“...all the past is but a beginning of a beginning, and that all that is and has been is but the twilight of dawn.”

— H.G. Wells
1902

Astronomy

Defining Life With Constants From Physics

Universe Today - Sat, 09/27/2025 - 2:58am

What is the meaning of life? Even the best of us couldn’t hope to answer that question in a universe today article. But there are those who would try to “constrain” it, at least in terms of physics. A new paper from Pankaj Mehta of Boston University of Jané Kondev of Brandeis that was recently pre-published on arXiv looks at how the fundamental constants of physics might be applied to life as we know it - and even life as we don’t know it yet. Their idea doesn't necessarily give the answer to the ultimate question, but it does tie two seemingly disparate fields nicely together.

Categories: Astronomy

Finding Exomoons Using Their Host Planet's Wobble

Universe Today - Sat, 09/27/2025 - 2:58am

Exoplanets aren’t the only objects floating around other stars - they likely have comets and asteroids as well. Even some of the exoplanets themselves will have “exomoons”, at least according to our current understanding of the physics of planetary formation. However, we have yet to find any of these other objects conclusively, though there has been some hint at the presence of exomoons in the last ten years. A new paper from astronomers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO), recently pre-published on arXiv, suggests a way in which we might be able to finally detect the presence of an exomoon - using a technique that is also commonly used to find exoplanets themselves.

Categories: Astronomy

The Search for Australia's Hidden Impact Crater

Universe Today - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 11:08pm

A team of scientists in south Australia have discovered tiny pieces of glass that tell the story of a catastrophic event that happened 11 million years ago, an asteroid impact so massive it should have left a crater the size of a major city, yet mysteriously, no one has found it. This discovery represents only the sixth known tektite field ever identified on Earth. The glassy fragments, scattered across the landscape are forcing scientists to reconsider what they know about ancient asteroid impacts and the geological features they leave behind.

Categories: Astronomy

Hurricane Humberto and Potential Tropical Storm Imelda Complicate Forecasts

Scientific American.com - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 5:20pm

Hurricane Humberto and a system that may become Tropical Storm Imelda in the coming days are swirling quite close to each other in the western Atlantic Ocean

Categories: Astronomy

Water Worlds Might Be Few and Far Between

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 4:09pm

Primordial chemistry might destroy most of the water on sub-Neptunes; if so, there could be far fewer “water worlds” than previously thought.

The post Water Worlds Might Be Few and Far Between appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

NIH Funds New Autism Studies on Genes and Environment as Trump Focuses on Tylenol

Scientific American.com - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 2:30pm

The National Institutes of Health is investing $50 million into research on genetic and environmental factors underlying autism—news that was eclipsed by President Donald Trump’s recent controversial claims about acetaminophen

Categories: Astronomy

Lung inflammation may make traumatic events harder to forget

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 2:00pm
Severe lung inflammation has been linked to symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder in mice, which could help us better treat and prevent the mental health condition
Categories: Astronomy

Lung inflammation may make traumatic events harder to forget

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 2:00pm
Severe lung inflammation has been linked to symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder in mice, which could help us better treat and prevent the mental health condition
Categories: Astronomy

Novels with a certain structure are more likely to be classics

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 1:00pm
Novels need a gripping story to stay popular as the decades pass, but it seems that other less-obvious factors may also contribute to their lasting success
Categories: Astronomy

Novels with a certain structure are more likely to be classics

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 1:00pm
Novels need a gripping story to stay popular as the decades pass, but it seems that other less-obvious factors may also contribute to their lasting success
Categories: Astronomy

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 26 – October 5

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 1:00pm

The waxing crescent Moon crosses Scorpius on its way to a meetup with Saturn, while the Moon's own sunrise line unveils more and more lunar lands for telescopes.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 26 – October 5 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

NASA's VIPER Mission Has Found Another Ride to the Moon

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:58pm

VIPER, a water-seeking rover, has gotten a new lease on life, with a new launch vehicle and lander announced by NASA.

The post NASA's VIPER Mission Has Found Another Ride to the Moon appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

Golden Lake

NASA Image of the Day - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 11:20am
This stunning Earth image taken from the International Space Station looks at a large lake in eastern Kazakhstan with golden sunglint: Lake Balkhash. It is one of the largest lakes in Asia and is the 15th largest lake in the world.
Categories: Astronomy, NASA

Did a star blow up and hit Earth 10 million years ago?

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 10:09am
There are signs deep beneath the Pacific Ocean that an exploding star once sent cosmic rays blasting out towards Earth, and now we have an idea of which stars may be to blame
Categories: Astronomy

Did a star blow up and hit Earth 10 million years ago?

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 10:09am
There are signs deep beneath the Pacific Ocean that an exploding star once sent cosmic rays blasting out towards Earth, and now we have an idea of which stars may be to blame
Categories: Astronomy

Week in images: 22-26 September 2025

ESO Top News - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 9:10am

Week in images: 22-26 September 2025

Discover our week through the lens

Categories: Astronomy

Babies' brains 'tick' more slowly than ours, which may help them learn

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 9:00am
The rhythm of an infant's brain activity seems to put them in constant learning mode, whereas that of an adult may allow them to retrieve conceptual knowledge
Categories: Astronomy

Babies' brains 'tick' more slowly than ours, which may help them learn

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 9:00am
The rhythm of an infant's brain activity seems to put them in constant learning mode, whereas that of an adult may allow them to retrieve conceptual knowledge
Categories: Astronomy

Atmospheric chaos has sent temperatures soaring in Antarctica

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 8:00am
Stratospheric temperatures in Antarctica are spiking, which could see strange weather unfold across the southern hemisphere in the coming months
Categories: Astronomy

Atmospheric chaos has sent temperatures soaring in Antarctica

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 09/26/2025 - 8:00am
Stratospheric temperatures in Antarctica are spiking, which could see strange weather unfold across the southern hemisphere in the coming months
Categories: Astronomy