles, two enormous outflows of high-energy gas emanating from the Milky Way, using the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper telescope. The findings refine our understanding of these mysterious blobs and provide new opportunities to study the galaxy's central region.
A team of European researchers used Hubble Space Telescope to study the early Universe, finding no evidence of Population III stars. The discovery suggests that galaxies must have formed much earlier than previously thought, supporting the idea that low-mass galaxies are responsible for reionisation.
Researchers have identified over 2,000 large protostars using AI analysis of Gaia space telescope data. These young stars are believed to hold secrets about the origin of massive stars and galaxy formation.
Researchers have successfully detected gamma rays from the Crab Nebula using a next-generation telescope, shedding new light on supernovae and dark matter. The prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope promises to enhance imaging detail over larger field of view across the sky.
The James Webb Space Telescope has achieved a significant milestone by being fully folded and stowed into its launch configuration. The observatory will unfold and stretch itself out in space before making groundbreaking observations of the cosmos.
The James Webb Space Telescope will survey the Trapezium Cluster in the Orion Nebula to understand how young stars and planets form. The team will study the distribution of masses, planet formation phases, and jets from young stars, shedding light on stellar nursery riddles.
The Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a breathtaking portrait of a firestorm of starbirth in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. This iconic image, nicknamed the 'Cosmic Reef,' showcases the telescope's enduring legacy and transformative impact on modern astronomy.
A NASA-built instrument uses shearing force to grow E. coli bacteria, demonstrating a more suitable method for space travel than existing alternatives. The research opens a new path to bio-manufacturing drugs during long-term space flights.
The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed its primary mirror, a 21-foot 4-inch mirror that will collect light from observed objects. The deployment was performed in early March as part of the observatory's final tests before launch in 2021.
Astronomer Mark Loeffler recreates interstellar space conditions to study homonuclear molecules in ice form. The James Webb Space Telescope will help detect these molecules, allowing scientists to better understand molecular cloud composition and its role in planetary system formation.
Researchers at Kennedy Space Center successfully grew red romaine lettuce in space onboard the International Space Station, demonstrating its safety and nutritional value. The study found that space-grown lettuce was similar to Earth-grown controls in terms of composition but showed increased levels of certain nutrients and antioxidants.
A sub-Neptune sized planet, G 9-40b, has been validated as an exoplanet using the HPF at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The discovery confirms the planet's mass and orbits its low-mass host star 100 light years from Earth.
Researchers analyzed 16 application cycles for Hubble Space Telescope time allocations and found that stripping out personal info can nearly eliminate gender bias. Female lead scientists performed slightly better than men when proposals were completely anonymized, indicating a more equitable review process.
Astronomers led by Penn State graduate student Sofia Sheikh conducted a massive survey of radio emissions from 20 nearby stars, looking for technological signatures of extraterrestrial civilizations. Despite finding no technosignatures, the analysis sets rigorous limits on the presence of advanced civilizations in our galaxy.
The James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories will study the atmospheres of nearby, Earth-like exoplanets for signs of life. These exoplanets are thought to have reservoirs of compounds that could replenish their atmospheres.
The Breakthrough Listen Initiative has released nearly 2 petabytes of data from the most comprehensive survey yet of radio emissions from the Milky Way Galaxy and its central black hole. A new analysis of nearby stars that could see Earth transiting the sun was conducted, but no technosignatures were found.
The NSF's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope has produced its first images, showcasing a pattern of turbulent plasma that covers the entire sun. This breakthrough will enable scientists to better understand space weather and its impacts on Earth.
Researchers at UC Riverside have developed a technique to detect oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres, which may indicate the presence of life. The method uses NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to identify a strong signal produced by oxygen molecules when they collide.
The telescope will image large areas of the sky 1,000 times faster than Hubble, surveying as much of the sky in near-infrared light -- in just as much detail -- as Hubble has over its entire three decades. WFIRST will provide a broad and detailed view of the sky to answer fundamental questions about the universe.
