Astronomers detect extended dark matter halo around ancient dwarf galaxy
Findings suggest the first galaxies in the universe were more massive than previously thought.
Feb. 1, 2021 • ~6 min
Search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse comes up empty
Results significantly narrow the range of possible places to find the hypothetical dark matter particles.
Jan. 21, 2021 • ~7 min
Designing new mirror materials for better gravitational-wave detection
Nicholas Demos, a first-generation college graduate and MathWorks Fellow in MIT’s Kavli Institute, is improving our ability to listen to the cosmos.
Oct. 28, 2020 • ~7 min
Astronomers discover an Earth-sized “pi planet” with a 3.14-day orbit
The rocky world, with its baking-hot surface, is likely not habitable.
Sept. 21, 2020 • ~7 min
The force is strong in neutron stars
Study identifies a transition in the strong nuclear force that illuminates the structure of a neutron star’s core.
Feb. 26, 2020 • ~10 min
Astronomers use giant galaxy cluster as X-ray magnifying lens
New lens technique spots tiny dwarf galaxy in the first, super-energetic stages of star formation.
Oct. 14, 2019 • ~8 min
Rocky, Earth-sized exoplanet is missing an atmosphere
Study reports on search for an atmosphere around a planet somewhat similar to ours.
Aug. 19, 2019 • ~8 min
TESS discovers three new planets nearby, including temperate “sub-Neptune”
Planetary system orbiting an unusually quiet star is ideal for future habitability searches.
July 29, 2019 • ~7 min
X-ray pulse detected near event horizon as black hole devours star
Pulse pattern suggests distant black hole must be spinning at least at 50 percent the speed of light.
Jan. 9, 2019 • ~9 min
MIT researchers discuss the new "multi-messenger" era of astrophysics research | MIT News
Mavalvala, Evans, Frebel, Katsavounidis, and Vitale discuss the science behind LIGO's observations of a neutron star collision.
Oct. 18, 2017 • ~9 min
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