45 planets outside our solar system that are surprisingly similar to Earth and might have the right conditions for life. Even more amazing, four of these planets are only about 40 light-years away—very close in space terms, compared to the vast distances between most stars. A New Map for Finding Life What makes them special … Read more
The story begins in 1971 when Soviet scientists were drilling in the desert, searching for natural gas. Suddenly, the ground beneath their equipment collapsed, swallowing the rig and creating a massive crater. What emerged from the depths was dangerous: methane gas started leaking into the air. Methane is highly flammable, toxic, and explosive. To prevent … Read more
Astronomers think they may have just caught the aftermath of such a crash around a distant star called Gaia20ehk, roughly 11,000 light-years away. Which, if you’re wondering, is very far. Ridiculously far. Yet somehow telescopes here on Earth still picked up the faint clues. The discovery began when astronomer Anastasios (Andy) Tzanidakis, a doctoral student … Read more