Imagine the distance to Alpha Centauri, the closest star to our sun. That distance is four light-years. Now imagine that distance filled with 10,000 of our suns. That's exactly the density of the galaxy discovered by a group of astronomers, including faculty members at Michigan State University.
A research team from the University of Sydney has determined that the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy exploded massively 2 million years ago, and the resulting nebula was thrown 200,000 light-years away. You can see it in the image. This research has revealed that black holes can reach maximum levels periodically and then return to their original state.
Landing on Mars is difficult, but returning to Earth is even more challenging, especially if the Red Planet's explorers catch a cold during the journey. Sick astronauts could contract infections on Mars, especially in areas where life support is available. Earth may be reluctant to welcome such travelers, as they could be carrying a disease that could cause extraterrestrial super-pandemics.
Since the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt in 1958, it was thought to consist of two rings surrounding the Earth: an inner ring of high-energy electrons and energetic positive ions, and an outer ring of high-energy electrons. In February of this year, scientists surprisingly discovered a third ring between the inner and outer rings. […]
The year's best astronomy photo contest, which saw 1,200 entries from 49 countries, has concluded. You can find the top eight photos below. Source: Populer Science - The Prettiest Space Photos of the Year
New studies suggest that Earth will be able to host life for another 1.75 billion years, barring a nuclear holocaust, a meteorite impact, or some other catastrophe. But even without these doomsday scenarios, cosmological forces will eventually render Earth uninhabitable. According to new research, between 1.75 and 3.25 billion years from now, Earth will […]