Researchers developed a system to accurately detect space debris in Earth's orbit using laser ranging telescopes and neural networks. The new algorithm significantly improves the success rate of space debris detection, allowing for safer spacecraft maneuvers.
Scientists successfully simulated the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) data at a scale of the massive future telescope using the Summit supercomputer and Adaptable IO System (ADIOS). The simulation generated 2.6 petabytes of data, highlighting ADIOS's efficiency in processing large datasets.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study the smallest, faintest residents of NGC 1333, distinguishing between objects that form like stars and those that form like planets. The team aims to identify cluster members as puny as Jupiter for the first time ever, shedding light on their origins and the star formation process.
The first identified interstellar comet, 2I -- Borisov, is being tracked by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope as it passes close to the Sun. The comet's nucleus is estimated to be smaller than half a kilometer in diameter and has a chemical composition similar to comets found within our solar system.
The Illinois-led project aims to provide a transformative leap in revealing the sun's corona, an aura of plasma surrounding stars. The distributed telescope will utilize novel technologies like precision formation flying and diffractive optics for breakthroughs in space imaging.
The James Webb Space Telescope will study dwarf galaxy companions to the Milky Way and Andromeda, gaining insights into galaxy formation and dark matter. By measuring star motions, researchers hope to determine if some galaxies are grouped in a flat plane, which would have significant implications for understanding their formation.
The Hubble Space Telescope has studied the gamma-ray burst GRB 190114C, emitting record-breaking energy of 1 TeV. Scientists observed this extremely high-energy emission from a collapsing star at nearly 99.999% of the speed of light, providing new insights into gamma-ray bursts and their environments.
Scientists using the MeerKAT radio telescope have discovered a unique and previously-unseen flare of radio emission from a binary star system. The source is thought to be associated with an active corona, where two objects orbit each other approximately every 22 days.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that male mice sent to space for 35 days retained their reproductive ability upon return. The research team also reported healthy offspring with no effects from the parents' space stay.
The sunshield has passed a test critical to preparing the observatory for launch, with technicians deploying and tensioning each of its five layers. The deployment simulates the conditions it will face in space, with temperatures ranging from -394°F to 230°F.
Astronomers have observed the first confirmed interstellar comet, 2I/Borisov, using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The comet has a central concentration of dust around its nucleus and is traveling at an extraordinary speed of 110,000 miles per hour.
The HERON collaboration completes the largest survey of nearby galaxy haloes, finding that diameter correlates with galaxy brightness; vast haloes found in bright galaxies, also seen in smaller discs. The team's low-cost system reveals faint stars tracing dark matter structures, offering new insights into galaxy evolution.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell's PICTURE-C telescope was launched via a football field-sized helium balloon to study objects hidden by stars' glare. The instrument boasts an optical control system and can block out direct light from stars, allowing for the detailed study of nearby planets.
Astronomers have discovered the oldest known galaxy protocluster, z66OD, with 12 galaxies existing 13.0 billion years ago. One of these galaxies is Himiko, a giant object found previously by the Subaru Telescope, which was unexpectedly located on the edge of the protocluster.
The TEMPLATES team will study four galaxies using gravitational lensing to magnify light and gain insights into star formation. They aim to measure star-formation rates, map galaxy distributions, compare young and old stellar populations, and reveal how galaxies grow over time.
Astronomers can now automatically follow up on variable astronomical objects with a range of 0.4-meter to 8-meter telescopes, observing in UV light to infrared. The network uses automated software and generates dynamic observing schedules every 15 minutes.
Astronomers have developed a model showing the James Webb Space Telescope can detect the atmospheres of all seven TRAPPIST-1 planets in just 10 transits or fewer, even with cloud cover. The telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph will help identify gas spectral fingerprints to determine atmosphere composition.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa Institute for Astronomy has received a $1.1 million grant to install an adaptive secondary mirror on the UH 2.2-meter telescope on Maunakea, enabling corrected images free from atmospheric blurring effects.
