top of page
News


Virgo Cluster, JWST has peered into its heart to understand why it appears to have two cores.
Deep in the Virgo Cluster, a small galaxy hides a strange secret. JWST has peered into its heart to understand why it appears to have two cores.
NGC 4486B is a compact elliptical galaxy. To most telescopes, it looks like a simple ball of stars.
But Hubble and now JWST have revealed something baffling: a Double Nucleus. Two distinct peaks of brightness separated by just 39 light-years.
Dec 31, 20251 min read


Ancient salt crystals from Ontario were a sample of Earth's atmosphere from a time before animals
In ancient salt crystals from Ontario, scientists have cracked open a time capsule. Inside was a sample of Earth's atmosphere from a time before animals, revealing a world far more habitable than we imagined.
A billion years ago, a subtropical lake evaporated, leaving behind Halite (rock salt). As the crystals formed, they trapped tiny pockets of brine and air bubbles.
Dec 25, 20251 min read


Is the universe the same in every direction? A new study on the "Cosmic Dipole Anomaly" suggests it might not be
Is the universe the same in every direction? A new study on the "Cosmic Dipole Anomaly" suggests it might not be, threatening the very foundation of modern cosmology.
The Assumption: The "Standard Model" (Lambda-CDM) assumes the universe is isotropic (looks the same in all directions).
Dec 25, 20251 min read


JWST has found Carbon Monoxide behaving in a way never seen before
In a protoplanetary disk 500 light-years away, JWST has found Carbon Monoxide behaving in a way never seen before—glowing hot while spinning cold.
The Target: HD 131488, a young star (15 Myr) with a debris disk.
The Discovery: JWST detected Carbon Monoxide (CO) gas in the inner disk (0.5–10 AU) with a bizarre property.
Dec 25, 20251 min read


New analysis of Cassini data strengthens the case for life on Enceladus
New analysis of Cassini data strengthens the case for life on Enceladus. By looking at "fresh" samples, scientists have found the ingredients for a habitable world.
The Old Data: Most previous studies looked at Saturn's E-Ring. While this ring is made of material from Enceladus, it floats in space for a long time, getting blasted by radiation that alters its chemistry.
Dec 25, 20251 min read


Astronomers have peered into cluster RXC J0032.1+1808 and found a titan in the process of splitting apart
Using the Keck Observatory, astronomers have peered into cluster RXC J0032.1+1808 and found a titan in the process of splitting apart—or rather, coming together.
The Target: RXC J0032.1+1808, a massive galaxy cluster. In optical light (what Hubble sees), it looks like a single, elongated blob of galaxies.
The Reveal: The DEIMOS spectrograph and X-ray data revealed a hidden structure. The cluster isn't one object; it's bimodal.
Dec 25, 20251 min read


Astronomers have found a cosmic needle in a haystack: three galaxies merging
Astronomers have found a cosmic needle in a haystack: three galaxies merging, each hosting an actively feeding, radio-bright supermassive black hole.
The Setup: Three galaxies interacting about 1.2 billion light-years away.
The Problem: Optical telescopes saw the galaxies, but couldn't confirm if the black holes were active. Dust obscured the view, and star formation signals mimicked black hole activity.
Dec 25, 20251 min read


JWST has looked back 13 billion years to watch a massive star die.
JWST has looked back 13 billion years to watch a massive star die. What it found challenges our understanding of the early universe.
On March 14, 2025, a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB 250314A) flashed across the sky. Following the signal, JWST aimed its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCAM) at the source 110 days later.
Dec 25, 20251 min read


New images reveal the violent lives of galaxies.
From the merging dwarfs of the early universe to the stripping of massive spirals in the Virgo Cluster. New images reveal the violent lives of galaxies.
Released Dec 2, 2025, a new James Webb Space Telescope image captures two nearby dwarf galaxies in the act of merging.
Dec 23, 20251 min read


A new study identifies 5 planets, but only one might be safe from the "sandblasting" fury of its star
JWST needs targets. A new study identifies 5 planets, but only one might be safe from the "sandblasting" fury of its star.
We know of over 6,000 exoplanets, but finding one that can support life is a game of elimination.
Most don't have atmospheres.
Most aren't Earth-sized.
New Discovery: A team led by Jonathan Barrientos (Caltech) has confirmed 5 new planets around M-dwarf stars using data from 9 telescopes.
Dec 23, 20251 min read


ALMA has revealed an S-shaped cloud resembling a dancing dragon
Deep in the Milky Way, ALMA has revealed an S-shaped cloud resembling a dancing dragon. It holds the secrets to how massive stars are born.
Researchers studying the massive star-forming region IRAS 19074+0752 found something striking: a 2.8-parsec-long filament bent into a distinct "S" shape.
The structure is divided into two parts: the Northern segment (Fn), which is active and bright, and the Southern segment (Fs), which is dark and quiet.
Dec 23, 20251 min read


New research reveals how "galactic bars" can either fuel life or starve it
A galaxy's destiny isn't written in the stars—it's written by its neighbors. New research reveals how "galactic bars" can either fuel life or starve it.
Many galaxies, including our own Milky Way, feature a massive "bar" structure of stars cutting through their center. For years, astronomers have debated the role of these bars.
Dec 23, 20251 min read
bottom of page