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Astrophysics

Latest Articles

Latest Black Hole Collision Comes With a Twist

June 1, 2017

The Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory’s third detection further compounds the mystery of why black holes collide.

Discoveries Fuel Fight Over Universe’s First Light

May 19, 2017

A series of observations at the very edge of the universe has reignited a debate over what lifted the primordial cosmic fog.

Q&A

A Cosmic-Ray Hunter Takes to the Sky

April 27, 2017

Angela Olinto’s new balloon experiment takes her one step closer to the unknown source of the most energetic particles in the universe.

A Cosmic Burst Repeats, Deepen­ing a Mystery

April 18, 2017

After a surprise discovery, astrophysicists are racing to understand superenergetic flashes of radio waves that sometimes beep out from distant galaxies.

A New Blast May Have Forged Cosmic Gold

March 23, 2017

For decades, researchers believed that violent supernovas forged gold and other heavy elements. But many now argue for a different cosmic quarry.

The Case Against Dark Matter

November 29, 2016

A proposed theory of gravity does away with dark matter, even as new astrophysical findings challenge the need for galaxies full of the invisible mystery particles.

Off-the-Shelf Lens Assists Dark Matter Find

September 28, 2016

A camera lens often used by wildlife and sports photographers has helped astronomers learn about dark matter and galaxy formation.

Strange Dark Galaxy Puzzles Astrophysicists

September 27, 2016

The surprising discovery of a massive, Milky Way–size galaxy that is made of 99.99 percent dark matter has astronomers dreaming up new ideas about how galaxies form.

From Gaia, a Twinkling Treasure Trove

September 14, 2016

The first star map from the ESA’s Gaia space telescope is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the Milky Way galaxy.

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