Planets May Have More Time to Form Than Previously Thought
A new study loosens the constraints on planet formation, suggesting that most protoplanetary disks stick around for at least 5 million years.
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A Disruptive New Way to Form Galactic Center Stars
How did the stars at the center of our galaxy attain their curious arrangement? A new theory suggests that a shredded star paved the way for new stars to form in a narrow disk.
A NICER View of a Bursting X-ray Binary
Researchers analyze 51 X-ray bursts from a neutron star snaring material from its stellar companion, forming one of the most active low-mass X-ray binaries known.
A Supernova Hits a Cosmic Speed Bump
In 2021, astronomers saw a star explode, then watched as its remains strangely changed colors. A recent study suggests an explanation for this behavior: the remnants hit a speed bump.
One After Another: The Effect of Repeated Coronal Mass Ejections
Does a massive explosion of solar plasma — a coronal mass ejection — move through the solar system differently if other explosions preceded it?
Under Pressure: A New Technique for Measuring Gas Surface Density
Deducing the mass of the gas in a protoplanetary disk is notoriously tricky. In this study, a team develops and deploys a new technique to tackle the challenge.
How We Might Spot Biosignatures in the Solar System
Researchers test an instrument’s ability to detect a certain class of biosignature molecules, potentially providing a way to detect life in the hidden oceans of icy solar system moons.
Five Snippets of Supernova Science
What’s the latest in the field of supernova research? Five recent articles tackle different aspects of these exploding stars.
Researchers Find Hot, Dense Water Vapor in a Protoplanetary Disk
Astronomers speculate on the origins of water emission lines in the spectrum of VV Corona Australis A.
Does What a Black Hole Eats Affect Its Appearance?
When supermassive black holes gulp down gas, the superheated gas shines across the electromagnetic spectrum. Could the composition of this gas affect the radiation we observe?