Once you can accept the Universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy.

— Albert Einstein

Astronomy

Astronomers discover strange solar system body dancing in sync with Neptune: 'Like finding a hidden rhythm in a song'

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 5:00pm
Astronomers have discovered an object at the edge of the solar system that is locked in a strange rhythmic dance with the ice giant Neptune.
Categories: Astronomy

Newly discovered 'cosmic unicorn' is a spinning dead star that defies physics: 'We have a real mystery on our hands'

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 4:00pm
Two teams of astronomers have simultaneously discovered a strange, spinning dead star that seems to defy our current understanding of both neutron stars and white dwarfs.
Categories: Astronomy

Your chance of having a boy or girl may not be 50/50

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 3:00pm
We commonly think that sperm determines the sex of a child, depending on whether it carries an X or Y chromosome, but a study now suggests that a woman's age is also a factor
Categories: Astronomy

Your chance of having a boy or girl may not be 50/50

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 3:00pm
We commonly think that sperm determines the sex of a child, depending on whether it carries an X or Y chromosome, but a study now suggests that a woman's age is also a factor
Categories: Astronomy

The 2025 Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower is upon us! Here's what you need to know

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 3:00pm
The Southern Delta Aquariids are active alongside the trusty Perseid meteor shower.
Categories: Astronomy

Exposure to microplastic makes animals want to eat it more

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 2:00pm
Over multiple generations, small nematode worms began preferring microplastic-contaminated food over cleaner options, which could have consequences for ecosystem health
Categories: Astronomy

Exposure to microplastic makes animals want to eat it more

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 2:00pm
Over multiple generations, small nematode worms began preferring microplastic-contaminated food over cleaner options, which could have consequences for ecosystem health
Categories: Astronomy

'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds': Jess Bush and Martin Quinn talk feeling comfortable in their characters for Season 3 (exclusive)

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 2:00pm
'I'm trying to make it as realistic as possible, so that a modern day Scottish person could see themselves in space one day.'
Categories: Astronomy

Record-breaking high-altitude shot of sun's surface captured from one of Europe's tallest mountains (photo)

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 2:00pm
"The mountaineer defies gravity; the astronomer looks up. Both seek to reach the unreachable."
Categories: Astronomy

Hubble Snaps Galaxy Cluster’s Portrait

NASA Image of the Day - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 1:24pm
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the galaxy cluster Abell 209.
Categories: Astronomy, NASA

Ranching and farming have eroded almost all the soil in the Alps

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 1:00pm
Grazing livestock and farming over the past 4000 years have rapidly accelerated the rate of soil loss in the Alps, jeopardising the ecosystem and putting the mountains at risk of further erosion
Categories: Astronomy

Ranching and farming have eroded almost all the soil in the Alps

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 1:00pm
Grazing livestock and farming over the past 4000 years have rapidly accelerated the rate of soil loss in the Alps, jeopardising the ecosystem and putting the mountains at risk of further erosion
Categories: Astronomy

Tests that AIs Often Fail and Humans Ace Could Pave the Way for Artificial General Intelligence

Scientific American.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 1:00pm

Discover why some puzzles stump supersmart AIs but are easy for humans, what this reveals about the quest for true artificial general intelligence—and why video games are the next frontier

Categories: Astronomy

Space station astronauts bid farewell to private Ax-4 crew | On the ISS this week July 14-18, 2025

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 1:00pm
The Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 crews wrapped up their time together as science and maintenance activities continued aboard the International Space Station.
Categories: Astronomy

Federal Chancellor of Austria welcomed to ESA Headquarters

ESO Top News - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:55pm
Image:

On Friday 18 July, His Excellency Christian Stocker, Federal Chancellor of Austria, visited ESA Headquarters in Paris receiving a tour of the site from Director General Josef Aschbacher.

It was the Chancellor’s first visit to an ESA establishment following his swearing in earlier this year. Visiting the Astrolabe interpretive centre, Mr Stocker saw how Austria’s participation in ESA contributes to the goals of sustainable development and scientific excellence, and also heard how commercial space has undergone rapid development in Austria. He was accompanied by the Austrian ambassador to France, Barbara Kaudel-Jensen.

Austria became ESA’s 12th Member State when it ratified the ESA Convention in December 1986 and while always strongly committed to Earth observation and space applications, Austria has recently diversified its space interests, becoming more involved in launchers, navigation and human and robotic exploration. Austrian Carmen Possnig was selected as a member of ESA’s astronaut reserve in 2022 and will commence her second phase of training in the autumn. Carmen joined the visit and enthusiastically answered questions from the assembled Austrian media.

As part of Austria's innovation community, the ESA PhiLab opened last year and has a current call for proposals open until 8 October. Just last month, Austria hosted the Living Planet Symposium, which brought together 6500 members of the Earth observation community to present scientific results and plan future activities. It was supported by a citywide 'Space in the City' festival in Vienna, organised by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH (UIV) and demonstrating the everyday connections between citizens and space.

Categories: Astronomy

Laws of quantum physics may rule out a universe that came before ours

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:26pm
Instead of the big bang, some physicists have suggested that our universe may have come from a big bounce following another universe contracting – but quantum theory could rule this out
Categories: Astronomy

Laws of quantum physics may rule out a universe that came before ours

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:26pm
Instead of the big bang, some physicists have suggested that our universe may have come from a big bounce following another universe contracting – but quantum theory could rule this out
Categories: Astronomy

Obesity may come in 11 different types, each with their own cause

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:00pm
Obesity could exist in many forms, which may benefit from different treatments and prevention strategies
Categories: Astronomy

Obesity may come in 11 different types, each with their own cause

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 12:00pm
Obesity could exist in many forms, which may benefit from different treatments and prevention strategies
Categories: Astronomy

Meteor impact may have triggered massive Grand Canyon landslide 56,000 years ago

Space.com - Fri, 07/18/2025 - 11:39am
A meteorite impact thousands of years ago may have triggered a landslide in the Grand Canyon and reshaped the Colorado River that runs through the national park.
Categories: Astronomy