NASA successfully deployed its secondary mirror in a crucial testing step, paving the way for the James Webb Space Telescope's groundbreaking science. The successful test demonstrates the telescope's electronic connection and prepares it for integration into its final form.
University of Arizona researchers have developed a new lens technology that can collect more light and search for signs of life on 1,000 exoplanets. The Nautilus telescope array will be powerful enough to characterize planets from 1,000 light years away, providing valuable insights into the complexity of exo-earths.
Researchers examine SKA-MPG telescope prototype for its ability to investigate cosmic background radiation with ultra precision. The study provides new insights into the origin of the Universe and explores potential applications in gravitational wave detection and dark energy research.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the result of a nationwide collaboration, with components manufactured across 29 US states. The telescope will explore cosmic history, solve mysteries in our solar system, and probe the origins of the universe.
Researchers observed a supermassive black hole in galaxy NGC 3147 with an unusual thin disk of gas swirling around it, contrary to predictions. The team used Hubble Space Telescope's STIS instrument to study the disk, revealing unique features that can only be explained by Einstein's theories of relativity.
Researchers using the radio telescope ALMA have detected a galaxy in the early Universe 13 billion years ago, which is actually two galaxies merging together. The team observed signals of oxygen, carbon, and dust from the galaxy B14-65666, providing the earliest evidence of merging galaxies yet discovered.
The Graphene Flagship partners with the European Space Agency and the University of Cambridge to launch a rocket into space, testing the printing of graphene patterns on silicon substrates in zero gravity. The mission aims to validate graphene's self-assembly properties and pave the way for its use in long-term space exploration.
Scientists confirm electrically-charged molecules shaped like soccer balls in space, shedding light on the mysterious contents of interstellar medium. The discovery points toward a strong likelihood for other complex carbon-bearing molecules arising spontaneously in space.
The James Webb Space Telescope's sunshield has been tested in its folded configuration to fit inside a rocket for launch. The telescope will be deployed after launch and undergo further transformation to reach its operational state.
A new study from UTMB has identified biomarkers that predict individual susceptibility to muscle function decline and found effective exercise and hormone treatments to combat atrophy. The findings may allow scientists to personalize space medicine by designing specific programs for each astronaut before long-term missions.
The James Webb Space Telescope successfully completed its final thermal vacuum test, with the spacecraft element exposed to extreme temperatures and conditions. The test paves the way for the integration of the telescope and spacecraft elements, a crucial step towards launch.
The IAC and ESA have signed an agreement to expand the programmes of optical communication with space missions and studies of space debris at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife. The new agreement will enable the installation of additional optical systems on the existing telescope, enhancing the observatory's capabilities.
The discovery of three exocomets in the Beta Pictoris system provides significant evidence for their existence. The exoplanet-hunting space telescope TESS revealed a signal from darkening objects in the star's orbit, which were later confirmed as comets.
A nearby galaxy, NGC 4485, is experiencing a surge in star birth due to its gravitational interaction with NGC 4490. The collision triggered the creation of young blue stars and nebulae on the right side of the galaxy.
The AGILE particle telescope will analyze charged particles in the heliosphere, shedding light on physical processes in space. The technology could help clinicians accurately measure radiation absorbed by cancer patients during therapy.
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have strengthened the case for new theories to explain the forces shaping the cosmos. The latest Hubble measurements suggest a faster expansion rate in the modern universe, contradicting expectations based on early universe observations.
The NASA Twin Study has provided a comprehensive multi-omics view of the human body's response to long-term space flight. The study found increased collagen proteins in urine, correlating with vascular remodeling during space flight.
Asteroid Gault, one of only a handful to be caught disintegrating, has been observed in clear images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The object's two narrow tails indicate it is slowly undergoing self-destruction, releasing material into space.