The odd celestial couple consists of a big, hot star, more than 10 times larger than our Sun, and a small compact white dwarf, with a mass similar to our star. Only a handful of these systems have been found so far. And this the first time…
Category: 2. Space
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‘Out of science fiction’: First 3D observations of an exoplanet’s atmosphere reveal a unique climate
Astronomers have peered through the atmosphere of a planet beyond the Solar System, mapping its 3D structure for the first time. By combining all four telescope units of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), they…
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A weird ice that may form on alien planets has finally been observed
A strange type of ice thought to dwell deep in the oceans of alien planets has finally been proven to exist.
For the first time, researchers have directly observed a sort of hybrid phase of water called plastic ice, which forms at…
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Deposits found on a nearby asteroid point to salty water in the outer Solar System
Asteroids that orbit close to the Earth inevitably cause us some anxiety due to the even remote possibility of a collision. But their proximity also offers ample opportunities to learn more about the universe. Ryugu, a 900-meter diameter asteroid…
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‘Game changing’ release of Type Ia Supernovae data may hold key to the history of the Universe
A unique dataset of Type Ia Supernovae being released today could change how cosmologists measure the expansion history of the Universe.
Dr Mathew Smith and Dr Georgios Dimitriadis from Lancaster University are both members of the Zwicky…
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New research sheds light on using multiple CubeSats for in-space servicing and repair missions
As more satellites, telescopes, and other spacecraft are built to be repairable, it will take reliable trajectories for service spacecraft to reach them safely. Researchers in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in The Grainger College of…
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Fully 3D-printed electrospray engine | ScienceDaily
An electrospray engine applies an electric field to a conductive liquid, generating a high-speed jet of tiny droplets that can propel a spacecraft. These miniature engines are ideal for small satellites called CubeSats that are often used in…
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Curiosity Spots Noctilucent Clouds in Martian Atmosphere
New images, taken over 16 min on January 17, 2025 by the Mastcam instrument on NASA’s Curiosity rover, show noctilucent, or twilight clouds, in the atmosphere of Mars. Sometimes these clouds even create a rainbow of colors, producing…
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Phoenix galaxy cluster in the act of extreme cooling
The core of a massive cluster of galaxies appears to be pumping out far more stars than it should. Now researchers at MIT and elsewhere have discovered a key ingredient within the cluster that explains the core’s prolific starburst.
In a new…
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Understanding Titan’s Interior and History Through Tidal Friction
What can a moon’s tidal friction teach us about its formation and evolution? This is what a recent study published in Science Advances hopes to address as a team of researchers at the University of…
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