Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists have finally solved the mysterious origins of the ‘BOAT’, possibly the largest cosmic explosion since the Big Bang. The brightest gamma-ray burst of all time (hence the abbreviation The Brightest Of All Time), also called the BOOT, appears to have been launched by a supernova explosion that… Read More »
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question that you would like an expert to answer, please send it to Curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. If the James Webb telescope were ten times more powerful, could we see the beginning of time? – Sam H., age 12, Prosper, Texas The James Webb… Read More »
Three is certainly not a mass for planets around a distant young star. Astronomers had already discovered two planets forming in the disk of gas and dust, or protoplanetary disk, around the young star PDS 70. Now, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) with the MIRI mid-infrared Disk Survey, astronomers can (MINDS) project have… Read More »
Astronomers use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to hunt for planets that form around young stars. The powerful space telescope delivered the goods quickly, albeit in an unexpected way. These young planets take shape in swirling clumps of gas and dust called protoplanetary disks, gathering more and more mass as they go. Humanity has… Read More »
NASAs James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is known for capturing our universe with unprecedented precision and sensitivity. The images are not only scientifically useful, but also beautiful. From the blue and gold of the Southern Ring Nebula to the pink, orange and purple of Cassiopeia AJWST images depict the universe in brilliant colors. The images… Read More »
Scientists may have discovered how a supernova relatively close to Earth became adorned with a remarkable “string of pearls” formation. Supernova 1987A (SN 1987A) represents the remnants of a massive cosmic explosion that ripped apart a massive star and left behind a neutron star surrounded by stellar material. It is located in a satellite galaxy… Read More »
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific developments and more. Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered common chemical ingredients found in vinegar, ant stings and even margaritas around two young stars, according to NASA. The complex organic molecules they observed using the… Read More »
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have identified several icy building blocks of life in the gas and dust swirling around two young stars, or “protostars.” The identified molecules range from relatively simple molecules such as methane to complex compounds such as acetic acid and ethanol. Complex organic molecules (COMs) were previously predicted to… Read More »
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has double-checked the work of its older brother, the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble’s measurements of the expansion rate of the universe are exemplary, the groundbreaking observatory has discovered, creating the so-called “Hubble tension.” Simply put, measurements of the expansion rate of the universe, defined by a property called the… Read More »
After doing quite a bit of research, scientists have come to a conclusion that may sound redundant: life could exist on Earth. Of course, you’re probably thinking, “Well, duh.” In fact, it may feel more accurate to say that life do exists on earth – and not only that could be. But here’s the thing.… Read More »