https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/space_telescopes/ Space Telescopes. Astronomy articles and pictures from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Telescope and many other leading astronomy institutes from around the world. en-us Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:23:56 EDT Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:23:56 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/space_telescopes/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185021.htm NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed an ancient galaxy cluster with an unexpectedly dense concentration of dark matter, challenging theories about how the universe developed. The discovery also uncovered a surprising connection between scattered starlight and invisible dark matter that could transform how astronomers study the early cosmos. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:27:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185021.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185015.htm Astronomers have discovered that a scorching-hot planet 320 light-years away shares a striking chemical similarity with its host star, providing the first direct evidence for a fundamental assumption about planet formation. The breakthrough could help scientists predict what distant rocky planets are made of and identify worlds with conditions favorable for life. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:24:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185015.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261008005240.htm Astronomers have discovered a bizarre star system about 300 light-years from Earth where a small star is slowly devouring a nearby brown dwarf, an object too massive to be a planet but too small to be a true star. Unlike stars that rapidly swallow their companions, this one is gradually stealing material in a process that could continue for billions of years. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 14:56:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261008005240.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042108.htm NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is giving astronomers a glimpse of the kinds of violent collisions that may have shaped our own solar system, including the giant impact thought to have created the Moon. By studying 21 rare “extreme debris disks” around young stars, researchers found that their dust can reveal the scale and intensity of planetary collisions. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:09:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042108.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042106.htm A strange chemical signature in old Hubble observations may point to a planet that formed after its star had already died. Astronomers found unusually high levels of niobium around the white dwarf HS 0209+0832, suggesting some of the star’s expelled material may have assembled into a new gas giant. TESS data also hints at a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting just 3.7 million miles from the star. Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:31:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042106.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042102.htm A Canadian radio telescope has detected the faint glow of hydrogen from billions of years ago using only its own observations, proving a long-awaited way to map the distant universe can actually work. CHIME can use this hydrogen signal to trace how matter is spread across space and measure how the universe has expanded over time, offering a powerful new way to investigate dark energy. Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:53:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042102.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261006234511.htm Einstein Probe revealed nearly 10 minutes of soft X-ray activity following a short gamma-ray burst, exposing a phase of neutron star mergers that previous missions may have missed. The prolonged emission could have been powered by a newly formed magnetar and may provide a valuable new counterpart to gravitational-wave signals. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:06:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261006234511.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080026.htm Tiny magnetic fields created shortly after the Big Bang may help explain the long-running disagreement over how fast the universe is expanding. Detailed simulations show that these primordial fields could have changed the formation of hydrogen in the early universe, affecting the cosmic microwave background and the expansion rate inferred from it. Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:05:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080026.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214015.htm Scientists studying Chang’e-6 lunar soil have discovered a previously unknown magnetic mineral in natural Moon samples: a form of metallic iron called γ-Fe. Found inside tiny impact-glass particles, the nanoscale iron can preserve a stable magnetic signal, potentially acting like a microscopic fossil of the Moon’s long-lost magnetic field. Sat, 03 Oct 2026 09:12:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261001214015.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020252.htm Astronomers have found strong evidence that some mysterious, minutes-long X-ray flashes are produced when two neutron stars collide and create a magnetar. One record-setting event glowed in X-rays for nearly 10 minutes, potentially opening a new way to find these extreme cosmic mergers. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:27:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020252.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100537.htm NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered a surprisingly complicated history of water in Jezero Crater. Scientists expected the crater’s Margin Unit to contain lake sediments, but instead found ancient igneous rocks that were altered by water on at least three separate occasions. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:34:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100537.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100527.htm Powerful jets from supermassive black holes can disturb star-forming gas far beyond a galaxy’s visible edge, leaving a glowing trail hundreds of thousands of light-years long. By keeping this gas hot and preventing it from falling inward, the jets may help determine whether a galaxy keeps forming stars or becomes quiet. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:51:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260928100527.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225034.htm CosmoCube will use the far side of the Moon as a shield from Earth’s radio noise to search for a faint signal from the universe before the first stars existed. The suitcase-sized satellite could reveal how the cosmic dark ages ended and how dark matter helped build the first galaxies. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:45:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225034.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020410.htm A dead white dwarf with no detectable disk has somehow produced a powerful shock wave that appears to have persisted for at least 1,000 years. Its magnetic field may be partly responsible, but astronomers say an unexplained “mystery engine” may also be at work. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:19:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020410.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020355.htm Ancient grains inside one of the oldest known meteorites reveal that a surprisingly strong magnetic field existed during the solar system’s first 200,000 years. The discovery suggests magnetism worked alongside gravity to help transform a vast cloud of gas and dust into the sun and planetary disk. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:45:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260924020355.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035922.htm Hubble observations of massive stars in metal-poor dwarf galaxies are revealing clues to why the early universe looks so unusual. Researchers found that stellar winds weaken sharply at extremely low metallicities, potentially allowing massive stars to retain more material and evolve in unexpected ways. The team also found large differences in iron abundance, a key ingredient in stellar winds and supernovae. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:42:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260923035922.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081052.htm Ancient iron meteorites reveal that some of the Solar System’s first solid bodies were built mostly from tiny heat-forged rock beads called chondrules, while water-rich dust was largely excluded. The finding pushes this selective planet-building process back to within the Solar System’s first million years. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:06:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081052.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222358.htm Scientists have found evidence that black holes of vastly different sizes may launch powerful jets according to the same universal rule. Supermassive black holes can produce jets soon after tearing apart a star, then fire up again hundreds or thousands of days later when their feeding rate drops to about 2% of the Eddington limit. That same threshold is known to trigger jets from much smaller black holes in the Milky Way. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:23:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222358.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003725.htm A pocket-sized, roughly $100 detector can reveal the invisible stream of cosmic particles constantly passing through Earth and even through our bodies. What began as a student physics project is now being used in major experiments, balloon missions, and potentially future spacecraft. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:54:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003712.htm Astronomers have confirmed a Jupiter-size planet less than a million years old, making Elias 2-24 b the youngest known planet and giving scientists a rare look at a world still being born. Its surprisingly rapid formation challenges leading theories about how giant planets come together, especially so far from their stars. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:00:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003712.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232132.htm A new study suggests Earth formed almost entirely from material in the inner Solar System, challenging the idea that water-rich material from beyond Jupiter played a major role. If correct, Earth’s water may have been present much closer to the young Sun than scientists previously thought. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:03:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232132.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005217.htm Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS contains exceptionally high levels of methanol, suggesting it formed under conditions very different from those that shaped most comets in our solar system. ALMA also revealed that tiny icy grains around the comet are releasing methanol like miniature comets, giving astronomers an unusually detailed look at an object from another star system. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:47:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005217.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201556.htm Astronomers have detected an exceptionally faint hydrogen radio signal from billions of light-years away using South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope. Instead of finding galaxies one at a time, the technique measures their combined hydrogen glow across enormous stretches of space. The successful detection shows that astronomers may soon be able to create much larger 3D maps of the Universe. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:06:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201556.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064229.htm A huge 10-sided atmospheric pattern has appeared around Saturn’s south pole, giving the planet a surprising counterpart to its famous northern hexagon. Hubble data suggest the strange decagon only began emerging in the past few years and is still growing stronger. Researchers hope continued observations will reveal why it suddenly formed and whether it could persist for decades. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:41:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064229.