A Speeding Binary in the Galactic Halo
The recent discovery of a hyper-velocity binary star system in the halo of the Milky Way poses a mystery: how was this system accelerated to its high speed?
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How Bright Can Supernovae Get?
Enormously bright supernovae have been observed in recent years. But is there a limit on the brightness these stellar explosions can achieve?
The Birth of Super-Earths and Super-Puffs
A recent study explores how two types of planets — super-Earths and super-puffs — might form.
Forming Galaxies Without Bulges
A new study seeks to explain how pure disk galaxies — galaxies without a central bulge — were able to form and survive in our universe.
Outlook for Detecting Gravitational Waves with Pulsars
After 10 years of unsuccessful searching, how likely is it that pulsar-timing-array projects will make their own first detection of gravitational waves soon?
Temperature Swings in a Hot Jupiter’s Atmosphere
Recent observations have provided direct measurements of the extreme temperature swings in the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter HD 80606 b.
Simulating Halos with the Caterpillar Project
The Caterpillar Project is a series of high-resolution cosmological simulations designed to teach us about how galaxies like the Milky Way formed and evolved.
Dance of Two Monster Black Holes
Researchers all over the world recently watched an outburst from the enormous black hole OJ 287, predicted years ago using the general theory of relativity.
Where a Neutron Star’s Accretion Disk Ends
New X-ray observations reveal an accretion disk that has been pushed away from the surface of the neutron star it surrounds, possibly as a result of powerful magnetic fields.
Imaging the Heart of Our Galaxy
New radio images of the center of the Milky Way are providing an unprecedented view of the structure and processes occurring in the Galactic center.