Space

New research suggests that if dark matter is composed of “dark photons,” it would not have heated the early cosmos like scientists previously thought. If correct, this discovery could represent a paradigm shift in the hunt for the universe’s most mysterious stuff. Dark matter remains so elusive because, despite outweighing the everyday matter that composes stars, planets, moons…

Imagine looking at a vast city on Earth from a great distance, knowing nothing about that city; you may assume that its only buildings are the largest, most visible skyscrapers. But, get closer or look with a far more powerful tool, and you would begin to discover smaller buildings between mountainous skyscrapers. Now, the James Webb Space Telescope has discovered that this looks like that is a…

I woke up on the morning of Aug. 12 and looked out of the window to something I hadn’t dared hope for: blue sky. After days of scrutinizing weather models that seemed determined to test the nerves of everyone aboard the HX Expeditions ship MS Spitsbergen, somehow, against the odds, the clouds had cleared. Even then, I didn’t trust it (especially after my 2024 eclipse experience). We…

Astronauts have long struggled with constipation in space. Now, scientists may finally understand why. A new study of 52 astronauts who lived aboard the International Space Station (ISS) suggests that microgravity may slow the movement of food through the intestines, changing how gut bacteria break down nutrients. The findings could ultimately help researchers develop dietary strategies to keep…