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234442.htm Star formation across the universe has fallen dramatically over the past 4.5 billion years, but astronomers have uncovered a surprising twist: the supply of neutral hydrogen, a key ingredient for making stars, has barely declined. Using China’s FAST radio telescope and data from roughly 2.5 million galaxies observed by DESI, researchers found that star formation was about 2.5 times higher 4.5 billion years ago, while neutral hydrogen levels were only about 1.4 times higher. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:48:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234442.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901070523.htm NASA-funded studies suggest Earth’s climate has been influenced by both the Sun’s travels through dense regions of the Milky Way and the violent superflares of its youth. Those events may help explain ancient ice ages as well as how early Earth stayed warm enough for liquid water when the Sun was much dimmer. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:25:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901070523.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010702.htm NASA has brought two of Swift’s telescopes back online after technical problems derailed a commercial mission intended to rescue the aging observatory by raising its orbit. With atmospheric drag pulling the spacecraft downward faster than expected, scientists may have only another month or two before Swift falls below a critical operating altitude. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:43:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010702.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010656.htm Astronomers have identified a surprisingly young population of fading radio galaxies whose supermassive black holes have already switched off their powerful jets. The confirmed remnants range from about 8 to 42 million years old, suggesting many may disappear from view much faster than previously recognized. More distant remnants also seem to fade especially quickly, helping explain why they have been so difficult to detect. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:07:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010656.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831035213.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has launched on a million mile journey to L2, where it will scan huge portions of the cosmos for clues about dark matter, dark energy, and distant worlds. With survey speeds roughly 1,000 times faster than Hubble and a torrent of 1.4 terabytes of data per day, Roman could uncover cosmic surprises astronomers have never seen before. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:23:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831035213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082333.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope will combine Hubble-like detail with a field of view 100 times larger, giving astronomers a sweeping new way to explore the cosmos. Its observations could uncover hidden planets, map billions of cosmic objects, and help scientists unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:54:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082333.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010457.htm Today’s mysterious gravitational-wave background may preserve clues about how the Universe’s first supermassive black holes formed. Descendants of hypothetical Dark Stars could be responsible for a major portion of the signal, offering a surprising new way to investigate cosmic dawn and dark matter. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:26:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055448.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope is now enclosed inside its Falcon Heavy fairing and nearly ready for launch. Its mission could uncover thousands of exoplanets while helping scientists investigate dark matter, dark energy, and the accelerating expansion of the universe. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:29:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055448.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055445.htm A magnetar with an astonishingly powerful magnetic field may have revealed a quantum effect predicted by Werner Heisenberg nearly 90 years ago. Its light shows signs that supposedly empty space is altering how the light travels, potentially providing the first evidence of vacuum birefringence. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:52:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015019.htm A massive test of gravity across the cosmos found that it behaves almost exactly as Newton and Einstein predicted, even across galaxy clusters hundreds of millions of light-years apart. The result weakens some modified-gravity explanations and strengthens the case that dark matter is behind the universe’s mysterious missing mass. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:49:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015019.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015000.htm A faint ribbon of stars around a distant galaxy has become the first globular cluster stellar stream ever identified beyond the Milky Way. Because the stars trace the galaxy’s gravity, researchers used the stream to estimate how much invisible dark matter surrounds it and how that matter is distributed. The breakthrough offers astronomers a promising new way to investigate one of the universe’s greatest mysteries. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:19:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015000.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202849.htm For decades, scientists have puzzled over why certain atomic nuclei unexpectedly produce large numbers of low-energy gamma rays. A new experiment traced the effect to magnetic changes inside the nucleus, where protons and neutrons effectively flip their tiny internal magnets. The discovery could sharpen models of everything from nuclear reactions on Earth to the creation of heavy elements in stars and neutron star mergers. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:21:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815065007.htm A magnetar’s colossal magnetic field may have revealed a quantum effect predicted by Werner Heisenberg nearly 90 years ago, in which seemingly empty space alters the behavior of light. If confirmed, the discovery could offer the first direct evidence of vacuum birefringence and open a new window into the strange physics of the quantum vacuum. