New research has prompted a rethink of the theory that gaps in planet-forming disks around young stars mark spaces where planets are being created. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/protoplanetary-gas-disks-stars-gaps-newborn-planets4…
Tag: Atom&Cosmos/Astronomy
How NASA has kept Apollo moon rocks safe from contamination for 50 years
NASA wouldn’t let our reporter touch the Apollo moon rocks. Here’s why that’s a good thing. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/nasa-apollo-anniversary-moon-rocks-preservation4…
Moons that escape their planets could become ‘ploonets’
If giant planets in other star systems lose their moons, the freed objects could become “ploonets,” and current telescopes may be able to find them. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moons-escape-their-planets-could-become-ploonets4…
Moonlight shapes how some animals move, grow and even sing
The moon’s light influences lion prey behavior, dung beetle navigation, fish growth, mass migrations and birdsong. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moon-animals-light-behavior-lunar-phases4…
How the 2019 eclipse will differ from 2017’s — and what that means for science
This year’s total solar eclipse is visible late in the day from a relatively small slice of South America. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/2019-total-solar-eclipse-south-america4…
The earliest known galaxy merger occurred shortly after the Big Bang
Telescopes show two distant blobs of stars and gas swirling around each other in the young universe. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/earliest-known-galaxy-merger-occurred-shortly-after-big-bang4…
In a first, telescopes tracked a lone fast radio burst to a faraway galaxy
First-time observations suggest that the cause of one-time fast radio bursts is different from what triggers repeatedly flashing radio bursts. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/telescopes-tracked-fast-radio-burst-faraway-galaxy4…
The cosmic ‘Cow’ may be a strange supernova
New observations suggest the strange bright burst called the ‘Cow’ was a supernova, rather than a shredded star. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cosmic-cow-may-be-strange-supernova4…
Massive superflares have been seen erupting from stars like the sun
Older stars, like the sun, can still send out massive bursts of energy that can be seen from light-years away. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/massive-superflares-have-been-seen-erupting-stars-sun4…
Astronomers may have spotted the ghost galaxy that hit the Milky Way long ago
Astronomers think they’ve identified a galaxy that hit the Milky Way and ruffled its edges millions of years ago. Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ghost-galaxy-milky-way-antila4…