Harry Baker

A gigantic plasma eruption from the sun's hidden far side recently launched a sizable coronal mass ejection that slammed into Mercury, potentially triggering invisible X-ray auroras around the planet's rocky surface.

A large swirl of white light that temporarily outshone vibrant auroras in the Arctic last week was triggered by the death throes of a SpaceX rocket that deployed more than 50 satellites into space.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is currently sailing past the Andromeda Galaxy in the night sky as it races toward Earth, and you can watch it live this week.

The proposed nuclear reactor, which could be transported and assembled without human assistance, would provide energy to a lunar base that Russia and China have agreed to build together.

Computer simulations reveal that the close flyby of Apophis, the "God of Chaos" asteroid, in 2029 still poses no risk to Earth, even when a worrying, previously unrecognized factor is taken into account.

A solar physicist who accurately predicted that the sun's explosive peak would arrive sooner — and be more powerful — than originally forecast tells Live Science that it may have already begun. However, we won't know for sure until long after it has finished.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as the "devil comet," will be positioned close to the sun during the April 8 total solar eclipse. Some photographers also predict that the volcanic comet may be visible to the naked eye, especially if it blows its top before the big event.

Feb. 29 comes only once every four years (most of the time), but why do we need leap years and how did they come about?

A NASA satellite recently spotted a series of bizarre "fallstreak holes" in clouds above Florida. The circular cloud gaps have been previously (and incorrectly) linked to paranormal phenomena.

The researchers who originally proposed the Planet Nine hypothesis have narrowed down where the giant elusive world might be hiding, after carrying out an exhaustive sweep of the theoretical planet's orbital pathway.

Sunspot AR3590, which recently spit out three X-class solar flares in under 24 hours, has grown even larger and is now pointed almost directly at Earth, putting us in the crosshairs of more potential eruptions.

The International Astronomical Union has confirmed the existence of three currently unnamed moons — one around Uranus and two orbiting Neptune.

Researchers recently mapped out the magnetic field of the gargantuan galaxy cluster "El Gordo." The resulting map of swirling magnetic field lines is the largest of its kind.

Data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope shows that, like Pluto, the dwarf planets Eris and Makemake could be geologically active, which changes what we know about their chances of harboring life.

A hyperactive sunspot recently unleashed its third X-class flare in under 24 hours. The X6 flare is the most powerful since 2017 and could be followed by equally massive explosions.

Researchers recently discovered an "incredible number" of potential new marine species, as well as a handful of hefty new seamounts while exploring the deep sea off the coast of Chile.

A recent solar flare unleashed a massive plasma plume from the sun's south pole, where these stellar eruptions rarely happen. The unusual phenomenon is a sign of the impending solar maximum.

A temporary lake at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park has persisted for more than six months, which is far longer than it has lasted before. And experts say that it could stick around for quite a while yet.

A new study shows that invasive Joro spiders are surprisingly "urban tolerant," which could enable them to take over cities and other urban areas across the U.S. East Coast.

The highly desiccated remains of a suspected bottlenose dolphin were recently found on a beach in South Carolina after "mummifying" for weeks or even months. One expert believes the animal may have deliberately beached itself.

The Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a stunning photo of one of the most distant Einstein rings ever found. The luminous halo of light aligns perfectly with another galaxy, making it look like a cosmic engagement ring.

Researchers found and mapped four seamounts in the deep sea off the coast of Peru and Chile. The tallest of these new peaks rises around 1.5 miles above the seafloor.

The underground volcano near Grindavík has begun its third major eruption in three months, opening up a 2-mile-long fissure that is pumping out large amounts of lava and ash.

The number of unprovoked shark attacks spiked slightly last year, while the number of fatal bites doubled compared with the previous year. However, the statistics are not as concerning as they initially sound, experts say.

Oleg Kononeko has broken the record for most cumulative time spent in space after spending his 878th non-continuous day onboard the International Space Station. But he won't return to Earth until September.