Astronomers spy cosmic bubbles and bow shocks

Professional astronomers and citizen scientists have been combing through a region of our galaxy where cosmic bubbles are being inflated by wind and radiation from young, massive stars. Hundreds to thousands of stars may emerge from each bubble, in time.

Shapeshifting robots for Saturn’s moons

NASA is testing a 3D-printed prototype of unusual mini robots that can roll, fly, float and swim, then morph into a single machine. They're called Shapeshifters. The team envisions them as a way to explore Saturn's moons.

This giant exoplanet shouldn’t exist, but it does

As the number of newly discovered exoplanets - planets orbiting distant suns - continues to rise, so do unexpected surprises. Scientists say that giant exoplanet GJ 3512b shouldn't even exist around its tiny star, but it does.

Astronomer probes idea of ET ‘lurkers’

What would an extraterrestrial intelligence need to observe Earth, long-term, from nearby? Materials, a firm anchor, concealment? Earth's co-orbital objects, or quasi-satellites, might be the ideal place to "lurk."

New insights on Venus’ cloud-tops and super-rotation

Why does Venus' upper atmosphere circle the planet in just 4 Earth-days, while the planet itself takes 243 Earth-days to spin once? Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft probed the mysterious "super-rotation" of Venus' clouds.

NASA creates stunning new black hole visualization

For decades, astronomical theorists have told us that a black hole's powerful gravity would warp the space around it. This new visualization from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is the best yet at showing exactly how.

Found: 3 black holes due to collide

Take one minute to watch a video of a system of 3 galaxies - called SDSS J0849+1114 - all orbiting each other a billion light years from Earth. Each galaxy contains a supermassive black hole, which are circling each other, about to collide.

IAU names the 2nd interstellar visitor

The first known interstellar visitor received the official name 'Oumuamua, meaning 'scout.' This one has a less romantic name and one that sets a standard for future discoveries: 2I/Borisov.

Using 3-D models in the search for Mars life

Maps are handy for travel. But what if you're traveling to a place never before visited? For the ExoMars mission, due to launch next summer, scientists have developed new 3-D models of the area to be explored, which may be an old Martian river delta.

Was Venus ever habitable?

Today, Venus is hot, dry ... hellish. But maybe not always. Scientists created 5 new computer simulations of Venus, all with some water coverage. All 5 models showed Venus as stable, temperate and with some water for 3 billion years.

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