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Alternating yellow hexagons and hexagons featuring images of space and black holes
'A real revolution': The James Webb telescope is upending our understanding of the biggest, oldest black holes in the universe For years, the James Webb Space Telescope has been spotting enormous black holes in the early universe that defy all expectations. Now, astronomers are finally deciphering the origins of these cosmic behemoths.
Image of a planet in space. The planet has red land masses surrounded by large areas of blue water dotted with white clouds.
An ocean the size of the Arctic once covered half of Mars, new images hint Mars may have been a "blue planet" with an ocean the size of today's Arctic Ocean, a new study suggests.
Image of a horizontal oval with many orange and blue dots scattered throughout.
Dark matter and neutrinos may interact, hinting at 'fundamental breakthrough' in particle physics Astronomers found evidence that dark matter and neutrinos may interact, hinting at a "fundamental breakthrough" that challenges our understanding of how the universe evolved.
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Latest about Space

Some objects we thought were planets may actually be tiny black holes from the dawn of time

By Paul Sutter published

Scientists have discovered more than 6,000 planets beyond our solar system. What if some of them aren't planets at all, but tiny black holes in disguise?

Black Holes

SETI scientists reveal 100 'signals of interest' from collapsed Arecibo Observatory

By Brandon Specktor published

A crowd-sourced search for alien intelligence called SETI@Home is in its final stages, analyzing 100 'signals of interest' with the world's largest radio telescope.

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Extraterrestrial Life

Artemis 2 mission update: Rollout imminent as NASA prepares first crewed Artemis mission to the moon

By Patrick Pester published

NASA's Artemis 2 rollout could be as early as this weekend as the space agency makes final preparations for its first crewed Artemis moon mission.

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Space Exploration
A photo of Comet Lemmon with a green glow around its nucleus and a long glowing white tail

Astronomers may have already spotted the 'Great Comet of 2026' — and it could soon be visible to the naked eye

By Harry Baker published

Recently discovered Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) will make its closest approach to the sun and Earth in late April and could potentially be visible to the naked eye. It may end up being the brightest comet of the year.

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Comets
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the largest planet-forming disk ever observed around a young star. It spans nearly 400 billion miles — 40 times the diameter of our solar system. Tilted nearly edge-on as seen from Earth, the dark, dusty disk resembles a hamburger. Hubble reveals it to be unusually chaotic, with bright wisps of material extending far above and below the disk—more than seen in any similar circumstellar disk.

Giant cosmic 'sandwich' is the largest planet-forming disk ever seen — Space photo of the week

By Jamie Carter published

A strange, sandwich-shaped object is giving astronomers a rare view of the chaotic birthplaces of planets.

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Astronomy

Oddball 'platypus galaxies' spotted by James Webb telescope may challenge our understanding of galaxy formation

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronomers spotted nine galaxies with characteristics that have never been seen as a collection before. It's possible this is a newly found type of star-forming galaxy.

Astronomy
Science news this week Jan 10.

A runaway black hole, a human ancestor discovered in Casablanca cave, and vaccine schedule slashed

By Ben Turner published

Science news this week Jan. 10, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Science news this week
A photo of the exploding sun with an inset photo showing the giant sunspot that caused it

Giant sunspot that triggered recent solar 'superstorm' shot out nearly 1,000 flares and a secret X-rated explosion, record-breaking study reveals

By Harry Baker published

The massive sunspot that sparked an "extreme" geomagnetic storm in May 2024 unleashed hundreds of other dangerous solar flares, including a hidden X-class outburst, a new paper reveals. The study sets a record for the longest continuous observation of a single active region on our home star.

The Sun

NASA announces unprecedented return of sick ISS astronaut and crew

By Sascha Pare last updated

NASA has announced the early return of Crew-11 from the International Space Station after an unidentified astronaut experienced a medical problem.

Space Exploration

Jupiter will outshine every star in the sky this weekend — how to see the 'king of planets' at opposition

By Jamie Carter published

Jupiter reaches opposition on Jan. 10, when it will shine all night at its brightest as Earth moves between the giant planet and the sun.

Planets
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