Bedtime Astronomy

H.E.S.S. Telescope Finds New Clues About Invisible Dark Matter

Using more than 500 hours of H.E.S.S. observations of the Milky Way’s center, astronomers searched for gamma-ray signals that could reveal dark matter annihilation. No d

Stars Are Fading Differently Than Scientists Expected

Using the CHARA Array, astronomers studied 31 evolved stars and discovered that their brightness changes across different wavelengths far more dramatically than current m

How Did the Milky Way Form? New Simulations Reveal Its Ancient Origins

New astronomical research is challenging our understanding of both stellar atmospheres and the origins of the Milky Way. Observations from the CHARA Array show that near

Earth’s Center of Mass Is Moving — And Satellites Can Now Track It

Scientists have discovered that Earth’s center of mass is constantly shifting as water, snow, ice, and air move around the planet. Using satellites, GPS data, and improv

New Clues Challenge How We Think Supermassive Black Holes Form

New observations are challenging a long-standing idea about supermassive black holes. Data from thousands of galaxies suggest these giants may grow without violent merger

NASA Targets the Moon’s Underground World

NASA is sending new instruments to the Moon to investigate a possible underground lava tube. The GIMLI mission could reveal what lies beneath the lunar surface while offe

James Webb Reveals Violent Planetary Collisions Around Young Stars

The James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered clues to violent collisions happening around young stars. By studying the dust left behind, astronomers are revealing how the

Where Did Mars Get the Ingredients for Life?

A new map of ancient Mars reveals where rainfall may have concentrated chemical ingredients linked to the origins of life. Scientists say certain regions could hold parti

How the First Stars Transformed the Early Universe

How did the first stars transform the early universe? The MEGATRON project uses powerful cosmological simulations to trace the birth of primordial galaxies, the spread of

The Sun Has a Hidden Magnetic Structure Scientists Can Finally See

A new view of the Sun is revealing that its magnetic canopy is far more intricate than scientists expected. Using the Sunrise-III observatory and its high-resolution SCI

How NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Will Transform Our View of the Universe

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is designed to watch the universe change with an unprecedented combination of sharp images and a huge field of view. By repeated

How Robots Are Helping Telescopes Build Better Maps of the Universe

Modern telescopes use thousands of tiny robotic positioners to target distant stars and galaxies, but mechanical limits can leave surprising gaps in cosmic surveys. Rese

CHIME Detects an Ancient Signal From the Early Universe

The CHIME radio telescope has detected an extremely faint signal from neutral hydrogen billions of years ago, using its own observations rather than relying on traditiona

Euclid Reveals a Mysterious Stellar System 9,100 Light-Years Away

The Euclid space telescope has uncovered an extremely faint stellar system near the Fornax dwarf galaxy. Astronomers are now trying to determine whether it is an unusual

Scientists Find New Clues That Enceladus Could Support Life

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is becoming an increasingly fascinating target in the search for extraterrestrial life. New research suggests that its underground ocean and icy

The Strange Galaxy That Reveals Millions of Years of Cosmic Activity

Astronomers have uncovered an extraordinary radio galaxy stretching nearly four million light-years across. Its unusual structure contains clues to a complex history of

Stanford’s New AI Could Revolutionize Autonomous Spacecraft Navigation

Stanford researchers have developed an AI “world model” designed to help spacecraft navigate and dock autonomously. Instead of following only fixed instructions, the syst

How Supermassive Black Holes Control the Fate of Entire Galaxies

Supermassive black holes may control the growth of entire galaxies. New research shows that narrow plasma jets can travel hundreds of thousands of light-years, reaching t

James Webb Detects Water, Methane and Ammonia on a Surprisingly Cold Exoplanet

The James Webb Space Telescope detected water, methane, and ammonia in the atmosphere of HATS-6 b, a giant exoplanet orbiting a surprisingly small star. Its enormous size

Mars Has a Purple South Pole — Here’s Why

Mars’ south pole is revealing surprising purple, pink, and red landscapes shaped by volcanic minerals, dust, and seasonal carbon dioxide ice. Giant cliffs like Thyles Rup