Stars

Why do some starburst galaxies mysteriously shut down? New study provides clues

By Paul Sutter Published 25 April 26

A new study suggests that most "post-starburst galaxies" cease star formation because they run out of fuel. But that's not the full story.

These 'interstellar glaciers' could give water to young star systems. Could they support alien life, too?

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 23 April 26

NASA's SPHEREx space telescope reveals widespread water ice in Cygnus X, showing how dust shields molecules in star-forming regions across the Milky Way.

James Webb Space Telescope peers into a dying star surrounded by mysterious buckyballs: 'The structures we're seeing now are breathtaking'

By Elizabeth Howell Published 23 April 26

The James Webb Space Telescope captured the first detailed images of planetary nebula Tc 1, revealing new details of what happens after a sun-like star dies.

This may be the daughter of one of our universe's 1st stars. Scientists call it an 'ancient immigrant'

By Keith Cooper Published 16 April 26

The star is escaping the Large Magellanic Cloud for the Milky Way.

Dozens of hidden star streams found in the outskirts of our Milky Way galaxy

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 5 April 26

Astronomers discovered dozens of stellar streams in the Milky Way using Gaia data, offering new clues about galaxy formation and dark matter.

Pulsars to the extreme: Spinning dead stars found blasting radio signals from the 'edge of their magnetic reach'

By Robert Lea Published 3 April 26

Astronomers have discovered that rapidly spinning extreme dead stars or pulsars push it to the edge, blasting out radio signals from their extremities.

Scientists finally solve century-old mystery of star with unexpected X-ray emissions

By Robert Lea Published 25 March 26

Astronomers have used the XRISM X-ray spacecraft to discover a star being devoured by a stellar companion, solving a mystery that has baffled scientists for over 100 years.

Scientists find 2 'failed stars' that may have a second chance to shine bright — by getting together

By Robert Lea Published 23 March 26

"Failed star" brown dwarfs may get a second chance to shine by colliding and merging to birth a new star.

'At the edge of what we thought possible': Astronomers find extremely rare star from ancient universe

By Robert Lea Published 18 March 26

"Cosmic archaeologists" have discovered an iron-deficient second-generation star, which provides evidence of how ancient stars enriched their successors.

Deep underground, a telescope may soon detect ghosts of stars that died before Earth existed

By Pablo Martinez Mirave Published 15 March 26

With the help of an extremely powerful telescope deep underground in Japan, astronomers may be able to catch a glimpse of ghost particles from long-dead stars.