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Latest about space
![In our latest space mysteries piece we take a look at what would happen if you moved at the speed of light.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Du799gZSpjEibuxNSbWqS7-320-80.gif)
What would happen if you moved at the speed of light?
By Rebecca Sohn published
There's nothing faster than the speed of light. So, what would happen if a human managed to move at this universal speed limit?
![Massive X3.4-class solar flare.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5e392MvC4pwzyQSYPbSr6S-320-80.jpg)
Watch the 1st X-class solar flare of 2024 erupt from the sun in explosive fashion
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
An X-class flare, the most powerful type of solar flare, erupted from the sun on Feb. 9, 2024. Lucky for us, Earth wasn't in the direct firing line.
![Artist's illustration of ESA's ERS-2 satellite in Earth orbit. The spacecraft is expected to fall back to Earth in February 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hk5pX4DUPQLPZYHZDSAg5V-320-80.jpg)
Big, dead European satellite will come crashing back to Earth this month
By Mike Wall published
The uncontrolled reentry of Europe's defunct ERS-2 satellite is expected in mid-February. It's highly likely that the 5,000-pound craft will land somewhere in the ocean.
![The iconic photo of astronaut Bruce McCandless II outside the space shuttle Challenger was taken on Feb. 7, 1984. (Image credit: NASA)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72DaU9txnSEFFwVd8hEEaF-320-80.jpg)
Space photo of the week: Bruce McCandless II floats untethered as the 1st 'human satellite' in history
By Jamie Carter published
Forty years ago this week, the first untethered spacewalk resulted in one of space exploration's most iconic images.
![gif animation showing the giant sunspot coming into view. The sunspot group is more than 15 times the diameter of Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5HHQtYkZ4r957tLY2DZFtE-320-80.gif)
Colossal 'Martian sunspot' is so big it was seen from Mars. Now it's facing Earth.
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
A group of sunspots measuring more than 15 times the diameter of Earth was imaged by NASA's Perseverance Rover last week; now, the spots are pointed toward Earth, with strong flares possible.
![An illustration shows Saturn's moon 'Death Star' moon Mimas with the gas giant and Enceladus in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wGYLCyxcfqSdMUq6FUezzT-320-80.jpg)
Saturn's 'Death Star' moon Mimas may have an underground ocean scientists never believed could exist
By Robert Lea published
A new study of Saturn's 'Death Star' moon Mimas finds evidence of a young, underground ocean that may be hospitable to early forms of life.
![View of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go-Sample-Acquisition-Mechanism (TAGSAM) head with lid removed, unveiling the bulk of asteroid Bennu sample inside.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6gZFjrTRee2pHrmFxAXbxB-320-80.jpg)
Asteroid Bennu may be 'a fragment of an ancient ocean world', 1st sample analysis suggests
By Leonard David published
Scientists are working hard to analyze samples of the potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, with early results suggesting it may even be a chunk of an ancient water world.
![An illustration shows a Jupiter like world orbiting a dead white dwarf star.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yTxLDEmCadJnfCWACb6wYK-320-80.jpg)
James Webb telescope makes ultra-rare detection of 2 planets orbiting dead stars
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected two alien planets orbiting white dwarfs, the collapsed husks of once-mighty stars. The discovery offers a hint of what our solar system will look like after the sun's eventual demise.
![Light pollution and stargazing locations within and close to the path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9E7vvH7bALg68tWeBwRekB-320-80.jpg)
April 8 total solar eclipse: The best places to stargaze near the path of totality
By Jamie Carter published
The April 8 total solar eclipse will be visible from many large cities, but anyone looking for skies free of light pollution should check out one of these dark-sky parks and reserves in the path of totality.
![MIRA, Virtual Incision’s miniaturized robotic assisted surgery system, is pictured in position to reach rubber bands serving as simulated surgical tissue.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jeAUJSXCfLEAPWxK5vHMqV-320-80.jpg)
Robot surgeon sent to the International Space Station to dissect simulated astronaut tissue
By Monisha Ravisetti published
A small robotic surgeon was successfully launched to the International Space Station last week. It was joined by a bunch of equally impressive experiments, including machine learning devices and artificial retina prototypes.
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