‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ − an astronomer explains how much evidence scientists need to claim discoveries like extraterrestrial life
The universe is filled with countless galaxies, stars and planets. Astronomers may find life one day, but they…
Space travel comes with risk − and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission will push the envelope further than any private mission has before
Spacewalks are among the more dangerous activities associated with human spaceflight. Ignatiev/E+ via Getty Images Chris Impey, University…
Orbital resonance − the striking gravitational dance done by planets with aligning orbits
Planets can gravitationally affect each other when their orbits line up. NASA/JPL-Caltech Chris Impey, University of Arizona Planets…
Why isn’t there any sound in space? An astronomer explains why in space no one can hear you scream
Matter in deep space is very spread out, which makes it impossible for any sound waves to travel.…
Space rocks and asteroid dust are pricey, but these aren’t the most expensive materials used in science
Meteorites can get pricey, but they’re not the most expensive material. AP Photo/Thibault Camus Chris Impey, University of…
AI is helping astronomers make new discoveries and learn about the universe faster than ever before
The sky is big and full of information that AI tools can help astronomers unlock. Yuga Kurita/Moment via…
NASA’s busiest year in decades – an astronomer sums up the dizzying array of missions in 2022
The James Webb Space Telescope began sending its first images back to Earth in the summer of 2022.…
Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable than Earth itself – and astronomers are discovering more of the billions they think are out there
Astronomers think the most likely place to find life in the galaxy is on super-Earths, like Kepler-69c, seen…
To search for alien life, astronomers will look for clues in the atmospheres of distant planets – and the James Webb Space Telescope just proved it’s possible to do so
TRAPPIST-1e is a rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone of a star 40 light-years from Earth and may…
Blasting out Earth’s location with the hope of reaching aliens is a controversial idea – two teams of scientists are doing it anyway
Scientists think there are 300 million habitable planets in the Milky Way, and some may be home to…