Latest articles by Paul Sutter
A new study analyzed how NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory might be able to confidently spot biosignatures in the atmosphere of a distant ancient Earth.
Above a certain threshold, galaxies stop growing , no matter how much raw material they have on hand. The question is: what flips the switch?
The universe may have its own version of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and that might be enough to explain dark energy without invoking any new physics at all.
The familiar concept of a planetary core, a small, dense metallic heart we take for granted, may be the exception rather than the rule for exoplanets.
Early galaxies were star-forming machines, gobbling up gas and spitting out stars with a furious intensity. A new model helps explain why things were so different back then.
Astronomers call this "eruptive mass loss," and it's a stellar drama we're still trying to fully grasp.
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.
Our universe is full of mysteries, but few are as perplexing as the dark, tiny galaxies that hover around larger ones like the Milky Way.
What if the mysterious 'Little Red Dots' aren't baby black holes, but rather globular clusters in their messy, glorious formation?
We're just scratching the surface of what the innovative collaboration between human astronomers and AI can unlock.
Extreme exomoons with tidal heating and thick, hydrogen-rich atmospheres may be able to create billions of years of potentially habitable surface conditions.
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, happens to share some truly remarkable geophysical and geological processes with our home planet.
Faint structures play a crucial role in cosmic development, and scientists are only just beginning to grasp their full extent and role in shaping the universe.
New research reveals how quiet galactic engines can help shape entire galaxies.
Interstellar comets are the original cosmic explorers, and by studying their metallic whispers, we are learning the secrets of worlds we may never see directly.
Astronomers witnessed a star emitting as much energy in mere moments as our sun puts out in a few months. The dramatic observation gives a direct look into the brutal physics of these stellar events.
There may not be as nearly as many small galaxies in the early universe as astronomers predict there should be, which has big implications for the story of how our universe grew up.
For over two centuries, we have watched the red giant R Leonis dim and brighten with regularity, but this 'heartbeat' is beginning to speed up near the end of the star's life.
At first glance, it seems like our understanding of physics forbids free will.
Searches for dark matter particles have come up empty so far, driving theorists to get more creative with their ideas.
The axion could be a contender to explain the mystery of dark matter.
Does the universe notice that we're paying attention to a quantum experiment? The answer goes against everything we thought we knew.
