To search for alien life, astronomers will look for clues in the atmospheres of distant planets – and the James Webb Space Telescope just proved it's possible to do so

Life on Earth has dramatically changed the chemistry of the planet. Astronomers will measure light that bounces off distant planets to look for similar clues that they host life.

Daniel Apai, Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona • conversation
July 14, 2022 • ~10 min

Astronomers detect a radio “heartbeat” billions of light-years from Earth

The clear and periodic pattern of fast radio bursts may originate from a distant neutron star.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
July 13, 2022 • ~6 min

James Webb Space Telescope: An astronomer explains the stunning, newly released first images

NASA released five new images from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing incredible details of ancient galaxies, stars and the presence of water in the atmosphere of a distant planet.

Silas Laycock, Professor of Astronomy, UMass Lowell • conversation
July 13, 2022 • ~9 min

James Webb Telescope: a scientist explains what its first, amazing images show – and how it will change astronomy

Even experts were not prepared for the crispness of the new images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Martin Barstow, Professor of Astrophysics and Space Science, University of Leicester • conversation
July 12, 2022 • ~7 min

NASA's head warned that China may try to claim the Moon – two space scholars explain why that's unlikely to happen

A comment by Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator, sparked a strong public response from the Chinese government. But due to legal and practical reasons, no country could take over the Moon anytime soon.

R. Lincoln Hines, Assistant Professor, West Space Seminar, Air University, Air University • conversation
July 8, 2022 • ~7 min

If we want to build truly sustainable cities, we need to think about how women use energy and space

My research shows how urban design can make it harder for women in some countries to make sustainable choices.

Rihab Khalid, Research Fellow in Sustainable Energy Consumption, University of Cambridge • conversation
July 8, 2022 • ~8 min

Porosity of the moon’s crust reveals bombardment history

The moon sustained twice as many impacts as can be seen on its surface, scientists find.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News Office • mit
July 7, 2022 • ~7 min

Nasa considers sending swimming robots to habitable 'ocean worlds' of the Solar System

There may be life on Jupiter’s moon Europa or Saturn moon’s Enceladus.

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
July 4, 2022 • ~7 min

Chandra Observatory shows black hole spins slower than its peers

Astronomers have made a record-breaking measurement of a black hole’s spin, one of two fundamental properties of black holes. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory

Cambridge University News • cambridge
June 30, 2022 • ~5 min

New pic sheds light on the death of ‘hypergiant’ stars

Astronomers are working to learn more about what happens when supergiant stars die. A new image has helped them uncover some answers.

Daniel Stolte-Arizona • futurity
June 23, 2022 • ~8 min

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