Space

The Sun is a familiar sight in our sky, but thanks to ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission, we are now seeing it in a whole new light. With the help of advanced imaging technology, we can now observe the Sun’s lower atmosphere in stunning detail, revealing feathery, hair-like structures made of plasma that follow magnetic field

In a groundbreaking discovery, the Curiosity rover has unearthed evidence that suggests Mars may have once been a habitable environment billions of years ago. By scrutinizing rocks in the ancient Gale Crater, Curiosity has detected a significant amount of manganese oxide – a mineral commonly found in Earth’s lakes. The presence of manganese oxide indicates

Meteors, or shooting stars, are a breathtaking sight that can be observed on any given night. The Earth’s journey around the Sun brings us into contact with various streams of dust and debris from comets and asteroids, resulting in what we know as meteor showers. These showers offer a dramatic increase in the number of

The Horsehead Nebula, a distinctive cloud structure resembling a horse’s head, has been the subject of a fascinating new study. Recent observations using mid- and near-infrared filters from the James Webb Space Telescope have provided unprecedented detail of this remarkable space cloud located approximately 1,300 light-years away as part of the Orion molecular cloud complex.

Recent research conducted by astronomer Konstantin Batygin and his colleagues at the California Institute of Technology has provided strong statistical evidence for the existence of a ninth planet in our Solar System. By tracking the movements of Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) – celestial bodies beyond Neptune’s orbit – the researchers were able to analyze the orbits

Solar sails are revolutionizing the way we think about space travel. Drawing from the concept of sail ships from the past, these majestic sails harness the power of sunlight to propel spacecraft across the vast expanse of space. This innovative technology presents a more efficient and sustainable way to explore the cosmos. The Historical Evolution

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has been a beacon of incredible astronomical discoveries for over thirty years. Beyond its intended purpose, it has continued to surprise scientists and researchers with accidental findings that shed light on our universe’s mysteries. Recently, an international team of citizen scientists collaborated with astronomers from the European Space

The Lyrid meteor shower is currently dazzling skywatchers, offering a captivating display of shooting stars. This yearly event takes place from April 15 to April 29, providing an opportunity to witness dozens of meteors streaking across the sky. While the peak activity of the meteor shower occurred from Sunday night to Monday morning, enthusiasts can

The recent investigation published in May 2023 has brought forward some groundbreaking discoveries regarding the composition of the Moon’s inner core. Contrary to popular belief, it has been confirmed that the Moon’s inner core is not made of green cheese. Instead, it is a solid ball with a density similar to that of iron. This

NASA’s Voyager 1 probe, the farthest man-made object in the Universe, has recently started returning usable information to ground control after a period of transmitting incomprehensible data. The setback occurred on November 14, 2023, when the spacecraft ceased sending readable data back to Earth. Despite this, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s team was able to determine

Jupiter’s moon Io is like no other place in the Solar System. It is a world of chaos and violence, where volcanoes continuously spew molten rock into the air. With over 400 active volcanoes, Io is a seething cauldron of activity, unlike anything seen on Earth. NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently made two close flybys of

In the quest for extraterrestrial life, scientists are aware that they may have to search for organisms in vastly different environments from those found on Earth. While our planet is dominated by green, chlorophyll-based plant life, other types of life forms may exist elsewhere in the universe. Researchers are particularly interested in the possibility of

The atmosphere of a planet is a delicate balance, and without a protective barrier, some of it is bound to escape into space. Earth, for example, loses about 90 tonnes of atmospheric material every day. This phenomenon gives us clues about the evolution of other planets in our solar system. Venus, once thought to be

Pluto, the distant dwarf planet in our solar system, is home to a striking feature known as the “heart,” a bright valentine-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio. This unique formation has puzzled scientists for years, and the most likely scenario for its origin involves a dramatic collision with a planetary body over 400 miles wide. A

NASA embarked on an ambitious mission to Mars with the Perseverance rover, aiming to collect samples from the red planet for analysis. The US$2.4 billion mission landed the rover in Jezero Crater, a site believed to be rich in ancient geological formations that could hold clues to the existence of past life on Mars. Perseverance