Category Science

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JWST Detects Thick Atmosphere on Ultra-Hot Rocky Exoplanet TOI-561 b

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered compelling evidence of a thick atmosphere surrounding TOI-561 b, an ultra-hot rocky exoplanet orbiting its star every 11 hours. Despite extreme radiation and molten surface conditions, the planet appears cooler than expected, suggesting heat-redistributing atmospheric winds and volatile gases. The findin...

Uranus and Neptune May Be Rock-Dominated Planets, Study Suggests

Uranus and Neptune may not be true ice giants after all. New research using advanced hybrid simulations suggests the distant planets could be dominated by rocky material rather than water-rich ices. The findings challenge decades of planetary models and may help explain the planets’ unusual, non-dipolar magnetic fields. Scientists say future dedicated spacecraft mis...

Kepler and TESS Discoveries Help Astronomers Confirm Over 6,000 Exoplanets Orbiting Other Stars

More than 6,000 exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars), one of the most rapidly expanding frontiers in science, have now been confirmed by astronomers. Their search of other worlds has been transformed within a span of thirty years, which started as a form of speculation, to accurate detection. However, in the midst of this wave of discoveries, scientists believe t...

Rocket Lab Clears Final Tests for New ‘Hungry Hippo’ Fairing on Neutron Rocket

Rocket Lab has completed final qualification tests on its innovative “Hungry Hippo” fairing for the Neutron rocket, a reusable design that stays attached during flight and closes again for recovery. This breakthrough brings the company closer to Neutron’s planned 2026 debut and marks a major step in reducing launch costs in an increasingly competitive space indu...

Astronomers Observe Star’s Wobbling Orbit, Confirming Einstein’s Frame-Dragging

Astronomers have detected a remarkable wobble in the orbit of a star being torn apart by a black hole, offering one of the clearest confirmations yet of Einstein’s frame-dragging effect. By tracking repeating X-ray and radio signals every 20 days, researchers captured spacetime twisting around a rapidly spinning black hole—revealing powerful insights into extreme ...

Galaxy Collisions Found to Activate Supermassive Black Holes, Euclid Data Shows

Astronomers using ESA’s Euclid telescope and AI analysis have found that merging galaxies are significantly more likely to host active supermassive black holes. The gravitational chaos of a collision drives gas toward the galactic core, igniting AGN activity. This discovery strengthens the link between galaxy interactions and the energetic processes that shape galac...

JWST Detects Oldest Supernova Ever Seen, Linked to GRB 250314A

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected the oldest supernova ever recorded, tied to gamma-ray burst GRB 250314A. Occurring when the universe was only 730 million years old, the explosion provides a rare glimpse into the first generations of stars and early galaxy growth, highlighting Webb’s unmatched ability to study the distant cosmos.

Chandra’s New X-Ray Mapping Exposes the Invisible Engines Powering Galaxy Clusters

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has released stunning colour-coded galaxy cluster images that reveal shock waves, cooling gas, and cavities carved by supermassive black holes. By separating X-ray light into different energy bands, astronomers can now visualise hidden cosmic processes that shape the universe’s largest structures and control how galaxies grow over ...