Astronomy
The Remarkable Emptiness of Existence
Early scientists didn’t know it, but we do now: The void in the universe is alive.
Top 10 Underrated Astronomy Papers of 2022
There was a lot more to this year than stunning images.
Brightest-Ever Space Explosion Reveals Possible Hints of Dark Matter
A recent gamma-ray burst known as the BOAT—“brightest of all time”—appears to have produced a high-energy particle that shouldn’t exist. For some, dark matter provides the explanation.
Should We Really Be Messing with Asteroid Orbits?
With one small error or manipulation, cosmic interference would spell disaster.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Our Solar System’s Demise
First the oceans boil off. Then things really get serious.
A Mirror of Our Best Selves
An astrobiologist annotates what we are seeing in this James Webb Space Telescope image.
This Planetary Scientist Is Always Reaching for Something Big
Persistence, says Lindy Elkins-Tanton, has led to her success in science.
Gravitational Waves Continue to Astound
Seven years after their discovery, the ripples in spacetime have opened new windows on the universe’s deepest secrets.
Were It Not for Cosmic Good Fortune, We Wouldn’t Be Here
Why Earth wasn’t swept into the dustbin of space.
The Real Impact of Meteorites on Earth
Life as we know it was seeded by rocks from outer space.
Four Years On, New Experiment Sees No Sign of “Cosmic Dawn”
When astronomers tried to confirm a signal from the birth of the first stars after the Big Bang, they saw nothing.