Physics gets weird at the extremes. Astrophysics usually deals with the extremely large – large energies, large gravities, and lots and lots of stuff. Quantum mechanics, on the other hand, typically deals with the extremely small – quarks and other particles that are completely unseen by the human eye. So far, despite decades of trying, no Grand Unified Theory (or any other theory) combines these two opposed theories. This makes it all the more interesting that a team from the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed an idea that the interior cores of neutron stars, one of the most extreme examples of large extremes in the universe, might be made up of a type of tiny particle that makes up part of the “soup” of quantum mechanics called a strange quark.
Space News & Blog Articles
Four Private Astronauts Are Now on the International Space Station
On Sunday, May 21, the 4-person crew of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon, and today, May 22, the private astronaut crew boarded the International Space Station for a scheduled 10-day stay.
The Mercury Space Program
The Mercury space program was the first human spaceflight program of the United States. It was initiated by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in the late 1950s and aimed to put an American astronaut into orbit around the Earth. Here are some key details about the Mercury space program:
Some black holes may actually be tangles in the fabric of space-time, new research suggests
A new paper discusses how light interacts with theoretical objects called "topological solitons" — kinks in the fabric of space-time that look just like black holes.
Astronomers Watched a Fast Radio Burst Go Right Through a Star’s Atmosphere
The universe is filled with things that go flash in the night. That includes fast radio bursts (FRBs). These are brilliant, powerful blips of radio emissions from distant and mysterious sources. Astronomers studying one called FRB 20190520B noticed something fascinating about its signals. They get polarized as they travel outward from the source.
'Prehistoric Planet' Season 2 explores Earth's history with a 5-night Apple TV+ adventure
Apple TV+'s "Prehistoric Planet" thunders into its second season today with more ancient creatures and curiosities from primeval Earth.
NASA's tiny CAPSTONE probe snaps 1st photo of the moon, begins extended mission
NASA's CAPSTONE cubesat has captured its first image of the moon, snapping the lunar north pole as it tested navigation technology similar to GPS used around Earth.
Record-breaking Tonga undersea volcano disrupted satellite signals in space
The January 2022 eruption of a Tonga undersea volcano was powerful enough to generate plasma bubbles that disrupted radio communications in outer space.
See Jupiter's volcanic moon Io glow red-hot in incredible images from NASA's Juno probe
NASA's Juno mission made its 51st flyby of the gas giant planet Jupiter and its moons, catching stunning images of Io, the most volcanic world in the solar system.
How would we decode a message from ET? New project will give us a trial run
A new project called 'A Sign in Space' will give scientists and laypeople around the world practice at decoding a message from intelligent aliens.
Relive SpaceX launch of Ax-2 private astronaut mission with these stunning photos
Stunning images tell the story of the launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket that carried the Ax-2 crew to space on Sunday (May 21).
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is now a Matchbox die-cast model
SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft is landing — on toy store shelves. Matchbox, the classic die-cast toy brand, has released a miniature model of the commercial space capsule.
There's So Much Going on in This Star-Forming Nebula
There are some astronomical images that capture rapturous beauty, with their brilliant colors and interplay of shadow and light. A beautiful image can be enough to stir the soul, but in astronomy they often also have a story to tell. An example of this can be seen in a recent image released by NSF’s NOIRLab.
Bright Supernova Blazes in M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy
A supergiant star exploded as a supernova in the prominent galaxy M101 in Ursa Major. It's now bright enough to see in a 4.5-inch telescope!
'It feels amazing!' Private Ax-2 astronauts thrilled by zero gravity and Earth views after SpaceX launch (video)
The Ax-2 crew, including three first-time astronauts and the first Saudi woman to reach space, shared their reactions after reaching space on their way to the International Space Station.
Anycubic Kobra 2 review: Fast & easy printing for beginners
Anycubic nails the difficult second album with the Kobra 2, a fantastic follow-up and a great 3D printer for beginners.
Instrument to measure asteroid gravity tested for space
The first instrument to directly measure gravity on the surface of an asteroid has undergone testing in ESA’s Mechanical Systems Laboratory.
How Artemis 2 moon astronaut Jeremy Hansen helped find a rare crater on Earth
A surprise crater find in Saskatchewan may pay off big for Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who was on the expedition. He may see a similar crater type on the moon.
Huginn Mission - The Space Messenger
Video: 00:03:54
The name of Andreas’s second mission to the Space Station is ‘Huginn’. Inspired by Norse mythology, the name is taken from one of two ravens who serve the god Odin. Called Huginn and Muninn, these two birds sit on Odin’s shoulders and are sent flying across the world at dawn. They return at night to inform him of the many events they have seen and heard. In Old Norse, ‘Huginn’ means ‘thought’ and ‘Muninn’ means ‘mind’ or ‘memory’.
