Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have unraveled some of the atmospheric secrets of a strange, scorching hot world that has the consistency of a marshmallow. The extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, under JWST’s watchful infrared eye is WASP-17b, located about 1,300 light-years away. The exoplanet has a mass about 0.8 times … Read more
When we look at the Sun, we see a star that shines in shades of yellow, orange and white. Throughout the universe, stars display a range of colors, from deep reds to bright blues, and their hues are determined primarily by their surface temperatures. But what if the stellar palette extends beyond the colors we’re … Read more
A trip to Mars could be one of humanity’s greatest achievements, but the journey may carry a hidden danger that threatens astronauts long after they return home. Scientists warn that exposure to deep space radiation could cause lasting damage to the human heart, raising new concerns about the health risks of sending people to the … Read more
Let’s leave aside the fact that coral reefs are essential sources of marine biodiversity, colorful aquatic oases that feed countless animals along the entire ocean food chain. These reefs are also critical for humans. According to one assessment, the global societal benefits of coral ecosystems – including protected coastal infrastructure, habitats that support commercial fishing, … Read more
The protein catalog offers a dynamic picture of mitochondria, beyond what was known from humans and yeast. Credit: Dr David Furness/Keele University/SPLS Scientists have mapped in unprecedented detail the proteins that make up mitochondria in six organisms (five single-celled parasites and one plant) spanning the eukaryotic tree of life. The findings, described in nine papers … Read more
Astronomers analyzing white dwarf stars have for the first time found a star that would appear green to human eyes, according to a new study. While for most stars, color depends on temperature and is limited to a few shades, white dwarfs, which are the dense remains of Sun-like stars that have died, can shine … Read more
China’s Yunnan province is famous for its mushrooms, but somehow, scientists have just found a new species that has rightly earned the name “king.” Called Dianjunus rex (or D. rex for short), its giant club-shaped fruiting bodies can grow up to 50 centimeters tall, about a foot and a half, or the height of a … Read more
Last week, a lone technician balanced on a ladder, affixing a small camera to the brick wall of the Rieman Chemistry Laboratory at Rutgers University in Piscataway. At the bottom of the stairs, a handful of unopened boxes contained more of the same white, domed cameras, waiting to be installed. Students and staff milled about, … Read more
A project to document endangered mammals in the Amazon has resulted in an incredibly rare video of a baby giant armadillo in the wild. The camera trap that captured the images was installed by Amazon Research International in the Native Community of San Francisco in Loreto, in the Peruvian Amazon. “Giant armadillos are among the … Read more
Mission specialist Christina Koch will have the highest-profile post-astronaut job, at least currently. While she remains at NASA, she will be promoted to acting deputy chief engineer for the entire agency. He will replace the current holder of that position, Katherine Van Hooser, who is retiring after 35 years at NASA. This is a fairly … Read more