Latest science news in Astronomy & Space
Chinese quantum satellite sends 'unbreakable' code
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has sent an "unbreakable" code from a satellite to the Earth, marking the first time space-to-ground quantum key distribution technology has been realized, state media said...
Japan GPS satellite launch postponed due to glitch
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan on Saturday postponed the planned launch of an H-2A rocket tasked to put a geo-positioning satellite into orbit due to possible helium gas leakage, Mitsubishi Heavy...
A new kind of telescope is set to search for mysterious fast radio bursts
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Shining light on scientific superstar
Science & Tech Shining light on scientific superstar The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a new astronomy and astrophysics facility in Cerro Pachón, Chile.Courtesy of Vera C. Rubin Observatory Kermit Pattison Harvard Staff Writer...
Hot dispute over impact
Science & Tech Hot dispute over impact Pilbara Craton, Australia.Field photos courtesy of Alec Brenner Kermit Pattison Harvard Staff Writer July 14, 2025 7 min read Harvard team argues oldest meteorite strike to...
The biggest black hole smashup ever detected challenges physics theories
Gravitational waves spotted by LIGO reveal two black holes, 140 and 100 times the mass of the sun, merged to become a 225 solar mass behemoth.
In a first, an image shows a dying star exploded twice to become a supernova
The image offers the first evidence for a previously unconfirmed origin story of type 1a supernovas.
This star offers the earliest peek at the birth of a planetary system like ours
A young sunlike star called HOPS 315 seems to host a swirling disk of gas giving rise to minerals that kick-start the planet formation process.
TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets could harbour significant amounts of water
All seven worlds circling a red dwarf could be habitable, say astronomers
Behold, 'The Beast': Gigantic animal-like plasma plume 13 times wider than Earth hovers over the sun
Astrophotographers have snapped stunning shots of a giant shapeshifting solar prominence, dubbed "The Beast," which appeared over the sun's northeastern limb on July 12 and rained impossibly fast fire over...
Largest known Martian meteorite on Earth sells for $5.3 million at auction
The largest known Martian meteorite, NWA 16788, has been sold at auction for $5.3 million. The hefty chunk of the Red Planet, which weighs 54 pounds, could help unravel new...
'Ice cube' clouds discovered at the galaxy's center shouldn't exist — and they hint at a recent black hole explosion
Twin orbs of superhot plasma at the Milky Way's center known as the "Fermi bubbles" contain inexplicable clouds of cold hydrogen, new research reveals. They could help scientists figure out...
Best spotting scopes in 2025 for birdwatching and wildlife observation
In time for Prime Day, we've rounded up the best spotting scopes, which offer greater magnification than binoculars.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS transforms into a giant 'cosmic rainbow' in trippy new telescope image
New photos, including a striking technicolor timelapse, show off the newly discovered interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it shoots toward us through the solar system.
Giant meteor impact may have triggered massive Grand Canyon landslide 56,000 years ago
Researchers have found a link between two geological events in iconic locations of the U.S. Southwest that scientists previously didn't think had anything to do with each other.
Astronomers discover monster exoplanet hiding in 'stellar fog' around young star
A monster exoplanet as big as 10 times the size of Jupiter has emerged from the stellar gas and dust surrounding a young star, thanks to the telescope tag team...
Earth's magnetic field is weakening — magnetic crystals from lost civilizations could hold the key to understanding why
Artifacts from the Iron Age have revealed an intense historical magnetic anomaly in the Middle East. Could using a similar approach elsewhere help us unravel the mysteries of Earth's magnetic...
In a cosmic first, astronomers spot a new planet system being born around an alien star
Astronomers spotted a baby star displaying the very first signs of planet formation in the zone surrounding it, similar to how our own solar system was born.
James Webb telescope reveals 'Sleeping Beauty' galaxies in the early universe — snoozing where they weren't supposed to exist
Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered dormant galaxies with a wide range of masses in the first billion years after the Big Bang, moving one...
'Fighting dragons' light up little-known constellation in the Southern sky: Space photo of the week
A nebula where young stars sculpt dragon-like forms has been imaged in colorful detail by the Dark Energy Camera in Chile.
Earth may have at least 6 'minimoons' at any given time. Where do they come from?
Half a dozen fragments of the moon may briefly orbit Earth at any given time, before moving on to circle the sun, new research suggests.
If aliens existed on Mars 3.7 billion years ago, they would have needed umbrellas
A vast network of inverted channels, formed of sediment laid by ancient rivers, implies Mars was once a much rainier place than we thought.
Vision problems emerge as astronauts spend months in orbit
When astronauts began spending six months and more aboard the International Space Station, they started to notice changes in their vision. For example, many found that, as their mission progressed,...
Weird space weather seems to have influenced human behavior on Earth 41,000 years ago
Our first meeting was a bit awkward. One of us is an archaeologist who studies how past peoples interacted with their environments. Two of us are geophysicists who investigate interactions...
Scientists have detected the largest black hole merger yet. What it is and why it matters
It was a bump in the night. A big one. Astronomers revealed on Monday that two massive black holes collided producing another one that is 225 times the mass of...
Want a big piece of Mars? It could be yours — for $4M US
For sale: a 25-kilogram rock. Estimated auction price: $2 million to $4 million US. Why so expensive? It's the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth.
Astronomers capture 1st close-up photograph of new interstellar visitor
Using the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, astronomers have captured the first detailed image of our third known cosmic interloper.
Manitoba researchers part of team working to unravel mystery of largest black hole merger ever detected
A group of Manitoba researchers were involved behind the scenes of an international effort that this week revealed the first documented case of two massive black holes merging — happily, billions of light...