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Fast radio bursts: A mystery unfolds
Repeating, short, unpredictable radio bursts left astronomers perplexed. Now they think the bursts were twisted by the extreme environment around a supernova or supermassive black hole.
January 10, 2018
What was that bright flash over Russia?
A flash seen over a wide swath of Russia on January 7 at first caused fears of a U.S. air strike on North Korea. For now, the flash is unexplained.
January 10, 2018
Sun pillar at Frankfort Lighthouse
You might see a sun pillar - or light pillar - extending upward (or downward) from a bright light source. They're caused by ice crystals drifting in Earth's air.
January 10, 2018
Moon, Jupiter, Mars January 10-12
Enjoy great sky scenes on the mornings of January 10-12, 2018, as the moon joins up with the planets Jupiter and Mars in front of the constellation Libra the Scales.
January 10, 2018
Largest known prime number discovered
The new prime number, discovered by a collaborative computer project, is nearly one million digits larger than the previous record prime number.
January 9, 2018
Genetic research reveals secrets of extinct Tasmanian tigers
The most complete genome yet for a truly unique marsupial - the Tasmanian tiger - suggests that, if the tigers hadn't been hunted to extinction, they might still have struggled to survive.
January 9, 2018
New year’s comets
Will 2018 give us a bright comet? There are a couple of possibilities. In the meantime, here are some photos of comets, visible through telescopes, as 2018 begins.
January 9, 2018
Predawn moon near Spica, planets
Still close after their spectacular conjunction on Sunday, the bright planets Jupiter and Mars appear near the bright star Spica and the waning moon Tuesday morning.
January 8, 2018
NASA spacecraft spies electric-blue clouds over Antarctica
These noctilucent, or night-shining, clouds are seeded by debris from disintegrating meteors. They glow electric blue when they reflect sunlight.
January 7, 2018
Ocean plastic killing marine turtles
Hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash - such as plastic ‘six pack’ holders and discarded fishing gear - in oceans and on beaches.
January 7, 2018
