Scientists are developing a proposed technique to use gravitational waves to study the beginning of time. Gravitational waves might provide clues about the state of the very early universe that existed just after the Big Bang. Massive object generate gravitational waves as “ripples” in the fabric of the universe as they move through spacetime. These … [Read more…]
Astronomers formed a new method for predicting solar flares using data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The research team from NorthWest Research Associates identified small flashes in the sun’s corona that could be a precursor for flares. The flashes could indicates when and where the flares occur. They typically occur in the lower layers … [Read more…]
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been busy with observations that included watching stars form in the Small Magellanic Cloud and finding a new exoplanet. NASA released findings from the James Webb Space Telescope’s observations of a region in the Small Magellanic Cloud called NGC 346. NGC 346 is a young cluster of stars … [Read more…]
During an event at NASA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., representatives from NASA and Japan signed a deal for future cooperation in space. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy represented NASA, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in attendance to sign the document. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa signed … [Read more…]
Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen stepped down as the Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the end of 2022. Sandra Connelly is currently filling in as Acting Associate Administrator. The Science Mission Directorate oversees scientific missions in planetary science and astrophysics. It also oversees NASA’s earth science projects. Dr. Zurbuchen took the job of Associate … [Read more…]
A research team represented by Cecilia Chirenti at the 241st meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle demonstrated the value of preserving data from retired scientific instruments by finding evidence of the collision of two neutron stars. The neutron stars fused into a superheavy neutron star that existed briefly before collapsing into a black … [Read more…]
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) returned data that led to the discovery of a second planet in the habitable zone of TOI 700. This star is an M-class red dwarf star about 100 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation Dorado. The newly discovered exoplanet is about 95% Earth’s size, which demonstrates scientists’ increasing … [Read more…]
Comets are small, icy, dusty celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. They are made up of a mixture of water ice, dust, and other volatile compounds, and they are often referred to as “dirty snowballs.” Comets are thought to be remnants of the early Solar System, and they are believed to contain some of the … [Read more…]
NASA has begun construction on a space telescope that is specifically designed to detect asteroids. Called the NEO Surveyor, it will watch for asteroids that might pose a danger to Earth. “NEO” stands for Near-Earth Object. Many near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets might regularly cross Earth’s orbit and could smash into Earth eventually. Most … [Read more…]
The Perseverance Rover dropped the first sample cache to be returned to Earth in a future mission. These tubes are full of Martian rocks and dust that can be analyzed in sophisticated laboratories on Earth. The first cache is in a flat area known as Three Forks. The Perseverance team plans to drop ten of … [Read more…]