Space exploration
Ever since Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon, space exploration has captivated the minds of both the scientific world and the general public. To this day there have been hundreds of manned space flights from all around the globe and even more probes sent to explore our Solar System. With the dawn of private space flight through companies such as SpaceX and the continued desire to find another inhabitable planet, the incentive to probe the edges of the Solar System only grows.
How old is the Universe, really?
We might not know when the Big Bang actually was
The 17 worst ideas of the 21st century (so far)
Sorry, Google Glass
This top-secret US space plane could reshape space warfare forever
The X-37B returned to Earth this month, but details of its time in space remain hazy, to say the least.
10 ingenious inventions about to change our world forever
From nano-medics, to digital twins and space janitors
Could we really build a space elevator?
A quick way to get to space, but are space elevators really possible?
Alien life on Mars: Ancient beach discovery may offer clearest proof yet
It's no Greek island, but the red planet's beaches may still have attracted microbial vacationers.
Beyond the speed of light: The strange particle that could reshape the laws of the Universe
As much as we want to tell Mr Sulu to “Take us to warp factor five”, dangerous causality problems, tricky maths and negative energy could get in the way.
Our chances of finding alien life just skyrocketed. Here’s why
Samples from the asteroid Bennu could not only give us insights into life on Earth but also the potential for more across the Universe.
We finally know how life on Earth started, staggering new asteroid discovery suggests
A ‘briny broth’ may unlock the secrets of life both on Earth and further afield.
15 of the most mind-blowing photos taken this century (so far)
From space to forest fires and escaping cheetahs, these are the best images of 2024.
Major volcanic eruptions detected on Moon's far side
The Moon’s mysterious far side has yielded a new secret: volcanoes erupted here for over a billion years.
Fireball meteor shower: How to see the spectacular November Leonids
Known as one of the best meteor shower events, the Leonids are one you won’t want to miss.
NASA’s bold new mission is our best chance of finding aliens. Here's why
If life exists elsewhere in the Solar System, one of the most likely places is Jupiter's moon Europa.
Here's how our Universe will (probably) end
A supercollider may one day help us predict the fate of the Universe. Scientists will use it to find a hidden instability built into the fabric of existence… one that could destroy everything.
Something is wrong with our understanding of the Universe and the closer we look the weirder it gets
Our picture of the cosmos is incredibly detailed. But it's by no means complete. There are crucial pieces missing in the cosmic jigsaw. And without them the picture just doesn't make sense.
This radical 'dark stars' theory could solve our Universe’s greatest mystery
Massive, invisible stars that formed in the earliest days of the Universe may hold clues to the true nature of dark matter. And we might have found some.
Rogue worlds: How we could soon unravel the mystery of the Universe’s loneliest planets
Some planets are stuck following the same orbital paths their entire lives. Others break free to wander alone through the vast, empty darkness of interstellar space. And there's a lot more of them than you might think.
How one particle could soon rewrite our laws of gravity
If particles are what carry the force of gravity, those particles should be detectable… in theory.
The 8 absolutely weirdest places in the Universe
Including one right here on Earth.
Scientists are planning to build a giant 'bio vault' on the Moon. Here’s why
The extreme low temperatures on the lunar surface make it the ideal place to preserve samples of key terrestrial species.
Mysterious object discovered speeding over 1 million mph across our galaxy – and scientists are baffled
Somewhere between planet and a star, the object has not yet been identified.
The new mystery hidden inside the Universe's biggest ever black hole
Black holes are big. Very big. But physics makes it almost impossible for them to grow. Here’s how one black hole defied the odds to swell to gargantuan proportions.
30 amazing images of our Universe – Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 shortlist announced
Join us on a tour of some of the most amazing sights in the Universe, courtesy of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition 2024
Satellites in orbit can now be hacked. Here's why that's really (really) bad
Storing GPS information, military secrets and banking data, satellites are a gold mine for hackers.