Earth, Space & Mathematics
Solar Wind Stirs Mars' Upper Atmosphere, Boosting Ion Loss to Space
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Observations show how solar-wind disturbances heat and reshape Mars' upper atmosphere, increasing the escape of charged particles into space.
Moonquakes Could Reveal Ice Beneath Lunar South Polar Craters
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Researchers propose using seismic waves from moonquakes to detect and map buried ice near the lunar south pole.
Laying Odds on Martian Water Near Future Landing Zones
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Planetary scientists assess the likelihood and accessibility of near-surface water at candidate landing regions for future Mars missions.
Homing In on the X-Ray Sky With eROSITA's Second Data Release
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
The second eROSITA survey release expands the catalog of X-ray sources used to study black holes, galaxy clusters and energetic stellar objects.
ELT Spectrograph Could Sniff Out Biosignatures on Other Worlds
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Researchers evaluate how an instrument on the Extremely Large Telescope could detect atmospheric chemicals associated with life on exoplanets.
Experts Survey Glacier Ice on Mount Ararat for the First Time
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Scientists conducted the first detailed field survey of Mount Ararat's glacier to measure its structure, condition and response to climate change.
A Discarded SpaceX Rocket Is on a High-Speed Collision Course With the Moon
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Orbital calculations indicate that an abandoned rocket stage is headed toward a lunar impact, providing an opportunity to study impact effects.
Ancient Irish Volcano Offers Clues About Modern Active Volcanoes
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Geological analysis of an extinct Irish volcanic system reveals processes that can help interpret present-day active volcanoes.
Japan Probe Made Closest-Ever Asteroid Flyby
Article link | Phys.org / AFP | Phys.org | July 31, 2026
Japan's space agency reports an exceptionally close spacecraft flyby of an asteroid, testing navigation and observation capabilities.
Scientists Discover Rare Super-Jupiter Planet
Article link | Science X | Phys.org | July 8, 2026
Astronomers identified NGTS-38 b, a large planet with an unusually long 180-day orbit for a world discovered by the transit method.
Off-Center Stellar Death Points to Wandering Supermassive Black Hole Stripped of Its Own Galaxy
Article link | Shreejaya Karantha | Phys.org | June 28, 2026
Astronomers studying a tidal-disruption event found evidence that the star may have been torn apart by a wandering supermassive black hole separated from its original galaxy.
NASA Races to Save Swift Telescope From Falling Back to Earth With Daring Rescue Mission
Article link | Marcia Dunn | Phys.org | June 28, 2026
NASA is preparing a rescue mission to raise the orbit of the Swift space telescope before it falls back to Earth, a test that could inform future satellite-servicing missions.
New Millisecond Pulsar Discovered With the Murchison Widefield Array
Article link | Tomasz Nowakowski | Phys.org | June 27, 2026
Astronomers using the Murchison Widefield Array discovered a new millisecond pulsar through the Southern-sky MWA Rapid Two-metre survey.
Venezuela's Double Earthquake Struck Where Two Tectonic Plates Slide Side by Side
Article link | Science | Science | June 26, 2026
Science explains the tectonic setting of Venezuela's double earthquake and how side-by-side plate motion can produce damaging seismic events.
NASA's Cheapest Missions Deliver Less Scientific Bang for Buck, Study Finds
Article link | Mona Patterson | Science | June 26, 2026
Analysis of 90 NASA missions finds that midpriced spacecraft may produce more scientific value per dollar than the lowest-cost missions.
A Single Origin Story for the Milky Way's Most Mysterious Stars
Article link | Sam Jarman | Phys.org | June 26, 2026
Astronomers propose a unified explanation for unusual young stars near the Milky Way's central black hole, offering insight into how such stars formed in an extreme environment.
The Universe Should Look the Same in All Directions at Large Scales, but DESI Data Suggest Otherwise
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 25, 2026
Analysis of DESI data suggests possible large-scale directional differences in the universe, challenging the assumption that the cosmos looks the same in every direction at the largest scales.
The Universe Is Unexpectedly Stringy, Which Could Rewrite Cosmic-Structure Models
Article link | Science | Science | June 24, 2026
Science article reports on findings suggesting the universe's large-scale structure may be more filament-like than expected, with implications for cosmology.
'Fingerprints' of Black Hole's Event Horizon Detected for First Time
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 24, 2026
Researchers analyzing gravitational-wave data report evidence from closer to a black hole's event horizon than previously possible.
