Category Archives: Astronomy

Exploding stars led to humans walking on two legs, radical study suggests

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Scientists say surge of radiation led to lightning causing forest fires, making adaptation vital

It was the evolutionary leap that defined the species: while other apes ambled around on all fours, the ancestors of humans rose up on two legs and, from that lofty position, went on to conquer the world.

The benefits of standing tall in the African savannah are broadly nailed down, but what prompted our distant forebears to walk upright is far from clear. Now, in a radical proposal, US scientists point to a cosmic intervention: protohumans had a helping hand from a flurry of exploding stars, they say.

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100 years on: the picture that changed our view of the universe

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Arthur Eddington’s photograph of the 1919 solar eclipse proved Einstein right and ushered in a century where gravity was king

A hundred years ago this month, the British astronomer Arthur Eddington arrived at the remote west African island of Príncipe. He was there to witness and record one of the most spectacular events to occur in our heavens: a total solar eclipse that would pass over the little equatorial island on 29 May 1919.

Observing such events is a straightforward business today, but a century ago the world was still recovering from the first world war. Scientific resources were meagre, photographic technology was relatively primitive, and the hot steamy weather would have made it difficult to focus instruments. For good measure, there was always a threat that clouds would blot out the eclipse.

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Most ancient type of molecule in universe detected in space

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Helium hydride is thought to have played starring role in early universe

The most ancient type of molecule in our universe has been detected in space, scientists have revealed, backing up theories of how the early chemistry of the universe developed after the big bang.

The positively charged molecule known as helium hydride is believed to have played a starring role in the early universe, forming when a helium atom shared its electrons with a hydrogen nucleus, or proton. Not only is it thought to be the first molecular bond, and first chemical compound, to have appeared as the universe cooled after the big bang, but it also opened up the path to the formation of molecules of hydrogen.

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Black hole picture captured for first time in space breakthrough

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Network of eight radio telescopes around the world records revolutionary image

Astronomers have captured the first image of a black hole, heralding a revolution in our understanding of the universe’s most enigmatic objects.

The picture shows a halo of dust and gas, tracing the outline of a colossal black hole, at the heart of the Messier 87 galaxy, 55m light years from Earth.

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Rare super worm moon will loom large as it coincides with equinox

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Phenomenon last occurred in spring 1905 and won’t happen again until the year 2144

Those gazing up into the sky on Wednesday night are set to witness an unusual event: a super worm moon that coincides with the equinox.

It will be the third time this year a full moon has occurred near to the moon’s closest approach to the Earth – making it a supermoon – and will be the last such event in 2019. Those venturing out can expect to see the moon looming larger than usual in the night sky.

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‘FarFarOut’: Nasa astronomer finds potential furthest object in solar system

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Mystery shrouds ‘very faint’ planetary body that appears to be 140 times further from the sun than Earth

A new object has been discovered in the distant reaches of our solar system and given the name FarFarOut, according to a prominent astronomer.

At 140 times further away from the sun than our own planet is, the newly identified body – if its discovery is confirmed – will become the furthest known object in our solar system.

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Scientists close to first sighting of black hole in the Milky Way

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International team say ‘spectacular’ data hints at historic breakthrough

Astronomers attempting to capture the first images of the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way have given early hints that the ambitious project has been successful.

The observations, by the Event Horizon Telescope, are expected to be unveiled in March in one of the most eagerly awaited scientific announcements of 2019. Now, a senior scientist on the project has said “spectacular” data was gathered during observations of two black holes, including Sagittarius A* at the centre of our own galaxy.

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Nearby galaxy set to collide with Milky Way, say scientists

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Collision will ‘cause fireworks’ but probably won’t happen for about 2.5 billion years

As if battered post-Christmas finances, a looming disorderly Brexit and the prospect of a fresh nuclear arms race were not enough to dampen spirits, astronomers have declared that a nearby galaxy will slam into the Milky Way and could knock our solar system far into the cosmic void.

The unfortunate discovery was made after scientists ran computer simulations on the movement of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), one of the many satellite galaxies that orbits the Milky Way. Rather than circling at a safe distance, or breaking free of the Milky Way’s gravitational pull, the researchers found the LMC is destined to clatter into the galaxy we call home.

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First close-ups of Ultima Thule reveal it resembles dark red snowman

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Images of rock on the edge of the solar system were taken on the most distant flyby in history

Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft has beamed home its first close-up images of Ultima Thule, a lump of rock the shape of an unfinished snowman that lies 4 billion miles away on the edge of the solar system.

Taken as the probe sped past the body in the early hours of New Year’s Day, the pictures reveal a dark reddish object about 21 miles long and 10 miles wide that spins on its axis once every 15 hours or so. The colour image of Ultima Thule, revealing its reddish tint, was taken at 05.01 GMT on New Year’s Day from a distance of about 18,000 miles, 30 minutes before the probe made its closest pass of the space rock.

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Chinese spacecraft to become first to land on far side of moon

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Chang’e 4 will explore giant crater, possibly offering more clues as to moon’s formation

A Chinese spacecraft could become the first ever to land on the “far side” of the moon tomorrow, in a milestone for human space exploration. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is aiming to land the craft in the unexplored South Pole-Aitken basin, the largest, oldest, deepest, crater on the moon’s surface.

The robotic probe, Chang’e 4, entered an elliptical path around the moon last weekend, drawing as close as 15km (9 miles) from the surface. China’s mission control has not confirmed a time for the touchdown attempt but reports in state-run media suggested it would be early Thursday morning UK time.

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Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft ‘phones home’ after flyby of Ultima Thule

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Scientists celebrate probe’s successful completion of most distant space flyby in history

Nasa scientists are celebrating after a spacecraft “phoned home” to confirm it had successfully performed the most distant space flyby in history in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Thousands of photographs of the dark, icy space rock called Ultima Thule were snapped by the New Horizons probe as it barrelled past it on the outer edge of the solar system at 0533 GMT.

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Black hole

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An artist's conception of the most distant supermassive black hole ever discovered, which is part of a quasar from just 690 million years after the Big Bang. Eduardo BaA ados had three nights to spot something that might not even exist: a supermassive black hole close to the beginning of time.

Private Jet Companies and Airlines Know How to Profit From the Eclipse

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We doubt the eclipse 99 years ago had such a commericial bent. But, hey, why shouldn't aviation businesses try to profit from a natural phenomenon? For the well-heeled looking for a last-minute plan to see next week's solar eclipse, a U.S. private-jet operator is offering an option for $10,000 a seat.

Mysterious Star Baffles Scientists, Resurrects Alien Debate

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The dimming of a sun 1,276 light years away from Earth has once again sparked a debate over whether or not aliens could be responsible for its strange behavior. Telescope operators around the world reported that the star, classified as KIC 8462852, began spontaneously dimming Thursday night, suggesting that dense formations were orbiting the star and blocking its light.

Scientists Have Discovered An Entire System Of Earth-Like Exoplanets

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In the latest news about the continued search for Earth-like planets outside the Solar System, NASA announced today the discovery of an entire system of Earth-like exoplanets orbiting a star just 40 light-years away: Not just one, but seven Earth-size planets that could potentially harbor life have been identified orbiting a tiny star not too far away, offering the first realistic opportunity to search for signs of alien life outside of the solar system. The planets orbit a dwarf star named Trappist-1, about 40 light years, or some 235 trillion miles, from Earth.