“Out of science fiction”: First 3D observations of an exoplanet’s atmosphere reveal a unique climate
In a groundbreaking study from European Southern Observatory (ESO), astronomers discovered scorching winds that swirl titanium around an exoplanet with a 30-hour year.
Laser-powered sails could unlock ultrafast space travel
Scientists at Caltech have built a tiny lightsail prototype utilising a common-path interferometer to pave the way for interstellar probe voyages.
Life’s building blocks found in Bennu asteroid samples
Japanese researchers detected ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter covering all five DNA nucleobases in samples returned in 2023, supporting some theories for the origin of life on earth.
2 MILLION mph galaxy smash-up seen in unprecedented detail
Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK have used the WEAVE spectrograph to observe a 2 million mph galaxy collision in unprecedented detail.
Physicists discover first “black hole triple”
Physicists at MIT and Caltech in the USA have discovered the first black hole triple, indicating black holes can form without supernova explosions.
Low gravity in space travel found to weaken and disrupt normal rhythm in heart muscle cells
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the USA discovered that heart tissues in space develop signs of heart disease, posing risks for astronauts on long missions.
NASA develops process to create very accurate eclipse maps
NASA scientists in the United States have developed a process to create extremely accurate eclipse maps using lunar topography data, revealing the Moon’s true shadow shape.
Magnifying deep space through the “carousel lens”
Researchers at the University of San Francisco, USA, have discovered the Carousel Lens, an unprecedented galaxy alignment that bends light, aiding cosmological studies of dark matter and energy.
Rocket sprinkler launches and hovers in mid-air
The ArchiRocket Launcher by ArchiWhimsy is a playful and functional sprinkler designed for kids, though adults can enjoy it as well, especially those interested in science and engineering.
World’s largest carbon fiber rocket-building machine weighs 99 tons
Rocket Lab in the USA has begun installing a 99-tonne automated fibre placement machine to produce the world’s largest carbon composite rocket structures in Maryland.