Researchers have observed the strongest candidate yet for a “microblazar,” a dazzling object whose existence was long predicted but never detected. Observations of microblazars would give astronomers closer views of black holes emitting powerful jets of energy and help them understand how these extreme objects behave. Blazars are some of the most energetic objects in … Read more
Illustration of the hypothetical Planet Nine. Credit: ZME Science. For years, astronomers have wondered whether another enormous planet lurks unseen in the cold darkness beyond Neptune. It sounds silly seeing how astronomers have found thousands of alien planets in the night sky, orbiting planets even thousands of light years away. But the Solar System is … Read more
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers are investigating turbulent planetary systems in which worlds collide violently. This research could shed light on the hypothetical collision between Earth and a Mars-sized planetary body called Theia, which is believed to have spilled matter around our planet that merged to form the Moon billions of years … Read more
Bacterial strainsAll strains and plasmids used in this study are listed in Supplementary Table 1. Gene deletions were constructed by two-step allelic exchange54 following published protocols15. Plasmids were constructed using standard Gibson assembly55 and introduced into P. aeruginosa cells by electroporation. Bacteria were then grown in SOC medium (Corning) for 1 h at 37 °C at 210 … Read more
Do you want to bookmark your favorite articles and stories to read or refer to later? Start your freelance membership today. Join today Already a member? Emergency room visits are known for being long, expensive, and can be scary, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be done without problems. Anyone who has spent time in … Read more
With NASA’s Artemis program returning humans to the lunar environment and private spaceflight companies like SpaceX and Blue Origins ramping up their plans to send humans to Mars, the prospect of humans setting foot on the Red Planet seems more like a reality than ever. But is such a long journey to such an inhospitable … Read more
Elon Musk has acknowledged that early talks with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) could lead the company to its ambitious Terafab semiconductor project, signaling a possible partnership with the world’s leading contract chipmaker. Musk confirmed that the first talks are underway, but that for now they are “just discussions.” There is no confirmation of a … Read more
Earth seems like a troubled place right now, but at least our cosmic environment seems peaceful. But this is not universally true, as explosions, collisions and other dangers lurk in other places and times. In our new research, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, we explore simulated universes to find the friendliest … Read more
You may have seen the Moon block the Sun during a solar eclipse, but have you ever seen what it does to a planet? Early Tuesday (Oct. 6) morning, skywatchers across much of eastern North America will have the opportunity to watch a crescent moon pass directly in front of Jupiter. This rare alignment will … Read more
An ancient crater buried beneath the Oklahoma city of Ames has been discovered to be nearly 100 million years younger than previously thought, connecting it to one of the five major mass extinction events in Earth’s history. The crater, which extends about 16 kilometers (10 mi) in diameter, is buried under 2.7 kilometers (9,000 ft) … Read more