NASA Should Build a Biocontainment Facility on the Moon to Protect Earth, Researchers Advise
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 19, 2026
A policy paper argues that a lunar biocontainment facility could help protect Earth from potentially hazardous biological contaminants returned from space missions.
Powerful UFO Spotted Blasting From a Distant Black Hole
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 16, 2026
Astronomers detected one of the most powerful ultra-fast outflows yet seen from a distant supermassive black hole, using XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations.
Chandra Tracks M87 Black Hole's Evolving Jet in Finest X-Ray Detail Yet
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 16, 2026
Chandra observations reveal new X-ray detail in the evolving jet from the M87 black hole, helping astronomers study high-energy processes near a supermassive black hole.
Chandra Resolves NGC 6540's Mysterious X-Ray Flare Into Multiple Sources
Article link | Tomasz Nowakowski | Phys.org | June 13, 2026
Deep Chandra observations of the globular cluster NGC 6540 helped astronomers investigate a mysterious X-ray flare detected decades earlier.
Hubble Captures Galaxy Swarm With Lensed Arcs From Early Universe
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 12, 2026
Hubble imagery of a galaxy swarm shows gravitationally lensed arcs, giving astronomers a magnified view of distant galaxies in the early universe.
If Scientists Discover Aliens, They Have a Plan for 'Disclosure Day'
Article link | Science | Science | June 11, 2026
Science article examines planning for how researchers and institutions might communicate with the public if credible evidence of extraterrestrial life is discovered.
Cosmic Dawn Fuel Discovery Unlocks Early Galaxy Growth Secrets
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 11, 2026
Astronomers detected a huge reservoir of cold molecular gas in the early galaxy REBELS-25, helping explain how massive galaxies grew soon after the Big Bang.
Galaxy-Killing Wind Discovered in the Early Universe
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 10, 2026
Astronomers discovered a powerful wind in the early universe that could strip a galaxy of star-forming gas and help explain the existence of massive dead galaxies.
Cosmic Acceleration Holds Up as New Analysis Rebuts Slowdown Claim
Article link | Royal Astronomical Society | Phys.org | June 10, 2026
A new analysis supports continuing cosmic acceleration and challenges claims that the universe's expansion might be slowing down.
'Black Hole Stars'—Webb Finds Strongest Evidence Yet
Article link | NASA | Phys.org | June 10, 2026
Webb observations provide strong evidence for unusual early-universe objects that may be powered by black-hole activity, offering clues about how the first massive galaxies grew.
How Climate Shapes the Meanings of Words Across Languages
Article link | Akaash Babar / Peking University | Phys.org | June 9, 2026
Social-science article reports that climate may influence how words and meanings develop across languages, linking environment with cultural and linguistic patterns.
Upcoming Telescopes Could Shed Light on Dark Matter
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 8, 2026
Article explaining how upcoming telescope observations may help search for indirect signals of dark matter and clarify one of physics' biggest open questions.
Cosmic Bombardment May Have Opened Earth's Crust for Prebiotic Chemistry
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 8, 2026
Earth-history and origins-of-life article exploring how impacts may have fractured Earth's crust and created environments favorable to prebiotic chemistry.
Well-Known Planetary Nebula's Ear-Like Lobes Rewrite Its Evolutionary Timeline
Article link | Tomasz Nowakowski | Phys.org | June 2026
Astronomers studying a planetary nebula found that its ear-like lobes may change the timeline of how the system formed and evolved.
Superheated Magma May Explain Why Similar Volcanoes Erupt in Very Different Ways
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 2026
Earth-science article on how magma temperature and physical state may help explain why similar volcanic systems can produce very different eruption styles.
Smile Spacecraft Reaches Science Orbit
Article link | European Space Agency / Phys.org | June 2026
The European-Chinese Smile mission reached its science orbit and began instrument commissioning to study interactions between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere.
Machine Learning Uncovers 1,750 Quakes Tracing 250-Kilometer Edge of Alaska Microplate
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 2026
Seismology article showing how machine learning identified many previously hidden earthquakes and revealed structure along the edge of an Alaska microplate.
Interstellar Comet Is Unlike Anything Seen in Our Solar System
Article link | Science | Science | June 2026
Article reports on an unusual interstellar comet whose properties differ from known solar-system comets, offering clues about planet formation elsewhere.
Hubble Details Early Galaxy Transforming Neighborhood 1.4 Billion Years After Big Bang
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 2026
Hubble observations detected ultraviolet light from an early galaxy, showing how young galaxies may have transformed their surroundings in the early universe.
