X-ray
After Swirling Around a Black Hole, Matter Just Falls Straight In
The physics surrounding black holes is just plain weird. A gravitational well so strong that not even light can escape…
First Light from Einstein Probe: A Supernova Remnant
On 9 January 2024, the Einstein probe was launched, its mission to study the night sky in X-rays. The first…
It Takes a Supercomputer to Properly Simulate a Neutron Star’s Surface
Neutron stars, the remains of massive stars that have imploded and gone supernova at the end of their life, can…
NASA is Planning to Shut Down One of the Great Observatories to Save Money
The US Government budget announcement in March left NASA with two billion dollars less than it asked for. The weeks…
Chinese Rocket Lofts the Einstein Probe and its “Lobster Eyes”
Any astronomical instrument dubbed “Lobster Eyes” is bound to grab attention. It’s actually unlike scientists to give anything creative names,…
The Milky Way's Black Hole is Spinning as Fast as it Can
Is the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way (SagA*) spinning? And how fast? It's tricky to…
A Collection of New Images Reveal X-Rays Across the Universe
One of the miracles of modern astronomy is the ability to ‘see’ wavelengths of light that human eyes can’t. Last…
What Happens to Their Supermassive Black Holes When Galaxies Collide?
What’s better than two gigantic galaxies swirling into one another until they collide? How about three galaxies swirling into one…
Scientists Have Developed a Way to Make Human Skin More Protected from Space Radiation
Earth is a radiation cocoon. Inside that cocoon, the atmosphere and the magnetosphere keep us mostly safe from the Sun's…
New Research Reveals How Galaxies Stay Hot and Bothered
It's relatively easy for galaxies to make stars. Start out with a bunch of random blobs of gas and dust.…