Space Exploration News – Latest Headlines

True identity of mysterious gamma-ray source revealed

Astronomers have shown that a rapidly rotating neutron star is at the core of a celestial object now known as PSR J2039-5617.

February 3, 2021 Read more

An innovative and non-destructive strategy to analyse material from Mars

Researchers propose a method that can be used to characterize samples from the Mars Sample Return mission.

February 3, 2021 Read more

New research on carbon cracks open secrets deep inside exoplanets

Measuring carbon at the highest pressures ever achieved in a laboratory, researchers report first model of carbon structures that may make up planets outside the solar system.

February 2, 2021 Read more

Astronomers spot bizarre, never-before-seen activity from one of the strongest magnets in the Universe

Astronomers have just observed bizarre, never-seen-before behaviour from a 'radio-loud' magnetar - a rare type of neutron star and one of the strongest magnets in the Universe. Their new findings suggest magnetars have more complex magnetic fields than previously thought - which may challenge theories of how they are born and evolve over time.

February 2, 2021 Read more

Astronomers detect extended dark matter halo around ancient dwarf galaxy

Findings suggest the first galaxies in the universe were more massive than previously thought.

February 1, 2021 Read more

SpaceX vs NASA: who will get us to the Moon first? Here's how their latest rockets compare

To enable flights to the Moon and beyond, both NASA and SpaceX are developing new heavy lift rockets: SpaceX's Starship and NASA's Space Launch System. But how do they differ and which one is more powerful?

January 29, 2021 Read more

New concept for rocket thruster exploits the mechanism behind solar flares

A new type of rocket thruster that could take humankind to Mars and beyond has been proposed by a physicist. The device would apply magnetic fields to cause particles of plasma to shoot out the back of a rocket and propel the craft forward.

January 28, 2021 Read more

Precision measurements of intracluster light suggest possible link to dark matter

Faint light from rogue stars not bound to galaxies has been something of a mystery to scientists. The dimness of this intracluster light makes it difficult to measure, and no one knows how much there is. Scientists have made the most radially extended measurement of this light ever, and they've found that its distribution might point to the distribution of dark matter.

January 27, 2021 Read more

When galaxies collide

Models suggest galactic collisions can starve massive black holes.

January 25, 2021 Read more

Magnetic waves explain mystery of Sun's outer layer (w/video)

A theory as to why the Sun's outer atmosphere differs in its chemical make-up from its inner layers has been confirmed by direct observation for the first time.

January 22, 2021 Read more

Solar System formation in two steps

Why are the planets of the inner Solar System dry and rocky, but the outer ones are not? Researchers discovered that a two-step formation process of the planets can explain the chronology and split in volatiles like water and isotope content of the inner and outer Solar System.

January 22, 2021 Read more

Astronomers discover first cloudless, Jupiter-like planet

Astronomers have detected the first Jupiter-like planet without clouds or haze in its observable atmosphere.

January 22, 2021 Read more

Astronomers see whirlwind around possible exoplanet-in-the-making

An international team of astronomers has discovered a whirlwind of dust and pebbles in orbit around a young star. It is possible that a planet is forming in the pebbles.

January 21, 2021 Read more

Cosmic beasts and where to find them

Two giant radio galaxies have been discovered with South Africa's powerful MeerKAT telescope. These galaxies are thought to be amongst the largest single objects in the Universe.

January 21, 2021 Read more

Astronomers estimate Titan's largest sea is 1,000-feet deep

Far below the gaseous atmospheric shroud on Saturn?s largest moon, Titan, lies Kraken Mare, a sea of liquid methane. Astronomers have estimated that sea to be at least 1,000-feet deep near its center - enough room for a potential robotic submarine to explore.

January 21, 2021 Read more

Oldest carbonates in the solar system

A meteorite that fell in northern Germany in 2019 contains carbonates which are among the oldest in the solar system; it also evidences the earliest presence of liquid water on a minor planet.

January 20, 2021 Read more

Mystery of Martian glaciers revealed

Research shows Mars had as many as six to 20 ice ages during the past 300-800 million years.

January 19, 2021 Read more

A 'super-puff' planet like no other

Astronomers discover that the core mass of exoplanet WASP-107b is much lower than previously thought possible for a gas-giant planet.

January 18, 2021 Read more