Giant cosmic ‘sandwich’ is the largest planet-forming disk ever observed — Space Photo of the Week
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the largest planet-forming disk ever observed around a young star. (Image credits: NASA, ESA, STScI, Kristina Monsch (CfA), Image processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)) simple facts What it is: IRAS 23077+6707, the largest planet-forming disk ever observed Location: Cepheus constellation, 978 light years away Share date: December 23, 2026 The […]
What is the world’s oldest river?
Rivers may seem as old as hills, but like anything else in nature, they have a life cycle. Many grow, leaving a meandering mark on the landscape, and eventually die. However, some rivers last longer than others. So which is the oldest river in the world today? The winner is older than the dinosaurs. Australia’s […]
Unusual ‘Platypus Galaxy’ discovered with James Webb Telescope could challenge our understanding of galaxy formation
A new category of cosmic objects called “Platypus galaxies” defies explanation. These nine strange cosmic objects discovered in archival data from the James Webb Space Telescope cannot be easily characterized by their features. Although they are small and compact, they are likely not active supermassive black holes or quasars, massive black holes that shine as […]
This week’s science news: Runaway black holes, human ancestors discovered in Casablanca caves, vaccine schedule cuts
This week’s science news is full of discoveries from the world’s best telescopes, with the James Webb Space Telescope confirming the existence of a runaway supermassive black hole escaping from its host galaxy at 2.2 million miles per hour (3.6 million km per hour). This black hole leaves an astonishing contrail of stars in its […]
Dionysus and his erect penis depicted on a 2,500-year-old bone needle discovered in Sicily
Archaeologists in southern Sicily have discovered an ancient bone tool depicting the god Dionysus and his erect phallus. Intricate workmanship dates the artifacts to the 5th century BC, when the island was a Greek colony. “This needle represents a unique example in the archaeological context of its time,” Daniela Vullo, head of the Cultural and […]
Why doesn’t stomach acid burn through our stomachs?
If you feel like throwing up or have acid reflux, you may feel a burning sensation as the acid escapes into your esophagus. But if stomach acid is strong enough to irritate the lining of your throat, why doesn’t it pass through your stomach? The human stomach has evolved to create and withstand extremely corrosive […]
China’s ‘artificial solar’ reactor breaks key fusion limit – one step closer to near-limitless clean energy
China’s fusion reactor, dubbed the “artificial sun,” has significantly surpassed the fusion limit by firing plasma beyond its normal operating range, advancing humanity’s slow progress toward near-limitless clean energy. According to a statement released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Advanced Superconducting Tokamak Experimental Device (EAST) has stabilized plasma, the high-energy fourth state of […]
Fossils suggest Homo erectus was not the first human to leave Africa 1.8 million years ago
Early ancestral members of the human lineage may have left Africa earlier than widely thought, a new study of fossil teeth suggests. Modern humans, Homo sapiens, are the only extant member of the genus Homo, which is thought to have originated in Africa about 2 to 3 million years ago and first left the African […]
The giant sunspot that sparked the recent solar ‘superstorm’ triggered nearly 1,000 flares and a secret X-rated explosion, a record-breaking study reveals
A record-breaking study of the giant sunspot that caused Earth’s largest geomagnetic storm in more than two decades has revealed surprising new details about the explosive dark region. This monster sunspot triggered nearly 1,000 solar flares in just over three months, and may have discreetly triggered the most powerful explosion of the current solar cycle. […]
Unreleased footage captures the moment a new species of giant anaconda was discovered in the Amazon
In 2024, scientists announced the discovery of a new species of anaconda in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Now, in a new nature series, filmmakers have released shocking, never-before-seen footage of a snake encounter in the wild. The film transports viewers to the Vaihueri Huaorani region of the Amazon rainforest. There, in 2022, researchers were sampling anacondas […]