Cosmology has had several ground-breaking discoveries over the last 100+ years since Einstein developed his theory of relativity. Two of the most prominent were the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) in 1968 and the confirmation of gravitational waves in 2015. Each utilized different tools, but both lent credence to the Big Bang Theory, which relates to the universe’s formation. However, we still don’t understand a vital part of that formation, and a new review paper by Rishav Roshan and Graham White at the University of Southampton suggests that we might be able to make some headway on our one-second “gap” in knowledge by using our newfound understanding of gravitational waves.
Space News & Blog Articles
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Can an Asteroid's Movements Reveal a New Force in the Universe?
There are four fundamental forces in the Universe. These forces govern all the ways matter can interact, from the sound of an infant’s laugh to the clustering of galaxies a billion light-years away. At least that’s what we’ve thought until recently. Things such as dark matter and dark energy, as well as a few odd interactions in particle physics, have led some researchers to propose a fifth fundamental force. Depending on the model you consider, this new force could explain dark matter and cosmic expansion, or it could interact with elemental particles we haven’t yet detected. There are lots of theories about this hypothetical force. What there isn’t a lot of is evidence. So a new study is looking for evidence in the orbits of asteroids.
Monster black hole is a 'cosmic Michael Myers' killing a star and brutally attacking another
NASA's Chandra X-ray space telescope has spotted the cosmic serial killer that, like Michael Myers, is back for a sequel, killing a star and attacking a second star with its remains.
Signed steel beams 'top off' L.A. home for space shuttle Endeavour
The new home of NASA's retired space shuttle Endeavour, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, has reached new heights and the California Science Center is celebrating with a "topping off" ceremony.
4 must-see Jupiter movies to help you prepare for NASA's Europa Clipper mission
Journey to Jupiter and Europa with four sci-fi films centered around the Jovian system ahead of NASA's Europa Clipper mission.
Why NASA is sending the Europa Clipper to search for aliens near Jupiter
In the coming weeks, NASA's Europa Clipper will take off on a long journey to Jupiter's moon Europa. The icy moon could potentially host alien life — and there's only one way to find out.
Zero Debris Charter goes intercontinental
Image: Zero Debris Charter goes intercontinental
Mars orbiters spy 'cryptic terrain' near planet's icy south pole (photos)
Europe's Mars Express and Trace Gas Orbiter missions captured a variety of cryptic surface features poking through melting ice across the Red Planet's south pole as spring hit the region.
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch NASA’s Europa Clipper on Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket stands in launch position in preparation of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, which is set to launch on Oct. 14, 2024. Image: SpaceX
Hot on the heels of its successful mid-air booster catch during its Sunday Starship Flight 5 mission, SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center around lunchtime on Monday.
Revolutionising crisis response in Europe with Safeplace
In an era where natural disasters and emergencies are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, ESA is taking a significant step forward in enhancing Europe's crisis management capabilities.
ESA to build first in-orbit servicing mission with D-Orbit
ESA has taken another important step on the road towards sustainability in space with its first in-orbit servicing mission RISE. A €119 million contract was signed with D-Orbit as the co-funding prime contractor.
James Webb Space Telescope wins 'race against time' to directly observe young exoplanet
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope had to race against time to image a young exoplanet before it disappeared for a decade.
Hera’s first images offer parting glimpse of Earth and Moon
ESA’s Hera mission for planetary defence has taken its first images using three of the instruments that will be used to explore and study the asteroids Dimorphos and Didymos.
NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter: Live updates
See the latest updates for the launch of NASA's Europa Clipper to Jupiter's icy moon here.
What time will SpaceX launch NASA's Europa Clipper to icy Jupiter moon today (and how to watch online)?
NASA's first mission to another ocean world in our solar system will launch toward Jupiter today (Oct. 14), but if you want to watch it live, you'll need to know when to tune in.
New Research Could Help Resolve the “Three-Body Problem”
Perhaps you’ve heard of the popular Netflix show and the science fiction novel on which it is based, The Three-Body Problem, by Chinese science fiction author Liu Cixin. The story’s premise is a star system where three stars orbit each other, which leads to periodic destruction on a planet orbiting one of them. As Isaac Newton described in his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, the interaction of two massive bodies is easy to predict and calculate. However, the interaction of three bodies leads is where things become unpredictable (even chaotic) over time.
SpaceX pulls off mid-air launch pad capture of descending Super Heavy booster
Super Heavy Booster 12 returns to the pad it launched from just seven minutes earlier. Image: Adam Bernstein / Spaceflight Now.
In one of the most dramatic, high-risk space flights to date, SpaceX launched a gargantuan Super Heavy-Starship rocket on an unpiloted test flight Sunday and then used giant “mechazilla” robot arms on the pad gantry to pluck the returning first stage out of the sky in an unprecedented feat of engineering.
Webb Observations Shed New Light on Cosmic Reionization
The “Epoch of Reionization” was a critical period for cosmic evolution and has always fascinated and mystified astronomers. During this epoch, the first stars and galaxies formed and reionized the clouds of neutral hydrogen that permeated the Universe. This ended the Cosmic Dark Ages and led to the Universe becoming “transparent,” what astronomers refer to as “Cosmic Dawn.” According to our current cosmological models, reionization lasted from 380,000 to 1 billion years after the Big Bang. This is based on indirect evidence since astronomers have been unable to view the Epoch of Reionization directly.
SpaceX’s Mechazilla Catches a Starship Booster on First Try
For the first time ever, SpaceX has followed through on a Starship test launch by bringing back the Super Heavy booster for an on-target catch in the arms of its “Mechazilla” launch-tower cradle in Texas.
SpaceX catches giant Starship booster with 'Chopsticks' on historic Flight 5 rocket launch and landing (video)
SpaceX launched its enormous Starship rocket for the fifth time ever today (Oct. 13), on a dramatic test flight that featured a mid-air catch of the first-stage Super Heavy booster.
