Scientists have uncovered a surprising force that may help explain how binary star systems form so quickly。 New supercomputer simulations show that magnetic fields surrounding newborn stars can act like a cosmic brake, stripping away angular momentum and allowing two still-forming protostars to spiral closer together instead of drifting apart
The chances are low, but not zero
Astronomers have spent years searching for a possible hidden giant planet far beyond Neptune。 Unusual orbits among distant Kuiper Belt objects have fueled the Planet Nine theory, but recent discoveries are challenging the idea by showing more stable motion than expected。 If Planet Nine exists, it may be much farther away than originally thought
Scientists have proposed a new method for finding tightly bound supermassive black hole pairs by searching for stars that flash repeatedly as their light is magnified by the black holes’ gravity。 The timing and brightness of these bursts could provide a unique fingerprint of black holes slowly spiraling toward a future collision
A remarkable crystal called molybdenum oxychloride could help make futuristic technologies like smart contact lenses and ultrathin AR glasses a reality。 Scientists have created the first detailed experimental map of its optical properties, revealing the strongest light-bending effect ever measured in a natural material。 The crystal can act either l
Scientists have successfully tested an AI-designed universal coronavirus vaccine in humans for the first time, finding it to be safe and well tolerated。 The vaccine generated immune responses against multiple coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related bat viruses with pandemic potential。 By targeting features shared across an entire vir
Researchers have discovered how microscopic imperfections and atomic vibrations can be used to control a powerful quantum effect in an advanced material。 The effect can turn alternating electrical signals from the environment directly into the kind of current electronic devices need, without traditional components。 As temperature changes, the signa
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered unusual chemistry in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, including the first direct detection of methane on a visitor from another star system。 The comet also contains exceptionally high levels of carbon dioxide, making it unlike most comets born in our solar system。 Scientists believe the methane was hidden
A team at the University of Minnesota discovered that changing a metal film's thickness by just a few nanometers can dramatically alter how it behaves electronically。 The finding reveals a surprising new way to control metals and could help power future advances in electronics, catalysis, and quantum technology
NASA’s PExT terminal has shown that spacecraft can seamlessly communicate through multiple government and commercial networks, a major step beyond traditional single-network systems。 The mission is now expanding to test new capabilities that could help create a more flexible, reliable communications infrastructure for future space missions
Astronomers have finally cracked the mystery behind a strange class of repeating cosmic signals that has baffled scientists for years。 Using Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope, researchers traced the bursts to a rare stellar duo in which a dense white dwarf is relentlessly siphoning material from a nearby red dwarf companion。 As the stolen matter sp
Deer keds rely on flight and vision to find a host, but everything changes once they land。 After shedding their wings forever, these parasites reduce the activity of key vision-related genes by about half。 Scientists believe they are effectively trading sharp eyesight for extra energy that can be used for feeding and reproduction
A stunning spiral galaxy called Messier 88 is racing through the crowded Virgo Cluster on a journey that will dramatically reshape its future。 At its heart lies a supermassive black hole about 100 million times the mass of the Sun, while its graceful spiral arms sparkle with young star clusters and dark clouds of dust。 But as M88 plunges deeper int