We believe these heavier elements formed in stars, but which stars? And at what points in their lives? Today we’ll update our knowledge with the latest science.
Nov 25th: Why Astronomy Still Needs Humans
Few sciences have been able to take advantage of the power of computers like astronomy. But with all this computing power, you might be surprised to learn how important a role humans still play in this science.
Nov 18th: Planetary Migration
Proving that there’s alien life on another world is to look for biosignatures, but it looks like there are natural sources that could explain almost any chemical we could hope to search for.
Nov 11th: Are Comets Asteroids or Are Asteroids Comets?
Things used to be so simple. Comets were snowballs from the outer Solar System, and asteroids were rocks from the inner Solar System. But now everything’s all shades of grey. Astronomers have found asteroids that behave like comets and comets that behave like asteroids.
Nov 4th: Biosignatures
Proving, once & for all that there’s alien life on another world. It should be straightforward, look for biosignatures, but it looks like there are natural sources that could explain almost any chemical we could hope to search for.
Oct 28th: Weird Issues: The Habitable Zone
Our series on Universe weirdness marches on. This week we take a look at the habitable zone, and how things aren’t as simple as we thought.
Oct 21st: Weird Issues: The Age of the Universe
Our series on Universe weirdness continues, this time we learn how astronomers are struggling to make sense of the age of the Universe.
Oct 14th: Weird Issues: The Expansion Rate of the Universe
Astronomers have been trying to accurately measure the expansion rate of the Universe. It’s been tough to nail down, and now astronomers are starting to figure out why.
Oct 7th: Weird Issues: How Do (or Don’t) Planets Form?
Weird Issues: How Do (or Don’t) Planets Form? Hot jupiters? Pulsars with planets? We’re now decades into this planets discovery & the Universe is continuing to surprise us. #365DaysOfAstro
Sep 30th: Weird Issues: Why We Don’t Know the Age of Saturn’s Rings
How old are Saturn’s rings? They could be brand new, or they could be as ancient as the Solar System itself. more at #365DaysOfAstro