Physics & the Universe
-
Western Australia Is Helping NASA Bring Home a Cosmic Data Flood
A successful test at New Norcia connects Western Australia to Roman’s planned 1.4-terabyte daily science haul, alongside stations in Japan and New Mexico.
-
Hubble Is Waiting for a Star’s Explosion to Reappear
The star does not need to explode twice. A massive galaxy cluster can send the light from one event along different routes, making the explosion appear again.
-
Mars Keeps Revealing a Wetter, More Complicated Past
Rocks beside an ancient Martian lake preserve more than a single watery chapter. A new study traces a changing history of groundwater, mineral alteration and heat.
-
Scientists Have Caught a Single Quantum of Sound Disappearing
A microscopic vibrating device has revealed a sudden step that everyday sound hides. The result could help researchers detect fragile quantum-state changes.
-
A Camping Trip Search Uncovered a 25-Kilometre Asteroid Scar
A circular feature on a map led to an expedition and evidence of an enormous ancient impact. The story shows what public satellite imagery can—and cannot—prove.
-
Getting Home From Mars Could Depend on Making Oxygen From Thin Air
MIT researchers are exploring another way to extract oxygen from Martian air. Producing it is only part of the challenge; collecting it reliably could be just as important.
-
A Baby Planet Is Growing Faster Than Astronomers Expected
Elias 2-24 b is less than a million years old and already roughly Jupiter’s mass. Its discovery gives astronomers an unusually early look at planet formation.
-
A New Crater Shows the Moon Is Still Taking Violent Hits
A 222-metre crater appeared during the lifetime of NASA’s lunar orbiter. The discovery reveals how a single impact can disturb terrain far beyond the hole it leaves behind.
-
SpaceX Just Won Another $946 Million Vote of Confidence From NASA
Three more astronaut missions underline the strength of SpaceX’s established business. The latest NASA award is about keeping a vital route to orbit running.
-
CERN’s Antimatter Road Trip Kept Every Particle Intact
A truck carried 92 antiprotons around CERN and returned with all of them. The real prize is a quieter place to investigate the Universe.
-
Europe’s Satellites Just Passed a Test Against Fake Navigation Signals
Galileo has demonstrated a new way to check that a position is trustworthy under spoofing conditions. The achievement matters far beyond the blue dot on a phone screen.
-
Starship Flight 14 Aims to Turn SpaceX’s Giant Rocket Into an Orbital Workhorse
SpaceX’s next Starship test targets orbit and 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The crucial advance is not just reaching space, but operating there and returning safely.