Dark energy seems to make up abut 70% of the universe, but it’s also a scientific mystery. Find out how new discoveries from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) may help explain our universe’s history and future.
Category: Universe
Milky Way’s Origins Revealed Using Gaia Observatory
The Milky Way’s origins have puzzled scientists since we first realized it's one of countless galaxies in our universe. Find out how scientists have applied information from the Gaia Space Observatory and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to uncover two of our galaxy’s earliest star streams.
Odysseus Lunar Lander Completes Mission Despite Setbacks
Odysseus is the name of the first American spacecraft to land on the moon in 52 years. Find out how its mission succeeded despite enduring and overcoming some demanding challenges and setbacks.
Black Holes and Galaxies Coexisted In Early Universe
Black holes and galaxies existed together during the first one percent of our universe’s existence. Find out why this upends conventional thinking on how stars, galaxies and black holes formed after the Big Bang.
Artemis II Lunar Mission Postponed by NASA
Artemis II is NASA's planned, crewed mission to return to the moon. Find out why NASA has rescheduled the space flight and the delay’s implications for an eventual crewed lunar landing.
Military Space Plane Launch Risks International Conflict
A military space plane called the Boeing X-37B blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center this week. Find out more about its secretive mission, and why it creates unnecessary tension between the United States and China.
Heaviest Chemical Elements Created by Ancient Stars
The heaviest chemical elements in the universe come from neutron stars. Find out how a new study shows that this process creates heavier atoms than anything we experience on Earth.
Blobs in Earth’s Interior From Ancient Planet
Blobs in the Earth’s interior mantle have been puzzling geologists for decades. Find out how a new study solves the mystery by linking them to an ancient planet that collided with Earth to form the Moon.
Space Junk Particles Detected in Earth’s Atmosphere
Space junk is the debris left behind from spent rocket stages and defunct satellites. Find out why the discovery of space junk particles in the stratosphere has implications for our environment and climate.
Orion Nebula Contains Pairs of Unexplained Objects
The Orion Nebula is one of the most studied areas of star formation in the galaxy. Find out how the new James Webb Space Telescope has revealed previously unknown objects that defy our understanding of how stars and planets form.