Harry Baker

Astronomers have just discovered two dwarf galaxy candidates orbiting our galaxy. The orientation of these entities suggests there could be up to 500 similar stellar clusters circling the Milky Way, which is more than double previous estimates.

Earth from space This 2018 astronaut photo shows a striking section of the Green River as it winds through Utah's "Labyrinth Canyon." The canyon's steep walls cast long shadows that hide many secrets, including caves and abandoned uranium mines.

Shorty after 4 p.m. ET today (June 27), the mountain-size asteroid 2011 UL21 will come within 5 million miles of Earth, making it one of the largest space rocks to come that close to our planet for 125 years. Here's how to watch the close encounter live, or see it with a telescope.

Experts from NASA and other international organizations recently simulated their response to a hypothetical asteroid impact scenario. The test was deemed a success. However, several media outlets have misreported the group's findings.

Earth from space A 2017 satellite image of the Sahara's Tanezrouft Basin shows the abstract beauty in ancient rock folds and colorful salt flats that have been sculpted in this terrifying region over millions of years.

A new species of piranha-like fish called pacu was recently found hiding in plain sight among several near-identical species in the Amazon River. Researchers have named it after Sauron from "The Lord of the Rings."

A newly identified dinosaur with large, ornate horns on its massive head shield has been named after a famous Norse god who sported a similar headpiece in recent Marvel movies.

Footage shows the record-breaking TOKUFASTbot solving a Rubik's Cube so fast that it appears to happen in a single move. But in reality, advanced AI is helping it rapidly turn the puzzle's colored panels in an imperceptibly fast sequence.

A new analysis of inexplicably young stars orbiting extremely close to the Milky Way's black hole heart reveals that they orbit around the gigantic structure in a surprisingly organized way, similar to swarming insects like bees.

A new study confirms that Earth's inner core has been rotating more slowly than usual since 2010. This mysterious "backtracking" could also end up slightly altering the planet's overall rotation, lengthening our days.

New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope revealed that a distant protostar is actually a pair of baby binary stars that are spitting out parallel energy jets as they gobble up giant disks of gas and dust.

Earth from space This 2018 satellite photo of ice caps on the Arctic islands of Russia's Severnaya Zemlya archipelago highlights the beautiful concentric rings of color in the ice, which stand out against the islands' barren landscape.

Some experts believe that the solar system's hypothetical ninth planet could be just a few years away from being discovered. If this is the case, how long would it take for humans to send probes to the elusive world?

Astronomers have been scouring the outer solar system for signs of a hypothetical ninth planet for almost a decade, without success. However, we may finally be on the cusp of finding it, experts say.

The newly announced Landolt NASA Space Mission will launch a bread box-size "artificial star" satellite that will mimic stars by shining lasers directly at ground-based telescopes. This will enable astronomers to fine-tune instruments and potentially revolutionize how we study the universe.

Earth from space This 2017 satellite photo shows an unusual cloud "cyclone" nestled up against the coastline of Spain and Portugal. Researchers are unsure what caused the strange structure's spin, but ocean eddies and an extreme heat wave likely played key roles.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the devil comet, recently made its closest approach to Earth for more than 70 years. During this close encounter, astrophotographers spotted a seemingly impossible "anti-tail" coming off the comet thanks to an extremely rare optical illusion.

A new public competition will allow a lucky astronomy enthusiast to name one of Earth's tiny "quasi-moons." Here's everything you need to know about how to enter the competition for free.

An unusual northern rātā tree that looks like it is striding across an empty field has been crowned New Zealand's Tree of the Year. The giant plant, which looks strikingly similar to an Ent from "The Lord of the Rings," is centuries old.

Earth from space This 2018 astronaut photo shows the rust-colored waters of Madagascar's Betsiboka River winding through a complex series of mangrove islands. Both the river and islands have been altered in recent years by destructive human practices.

Watch rare footage of deep sea "octopus squid" reveal its bioluminescent photophores as it attacks an underwater camera.

A female Pacific footballfish was found dead on an Oregon beach — potentially for the first time ever. It is currently unclear what killed the alien-looking creature and how it was dragged up from the depths.

Earth from space In 2018, satellite images captured a stunning spiral of cyanobacteria blooming in the Baltic Sea. The swirling mass of microbes helped to create a massive "dead zone" the size of West Virginia that starved the surrounding water of oxygen.

Alaska's melting permafrost is dumping toxic metals into the state's rivers, turning them bright orange and making the water highly acidic. The contaminated rivers are so vibrant they can be seen from space, and the problem is likely to get much worse in the future.