Asteroid Zooming Past Earth on Saturday Visible to Stargazers
Article link | Phys.org / AFP | June 2026
A large asteroid made a harmless close approach to Earth and was visible to observers with small telescopes or large binoculars in parts of the world.
A Spacecraft Is Falling to Its Doom - Can NASA Save It?
Article link | Alexandra Witze | Nature | June 2026
Nature reports on NASA's plan to rescue the Swift space observatory by raising its orbit, a mission that could also inform future Hubble-servicing efforts.
A Faster Way to Forecast Alien Weather
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 2026
Exoplanet-climate article on faster modeling methods that could help researchers forecast atmospheric conditions on worlds beyond the solar system.
Mathematicians Solve Decades-Old Mystery About the Hidden Order in High-Dimensional Randomness
Article link | Robert Egan | Phys.org | May 24, 2026
Article about a proof related to Talagrand's convexity conjecture and hidden structure in high-dimensional random systems.
Earth's Outer Core Beneath Pacific Reversed Direction in 2010, Satellite Data Reveal
Article link | Robert Egan | Phys.org | May 22, 2026
Earth-science article reporting satellite-based evidence that flow in part of Earth's molten outer core changed direction around 2010.
Fast-Moving Gofar Fault Reveals Quiet Zones That May Shape Earthquakes
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 15, 2026
Earthquake-science article on the Gofar fault and how quiet or slow-slipping zones may influence seismic behavior.
New Alien-Life Test Could Help Mars and Europa Missions
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 11, 2026
Coverage of a Nature Astronomy study suggesting that hidden order among molecules, not just the molecules themselves, may help identify life beyond Earth.
Earth's First Continents May Trace Back to Subduction 3.5 Billion Years Ago
Article link | Robert Egan | Phys.org | May 11, 2026
Earth-history article suggesting that early continental formation may have involved subduction-like processes billions of years ago.
Non-Rotating Early Galaxy Is a Surprise to Astronomers
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 9, 2026
Astronomy article about an unexpected early galaxy whose lack of rotation challenges assumptions about galaxy formation.
Urban Science Beyond Samples
Article link | arXiv physics.soc-ph bot | arXiv | May 8, 2026
arXiv-linked social physics / urban science article, listed among new physics-and-society papers.
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics New Articles
Article link | arXiv astro-ph.EP bot | arXiv | May 8, 2026
Bot post listing four new Earth and planetary astrophysics papers, including article and PDF links.
These Monster Black Holes Did Not Form the Usual Way
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 7, 2026
Article on research suggesting that the most massive gravitational-wave black holes formed through repeated mergers in dense stellar environments.
A New Way to Read the Universe Could Sharpen Cosmic Expansion and Dark-Energy Studies
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 6, 2026
Article on the CIGaRS framework for extracting more information from Type Ia supernova imaging, especially for future surveys.
Buried Electrical Pathways Across the U.S. Reveal New Clues About Earth
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 4, 2026
Geophysics article on subsurface electrical conductivity patterns and what they reveal about Earth's structure beneath North America.
NASA's Push to Reinstate Pluto's Planetary Status
Article link | Scientific American | Scientific American | May 2026
Article about renewed debate over Pluto's planetary status and NASA-linked efforts or discussions around classification.
Image: NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Mars' Huygens Crater
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 2026
Space-image item from NASA's Psyche mission showing Mars and Huygens Crater during the spacecraft's journey.
Hubble Captures Galaxy Cluster MACS J1141.6-1905
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 2026
Astronomy image article highlighting Hubble observations of galaxy cluster MACS J1141.6-1905 and gravitational-lensing features.
How Earth Recycles Continents Deep Underground
Article link | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 2026
Nature Geoscience-linked article on "relamination," where deeply subducted continental crust mixes with mantle material and later influences continental evolution.
Australia is closing its Very Long Baseline Array
Article link | Ryan White | Bluesky | May 2026 snippet | Article: Astrobites
Astrobites article linked from an astronomy/science post.
Secrets of Cosmic Evolution May Lurk in This Black Hole's Dancing Jets
Article link | Lee Billings | Scientific American | Apr. 16, 2026
Astronomy article about direct measurement of the power and speed of black-hole jets using observations of jets interacting with stellar winds.
Computational Social Science and Network Science Honors
Article link | Sean Carroll | Santa Fe Institute / Network Science | 2026
Post notes recognition for foundational work in network science and computational social science.
