Astronomy

Quasars provide some of the most spectacular light shows in the universe. However, they are typically exceedingly rare since they are caused by massive astrophysical forces that don’t happen very often. So it came as quite a surprise when scientists found a group of 11 of them hanging on in the same general area, in what appeared to be equivalent to the galactic countryside. A new paper from Yongming Liang and their co-authors at the University of Tokyo describes this finding, which they dubbed the Cosmic Himalayas, and some of the weird astronomical circumstances that place the discovery in context.

Spacecraft violently shake, rattle, and roll on their way into space aboard a giant explosion. Therefore, they must also be tested to make sure they can withstand those forces before getting to their orbit for deployment. One of NASA’s major observatories recently completed part of its trials, with the core portion of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully completing its shock and vibration testing a few weeks ago.

Scientists are constantly finding new ways to look at things, and that’s especially true for objects that represent an outlier of their specific type. Adjectives like “biggest”, “brightest”, or “fastest spinning” all seem to attract scientific studies - perhaps because they’re an easier sell to funding agencies. No matter the reason, that means we typically get a lot of good science on specific objects that represent their particular class of objects well, and a new paper from Ozcan Caliskan from Istanbul University in Turkey hits that nail on the head when it comes to the most massive known white dwarf star.

While randomising a deck of cards gets more difficult as you add more cards, it turns out that the same isn't true for the qubits of quantum computers, which may prove surprisingly useful

While randomising a deck of cards gets more difficult as you add more cards, it turns out that the same isn't true for the qubits of quantum computers, which may prove surprisingly useful

Scientists have found evidence of new brain cells sprouting in adults - a process that many thought only occurred in children

Scientists have found evidence of new brain cells sprouting in adults - a process that many thought only occurred in children

The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in June to stop recommending certain kinds of flu vaccines, a notable shift in vaccine guidance

The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted in June to stop recommending certain kinds of flu vaccines, a notable shift in vaccine guidance

With Superman on its way, we take a look at director James Gunn's incredible slate of sci-fi movies to date.

Want to make the most of your Fujifilm camera? We've rounded up the best Fujifilm lenses, now with expected savings on Amazon Prime Day this July 8.

Spica is a binary star system that orbits over 250 light-years from Earth within the Milky Way.

This close-up view of the United States flag plate on NASA's Perseverance was acquired on June 28, 2025 (the 1,548th day, or sol, of its mission to Mars), by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) imager on the turret at the end of the rover's Mars robotic arm.

These are the best Fujifilm cameras from beginner to professional grade, with some models potentially falling in price on Amazon Prime Day from July 8 to 11.

Single-celled organisms called archaea aren't generally thought to cause human disease, but one species has been implicated in colorectal cancer

Single-celled organisms called archaea aren't generally thought to cause human disease, but one species has been implicated in colorectal cancer

Private lunar landing: How Blue Ghost measured the moon's electric and magnetic fields

The International Space Station and China's Tiangong Space Station will be visible for early risers. Here's how to make a dual sighting.

Both novas will eventually become too dim to see, even under the darkest skies. So catch them while you can!

With the aid of citizen scientists, astronomers have discovered an erupting cataclysmic variable star in a rarely seen evolutionary stage.