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:08:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815065007.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064808.htm Astronomers may finally have a clue to what happens to the mysterious “little red dots” that crowded the early universe. By studying a spiral galaxy nicknamed the “Saguaro,” researchers found a compact, bright red center that closely resembles these distant objects—but with something Webb usually can’t see around them: a full galaxy. When the team simulated what the Saguaro would look like much farther away, its spiral structure essentially vanished, leaving only the bright red core. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:56:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064808.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235849.htm Astronomers have witnessed a black hole violently shredding a massive star, creating one of the most energetic stellar explosions ever observed. The event, nicknamed “the Whippet,” briefly released about 400 billion times the Sun’s energy and sent a shock wave racing outward at one-fifth the speed of light. Months later, scientists spotted unexpectedly fast-moving helium, suggesting that some structure may have survived the destruction. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 23:46:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045545.htm JWST has uncovered surprising clues that Neptune’s strange inner moons may be the wreckage of an ancient cosmic catastrophe. Researchers detected clay-like minerals on Larissa, Galatea, and Neptune’s rings that form in the presence of liquid water—yet the moons themselves show no obvious water ice. The material likely came from deep inside much larger icy moons that were shattered when Triton was captured by Neptune, destroying much of the planet’s original satellite system. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:35:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045545.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045541.htm Astronomers have released more than three million new spectra in a sweeping expansion that, for the first time, brings SDSS-V optical observations to the Southern Hemisphere. The data reveal everything from rare stars and glowing nebulae to hundreds of thousands of X-ray sources and supermassive black holes changing over time. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:21:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045541.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015709.htm A total solar eclipse will plunge parts of Europe into darkness on August 12, 2026, with Spain offering some of the best views. ESA will livestream the spectacle from the Javalambre Observatory, combining telescope feeds, drone footage, and expert commentary. At 20:31 CEST, the observatory will experience 1 minute and 21 seconds of totality, revealing the Sun’s normally hidden outer atmosphere. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:55:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015709.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035142.htm Scientists have discovered incredibly tiny plasma whirlpools swirling across the Sun’s surface, some just 20 kilometers wide. These previously invisible vortices may twist magnetic fields and help build up the energy released in small solar eruptions called nanoflares. They may also help magnetic fields spread through the Sun’s atmosphere far faster than current models can explain. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:03:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082457.htm A supermassive black hole has been found lurking about 30,000 light-years from the center of its galaxy—the first dormant black hole detected so far from a galactic core. It revealed itself only after shredding a passing star and producing a brief, brilliant flare. Astronomers think it may be the remnant of a devoured galaxy or a black hole flung outward during a chaotic cosmic encounter. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:16:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034150.htm Scientists have identified LHAASO J1912+1014u as a cosmic accelerator that can push protons beyond one quadrillion electron volts. The finding may help reveal where the Milky Way’s most energetic cosmic rays come from and how they influence the galaxy. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 22:59:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034150.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214623.htm Scientists traced a mysterious surge of low-energy gamma rays from zinc-70 to magnetic changes occurring inside its nucleus. The breakthrough could improve models of how stars, supernovae, and neutron star mergers create heavy elements. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 01:15:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214623.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214612.htm NASA’s Psyche spacecraft aced its Mars flyby, using the planet’s gravity to speed toward its 2029 encounter with a metal-rich asteroid. The spacecraft tested its cameras, magnetometer, and particle-detecting instruments, capturing unusual views of Mars and measuring its magnetic environment. It also detected neutrons from the planet and spotted the tiny moons Phobos and Deimos. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:21:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214612.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214609.htm NASA’s Swift Observatory observed a supermassive black hole ripping apart a star more than 30,000 light-years from the center of a distant galaxy. The extraordinary flare briefly outshone its entire host galaxy in ultraviolet light and revealed a black hole about a million times the Sun’s mass. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 01:54:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214609.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015239.htm Astronomers may have been listening for alien civilizations in only a small slice of the radio spectrum while overlooking a largely unexplored range of higher frequencies. Using archived data from the ALMA telescope in Chile, researchers conducted the observatory’s first SETI survey, searching for narrow signals that could indicate advanced technology. No possible alien transmissions were found, but the study revealed that even a handful of telescope observations may quietly include millions of stars. