Early Images of 3I/ATLAS Provide Clues About Other Solar Systems

On July 1st, 2025, astronomers at NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ALERT) detected the third interstellar object (ISO) to enter our Solar System – 3I/ATLAS. Shortly thereafter, an international team led by researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) published the first scientific paper detailing the early scientific findings on this ISO. Hundreds of hours of observations have … Read more

Ancient Brown Dwarf Reveals Cloud Chemistry Secrets

Deep in space, an ancient brown dwarf nicknamed “The Accident” has revealed the first-ever detection of a molecule that scientists have been searching for in planetary atmospheres for decades. This discovery not only explains why silicon remains hidden in Jupiter and Saturn’s atmospheres, but also opens a window into how the chemistry of our universe … Read more

LIGO Has Become a Black Hole Discovery Factory

Ten years ago, we heard the universe whisper for the first time. On September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) detected ripples in space-time. The signal came from the gravitational waves that had traveled 1.3 billion years to reach Earth, carrying the story of two colliding black holes. This historic moment, predicted … Read more

A Rover To Mine Martian Volcanoes

Different parts of Mars have different advantages and disadvantages when it comes to their available resources, just like Earth. The polar caps are likely the most valuable in terms of their water content, which will be critical to any early stage crewed mission to the Red Planet. But to really unlock the fully potential of … Read more

“Black Hole Stars” Could Solve the Mystery of Little Red Dots

Artist’s impression of a black hole star (not to scale). The cut-out reveals the central black hole with it surrounding accretion disk. What makes this a black hole star is the surrounding envelope of turbulent gas. This configuration can explain what astronomers observe in the object they are calling “The Cliff.” (Credit : MPIA/HdA/T. Müller/A. … Read more