An Explosive Merger … Maybe
Could a pair of faint signals correspond to the first collision we’ve detected of a black hole with a neutron star?
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To Separate Starspots from Planets
Starspots on M dwarfs could be mistaken for planets. How do we distinguish the two?
The Link Between Black Holes and Their Galaxies
The size of a supermassive black hole seems to track with the size of its host galaxy. But is this a statistical fluke, or is there a physical reason for the connection?
Life Finds a Way (Even on M Dwarfs?)
M dwarfs are known to be highly active when they’re young, which is bad for habitability. But what about old M dwarfs? Astrobites reports.
Featured Image: Blob Ejection May Cause Magnetar Bursts
This dramatic simulation shows how the escape of blobs of plasma from a magnetar could produce fast radio bursts.
Feedback from AGN-driven Winds
Are the winds emanating from the active nucleus of a galaxy strong enough to shut off star formation? Astrobites reports.
New Molecules from GOTHAM
What as-yet unidentified molecules lurk in the dark clouds of our nearby universe? Answering this requires observation, experiment, and theory — and GOTHAM is on the case.
Lack of Spacetime Squiggles Limit How Much a Pulsar Can Be Squashed
Just how spherical are neutron stars? Astrobites reports on how we can measure spherical perfection for objects hundreds of light-years away.
Taking Stock of Backyard Worlds
In the census of our solar neighborhood we’re missing a key population: the coolest, dimmest substar dwarfs that lurk nearby. A citizen science project has now tackled this problem.
Different Views of a Fast Radio Burst
What does a fast radio burst look like at different frequencies? And what can that tell us about them?
Forecasting Eruptions of Solar Flares
A new look at hundreds of past solar flares may help us predict when a solar flare will be accompanied by a potentially hazardous ejection of mass.
A Windy Day in the Milky Way
Astrobites reports on how winds in star clusters can drive dramatic turbulence in enormous, expanding superbubbles.