Instrument finds new earthly purpose
Detectors long used to look at the cosmos are now part of X-ray experiments here on Earth.
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What ended the dark ages of the universe?
New experiments will help astronomers uncover the sources that helped make the universe transparent.
Five extreme facts about neutron stars
Neutron stars have earned their share of superlatives since their discovery in 1967.
The origins of dark matter
Theorists think dark matter was forged in the hot aftermath of the Big Bang.
A primer on gravitational-wave detectors
Physicists are searching for gravitational waves all across the spectrum.
Turning on the cosmic microphone
A new tool lets astronomers listen to the universe for the first time.
Five facts about the Big Bang
It’s the cornerstone of cosmology, but what is it all about?
The contents of the universe
How do scientists know what percentages of the universe are made up of dark matter and dark energy? Cosmologist Risa Wechsler of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology explains. Watch the 3-minute video.
Dark Energy Survey begins five-year mission to map southern sky in tremendous detail
On Aug. 31, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) officially began. Scientists on the survey team will systematically map one-eighth of the sky (5000 square degrees) in unprecedented detail. The start of the survey is the culmination of 10 years of planning, building and testing by scientists from 25 institutions in six countries.
Scientists discover that Milky Way was struck some 100 million years ago, still rings like a bell
Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is a large spiral galaxy surrounded by dozens of smaller satellite galaxies.