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:09:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015239.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032111.htm A giant planet had been hiding inside one of astronomy’s most closely studied planetary systems, concealed by a bright disk of cosmic dust. Webb revealed Beta Pictoris d through atmospheric traces of carbon monoxide, water vapor, and methane, showcasing a promising new method for finding elusive exoplanets. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 01:58:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032111.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000818.htm A newly discovered turning point in the Sun’s 11-year cycle could allow scientists to predict future solar activity years earlier than before. At this “switch-off” point, the most violent space weather abruptly ends, and the remaining number of sunspots offers clues about the next cycle’s strength. Early projections suggest Solar Cycle 26 may be moderate, but a clearer forecast is expected in about two years. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:08:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000818.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260718010145.htm China’s Chang’e-6 samples have uncovered a surprising difference between the Moon’s two hemispheres. Solar wind particles penetrated deeper into the far-side soil because Earth’s magnetosphere slows the particles that reach the near side. Noble gases locked inside the lunar regolith preserved evidence of this uneven bombardment. These gases may even help scientists reconstruct the ancient history of Earth’s magnetic shield. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:39:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260718010145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260712011748.htm K2-18b is one of the most promising worlds for the search for extraterrestrial life, so astronomers conducted an unusually powerful radio survey using both the VLA and MeerKAT telescopes. Advanced software analyzed millions of signals, filtering out Earth-based interference and other false positives. No convincing artificial radio transmissions were found, but the project demonstrated a powerful new approach that will make future SETI searches faster and far more effective. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:04:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260712011748.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260707025049.htm Astronomers have uncovered 31 of the oldest known quasars, including the two earliest ever detected, shining from a time when the universe was only about 670 million years old. Powered by supermassive black holes billions of times the Sun’s mass, these incredibly bright objects challenge scientists’ understanding of how such enormous black holes formed so quickly after the Big Bang. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 02:50:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260707025049.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260704232634.htm Celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary, NASA released a stunning Hubble portrait of Messier 3, an ancient globular cluster with more than 500,000 stars. The remarkable cluster is helping scientists unravel the Milky Way's past thanks to its rare stars and possible origins in a long ago cosmic merger. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 23:39:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260704232634.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260702230859.htm NASA is marking the United States' 250th birthday with four striking red, white, and blue images of deep space from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The collection features an exploded star, a stellar nursery, a galaxy where stars are rapidly forming, and a galaxy cluster that provides evidence for dark matter. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:30:33 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260702230859.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260626125703.htm An unusual gravitational wave signal has renewed hopes that primordial black holes, long considered purely theoretical, may finally be within reach of discovery. If confirmed, they could solve one of astronomy's greatest mysteries by explaining the nature of dark matter. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:56:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260626125703.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060222.htm Astronomers may have witnessed one of the rarest and most dramatic cosmic events ever seen: a long-sought intermediate-mass black hole ripping apart a dense white dwarf star and devouring it. The Einstein Probe space telescope caught the explosion in its earliest moments, revealing an unusual sequence of intense X-ray flashes unlike anything seen in a typical gamma-ray burst. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:05:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060222.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060203.htm Astronomers have released the largest gravitational wave catalog ever, revealing 161 new black hole collisions and pushing the total number of detections to 390. Among the highlights are the clearest gravitational wave signal ever recorded, the most accurate location of a black hole merger, and growing evidence that some black holes are the products of previous black hole mergers. With discoveries now arriving several times a week, gravitational wave astronomy is entering an exciting new era. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:52:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060203.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083146.htm What if consciousness isn’t limited to brains like ours? Philosophers Eric Schwitzgebel and Jeremy Pober argue that consciousness could arise in many different forms of life, even in beings built from radically different materials than those found on Earth. Drawing on the vastness of the universe and the likely existence of countless alien civilizations, they suggest it would be surprisingly Earth-centric to assume that only Earth-like biology can support conscious experience. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:49:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083146.htm