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Will we know life in space when we see it?

A series of NASA papers lay out strategies to search for signs of life beyond our solar system. They assume that the detection of atmospheric signatures of a few potentially habitable planets may possibly come before 2030.

Jun 26th, 2018

A galactic test will clarify the existence of dark matter

Scientists used sophisticated computer simulations to devise a test that could answer a burning question in astrophysics: is there really dark matter? Or does Newton's gravitational law need to be modified?

Jun 25th, 2018

VLT makes most precise test of Einstein's general relativity outside Milky Way

Using the MUSE instrument on ESO's VLT , researchers first calculated the mass of ESO 325-G004 by measuring the movement of stars within this nearby elliptical galaxy.

Jun 21st, 2018

Nearly 80 exoplanet candidates identified in record time

Search considered successful 'dress rehearsal' for exoplanet hunter TESS.

Jun 21st, 2018

Old star clusters could have been the birthplace of supermassive stars

A team of international astrophysicists may have found a solution to a problem that has perplexed scientists for more than 50 years: why are the stars in globular clusters made of material different to other stars found in the Milky Way?

Jun 21st, 2018

Researchers find last of universe's missing ordinary matter

Researchers have found the last reservoir of ordinary matter hiding in the universe.

Jun 20th, 2018

Hunting molecules to find new planets

An international team of astronomers makes planets visible by detecting molecules on their surface.

Jun 19th, 2018

New tech uses isomeric beams to study how and where the galaxy makes one of its most common elements

A new measurement using a beam of aluminum-26 prepared in a metastable state allows researchers to better understand the creation of the elements in our galaxy.

Jun 18th, 2018

Astronomer captures best ever evidence of rare black hole

New research shows the strongest evidence to date that this middle-of-the-road black hole exists, by serendipitously capturing one in action devouring an encountering star.

Jun 18th, 2018

Distant moons may harbor life

Astronomers have identified 121 giant planets that may have habitable moons.

Jun 14th, 2018

Dust clouds can explain puzzling features of active galactic nuclei

Mysterious features seen in light emitted from active galactic nuclei may be due to partial obscuration by dust clouds, according to new study.

Jun 14th, 2018

A new experiment to understand dark matter

This experiment already provides some improvement in constraining dark matter properties, but even more progress is promised by explorations in the centre of our Milky Way that are underway.

Jun 14th, 2018

New GAIA data reveals mergers in Milky Way

Astronomers have discovered relics of merger events in the Milky Way halo. Five small groups of stars appear to represent mergers with smaller galaxies, while a big 'blob' comprising hundreds of stars appears to be the remnant of a large merger event.