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Across the universe, dark matter annihilation could be warming up dead stars
By Robert Lea published
Neutron stars could act as gravitational traps for dark matter, forcing these mysterious particles to collide, annihilate and warm up otherwise cold dead stars.
During the solar system's chaotic era, Jupiter may have helped form Earth's moon
By Keith Cooper published
The great planetary instability coincides with the collision that formed Earth's moon — could the two events be linked?
Buried in the Cat's Paw Nebula lies one of the largest space molecules ever seen
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have discovered one of the largest molecules ever seen in space in the Cat's Paw nebula. The discovery hints at how chemical complexity emerges as stars form.
Ancient rocks hold proof of Earth's magnetic field. Here's why that's puzzling
By Keith Cooper published
Earth's ancient magnetic field appears to have had a strength similar to what we see today, and it may have protected ancient life from harmful cosmic radiation.
The mystery of how strange cosmic objects called 'JuMBOs' went rogue
By Robert Lea published
Scientists may have discovered how JuMBOs, strangle binary objects found in Orion, may have gone rogue while staying gravitationally bound. The discovery may shake up theories of planet formation.
Japan's SLIM moon lander defies death to survive 3rd frigid lunar night (image)
By Robert Lea published
Japan's SLIM lunar lander has now survived three week-long nights on the moon, braving temperatures as low as minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit, despite not being designed to last one!
Giant gamma-ray flare from 'recently deceased' magnetar lights up Cigar Galaxy
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a flare erupting from a highly magnetic "dead star" outside the solar system for the first time. The magnetar flare lit up the entire Cigar Galaxy in gamma rays.
Earth got hammered by cosmic rays 41,000 years ago due to a weak magnetic field
By Robert Lea published
Earth's magnetic shield weakened around 41,000 years ago, resulting in increased bombardment of our atmosphere by energetic charged particles called cosmic rays.
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