Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

— Arthur C. Clarke's Third Law

Astronomy

Tattooing may trigger localised damage to the immune system

There is relatively little information on the long-term health effects of tattooing, but a couple of recent studies suggest the art form might trigger prolonged inflammation
Categories: Astronomy

Hunter-gather groups are much less egalitarian than they seem

There is a widespread belief that altruism and equality drive social behaviour in traditional hunter-gatherer societies, but the truth is more surprising and complex
Categories: Astronomy

Quantum experiment settles a century-old row between Einstein and Bohr

Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr had an ongoing rivalry about the true nature of quantum mechanics, and came up with a thought experiment that could settle the matter. Now, that experiment has finally been performed for real
Categories: Astronomy

How Australian teens are planning to get around their social media ban

From legal challenges to lesser-known apps, the teenagers of Australia are already preparing to push back against a law that will see under 16s banned from social media
Categories: Astronomy

Galaxies in the Furnace

APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

An example of violence on a cosmic scale, enormous


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

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APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

What would it look like to plunge into a monster black hole?


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

<p><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod

APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

What's happening in the center of nearby spiral galaxy M77?


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

<p><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod

APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

How typical is our Solar System?


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

<p><a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod

APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

If you could stand on Titan -- what would you see?


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

Moon Games

APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

This is not a screen from


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

The Bipolar Jets of KX Andromedae

APOD - 13 hours 47 min ago

Blasting outward from variable star KX Andromedae,


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

Earth from Space: Singing dunes and mysterious lakes

ESO Top News - 13 hours 47 min ago
Image: This Copernicus Sentinel-1 image features part of the Badain Jaran Desert in northwestern China.
Categories: Astronomy

New Research Could Explain Why Earth has Active Tectonics and Venus Does Not

Universe Today - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 4:30pm

An international team has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the tectonic evolution of terrestrial planets. Using advanced numerical models, the team systematically classified for the first time six distinct planetary tectonic regimes. Their work provides a unified theory on the geological evolution of both Earth and Venus.

Categories: Astronomy

An Adolescent Growth Spurt In Young Stars Helps Giant Planets Form

Universe Today - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 3:48pm

Intermediate mass stars experience periods of rapid growth in their late stages of formation. The growing young star emits more radiation that encourages greater accretion. Rather than depleting their protoplanetary disks and preventing gas giants from forming, the opposite is true.

Categories: Astronomy

CDC Vaccine Panel in Disarray over Hepatitis B Vote

Scientific American.com - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 3:15pm

Members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices seemed confused about a proposed recommendation for the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine

Categories: Astronomy

Lessons from the Past: Responsible Science and Astrobiology

Universe Today - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 3:10pm

In a recent paper, a team of SETI and astrobiology specialists examines four controversial claims about the existence of extraterrestrial life. From these, they present recommendations for scientists and science communicators when addressing future claims of discovery.

Categories: Astronomy

U.S. Man Dies of Rabies after Receiving Infected Kidney Transplant

Scientific American.com - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 3:00pm

A man has passed away after he received a kidney transplant from a person who had died with undiagnosed rabies, according to U.S. public health officials

Categories: Astronomy

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Celebrates 30 Years in Space

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 2:52pm

The groundbreaking mission designed to observe our Sun and its interactions with Earth celebrates three decades in space this week.

The post The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Celebrates 30 Years in Space appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

Scientific American’s Best Fiction of 2025

Scientific American.com - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 2:15pm

The 10 best fiction books of 2025, explore far-off planets, future climate catastrophes and more

Categories: Astronomy

Scientific American’s Best Nonfiction of 2025

Scientific American.com - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 2:15pm

The 10 best nonfiction books of 2025, from the history of replaceable body parts to our AI future

Categories: Astronomy