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an illustration of the horizon of a watery planet with outer space visible in the distance
The universe's water is billions of years older than scientists thought — and may be nearly as old as the Big Bang itself A new study suggests that water first appeared in the universe just a couple hundred million years after the Big Bang — meaning life could have evolved billions of years earlier than previously thought.
A photo of the W-2 space capsule where it landed in Australia.
Saucer-like 'Winnebago' space capsule lands in Australia — marking 1st for commercial space industry Varda Space Industries' W-2 space capsule reentered Earth's atmosphere and touched down in the Australian outback last month, becoming the first commercial spacecraft to land Down Under.
An image of a galaxy
Space photo of the week: James Webb telescope shocks scientists with image of ancient galaxy roaring back to life The James Webb Space Telescope has zoomed in on Leo P, a tiny galaxy with some big things to say about star formation.

Latest about Space

Astronomers discover giant 'bridge' in space that could finally solve a violent galactic mystery

By Jonathan Gilbert published

Scientists have found evidence for a cosmic collision in the Perseus cluster, a group of thousands of galaxies not far from our own.

Astronomy

James Webb Space Telescope finds a wild black hole growth spurt in galaxies at 'cosmic noon'

By Robert Lea published

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have peered into galaxies that existed at cosmic noon to hunt ravenously feeding black holes and bursts of starbirth.

Black Holes

China saves 2 doomed satellites with novel 'gravitational slingshot'

By Matthew Williams published

Chinese engineers have rescued two satellites that were stuck in the wrong orbit using a novel 'gravitational slingshot' method.

Space Exploration

Scientists spot 'dark nebula' being torn apart by rowdy infant stars

By Brandon Specktor published

The National Science Foundation's Dark Energy Camera reveals a stunning glimpse into the 'dark nebula' known as the Circinus West molecular cloud, a region of space that's so dense with gas that light can't escape it.

Astronomy
A photo collage of hundreds of exoplanets

How many planets are in the universe?

By Briley Lewis last updated

We currently know of more than 5,800 planets beyond the solar system, but we've only found the tiniest fraction of the exoplanets that astronomers think lie elsewhere in the universe.

Space
A close-up view of a barred spiral galaxy. Two spiral arms reach horizontally away from the core in the centre, merging into a broad network of gas and dust which fills the image. This material glows brightest orange along the path of the arms, and is darker red across the rest of the galaxy. Through many gaps in the dust, countless tiny stars can be seen, most densely around the core.

Has the James Webb Space Telescope discovered a 'missing' supermassive black hole? (video)

By Robert Lea published

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered "smoking gun" evidence of a hidden feeding supermassive black hole in a distant spiral galaxy.

Black Holes

Space photo of the week: Iconic 'Eagle Nebula' gets a major glow-up on Hubble's 35th anniversary

By Jamie Carter published

One of the Hubble Space Telescope's most iconic images has been reprocessed using the latest techniques.

Astronomy

Can you burp in space?

By Kiona Smith published

Gravity plays a big role in burping, so could an astronaut burp in space?

Space Exploration
an infrared view of a moon showing surface details through the haze of its atmosphere

There's liquid on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. But something's missing and scientists are confused

By Julian Dossett published

Scientists have long known that Saturn's largest moon, Titan, hosts rivers and seas of liquid methane. But it's strangely lacking in river deltas, a new study suggests.

Saturn
a small orb circles a large burning orb while leaving a trail of fire in its wake

Astronomers discover doomed planet shedding a Mount Everest's worth of material every orbit, leaving behind a comet-like tail

By Victoria Corless published

Astronomers discovered a planet that orbits its star so closely that its surface is being scorched into magma and vaporizing into space.

Exoplanets
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