Posts by 

Paul Scott Anderson

Famous, rare ‘pinwheel death star’ isn’t a threat after all

A new study from the Keck Observatory confirms that 2 massive stars in the pinwheel death star won't send a gamma-ray burst toward Earth after all.

See colorful giant exoplanets in astonishing new Webb images

NASA's Webb space telescope has obtained stunning new images of 5 young and colorful giant exoplanets. All of them have carbon dioxide-rich atmospheres.

Rare Kuiper Belt triplet might be one of many

Is Altjira a Kuiper Belt triplet system? Astronomers thought there were 2 rocky objects close together. But new Hubble and Keck observations suggest it's 3.

Life on Mars? Odd rings and spots tantalize scientists

Two new science papers make the case that "leopard spot" and "poppy seed" features in an ancient river rock might be the long-sought evidence for life on Mars.

Exciting! 4 new mini-Earth exoplanets at nearby star

Astronomers have confirmed 4 mini-Earth exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star, a red dwarf and the closest single star to our solar system.

Remains of destroyed planet found lurking in Helix Nebula

Mysterious X-ray signals coming from the Helix Nebula most likely originate from the debris of a destroyed planet near a white dwarf star, a new study suggests.

New map of Andromeda galaxy and its colossal ecosystem

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new bird's-eye view and 3D map of the Andromeda galaxy and its ecosystem of 36 dwarf satellite galaxies.

Enormous rogue super-Jupiter is a surprisingly complex world

New observations by Webb of rogue super-Jupiter SIMP 0136 show that its atmosphere is more complex than thought, explaining its variations in brightness.

Why Mars is red … and the exciting possibilities for life

Are we wrong about why Mars is red? An iron oxide called ferrihydrite might be responsible. If so, this also further supports ancient Mars being habitable.

Vacation-style beaches on Mars? New evidence for lost ocean

Were there once sunny, sandy beaches on Mars? A new study of data from China's Zhurong rover says yes. They were the shorelines of a now long-lost ocean.