Space

Explore Space

Editor's Picks

Illustration of tractor beam in space
Sci-fi inspired tractor beams are real, and could solve a major space junk problem Researchers are developing a real-life tractor beam, with the goal of pulling defunct satellites out of geostationary orbit to alleviate the space junk problem.
Check out our best binoculars for stargazing. In this image, a man is standing behind his car using a pair of binoculars to look at the stars.
Best binoculars for stargazing 2023: Spot stars and galaxies View our top picks of for the best binoculars for stargazing and astronomy, and peer into the cosmos whilst staying grounded.
a space crew eating food around a table
'The forbidden space meal': What happens if you need to be a cannibal on Mars? "In the wrong circumstances, a spacecraft is a platform full of hungry people surrounded by temptation. Is it wrong to waste such a neatly packaged meal?"

Latest about Space

Illustration of a satellite burning up as it reenters Earth's atmosphere

Falling metal space junk is changing Earth's upper atmosphere in ways we don't fully understand

By Harry Baker published

A research plane that flew through Earth's stratosphere identified more than 20 elements that are linked to the aerospace industry. Experts predict that the problem could become much worse in the future.

Space Exploration
The moon with a distant Earth in the background

Moon is 40 million years older than we thought, tiny crystals from Apollo mission confirm

By Harry Baker published

A new analysis of zircon crystals from the Apollo 17 mission has revealed that the moon formed around 40 million years earlier than past geological evidence suggested. However, our cosmic companion may be even older than that.

The Moon
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) have discovered a high-speed jet stream sitting over Jupiter’s equator, above the main cloud decks. At a wavelength of 2.12 microns, which observes between altitudes of about 12-21 miles (20-35 kilometers) above Jupiter’s cloud tops, researchers spotted several wind shears, or areas where wind speeds change with height or with distance, which enabled them to track the jet.

James Webb telescope spots enormous jet stream faster than a Category 5 hurricane on Jupiter

By Monisha Ravisetti published

New observations with the James Webb Space Telescope reveal a never-before-seen jet stream near Jupiter's equator moving twice as fast as a Category 5 hurricane.

Jupiter
Jupiter's moon Io as seen by Juno on Oct. 16, 2023.

Space photo of the week: Jupiter's seething volcano moon gets a close-up

By Jamie Carter published

Jupiter's moon Io, the most volcanic world in the solar system, was imaged from just 7,260 miles away.

Jupiter
Korean texts annotated with red lines

Strange anomaly in sun's solar cycle discovered in centuries-old texts from Korea

By Harry Baker published

Aurora records in royal chronicles from Korea show that during the 'Maunder Minimum' between 1645 and 1715, the sun's solar cycles became several years shorter than they are today.

The Sun
An artist’s impression of the exoplanet WASP-17b, which may contain clouds of quartz in its atmosphere.

James Webb telescope detects alien planet with clouds made of quartz

By Joanna Thompson published

The exoplanet WASP-17b's atmosphere is full of quartz clouds, according to a new James Webb Space Telescope observations.

Exoplanets
Much of the universe is made of of matter that we can't see.

Oldest radio-wave explosion ever found could be used to weigh the universe, astronomers say

By Ben Turner published

Astronomers traced a mysterious radio source to three merging galaxies 8 billion light-years away. Studying it could help uncover the universe's missing matter.

Space
This artist's concept depicts NASA's InSight lander after it has deployed its instruments on the Martian surface.

Scientists finally solve mystery of strongest Marsquake ever detected

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

The strongest recorded Marsquake, which rattled for six hours in May 2022, left no visible traces on the Red Planet surface. Now, scientists think they know what caused it.

Mars
This illustration shows one possible scenario for the hot, rocky exoplanet called 55 Cancri e, which is nearly two times as wide as Earth. New data from NASA Spitzer Space Telescope show that the planet has extreme temperature swings.

Mysterious signals from 'hell planet' 40 light-years from Earth could finally be solved by James Webb Space Telescope

By Paul Sutter published

The hellish super-Earth '55 Cancri e' may be constantly losing and re-growing its atmosphere, a new study of the planet's strange transit signals suggests.

Exoplanets
Illustration of a rocky asteroid belt with a bright sun in the distance

Nearby asteroid may contain elements 'beyond the periodic table', new study suggests

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Naturally occurring superheavy elements beyond those listed in the periodic table could potentially explain why asteroid 33 Polyhymnia is so dense, new research suggests.

Asteroids
123456789Archives