Ambitious new dark matter-hunting experiment delivers 1st results
A new experiment called BREAD (Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection) led by the University of Chicago and Fermilab is searching for dark matter particles called axions. Dark matter is estimated to make up 85% of matter in the universe but its exact nature is unknown. Axions are a hypothetical dark matter candidate. BREAD uses […]
Cannibal stars at the heart of the Milky Way stay young in a gruesome way
Scientists have discovered that some stars near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way (Sagittarius A*) appear younger than they actually are due to a process of “cannibalism”. A simulation of stars orbiting Sgr A* showed that close to the black hole, stars collide frequently due to their high speeds. Grazing […]
Michael Jackson’s accusers seek to open sealed records that include nude photos of the singer
Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who have accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse, are seeking to open sealed court records from Jackson’s 2005 trial. The records are held by law enforcement in LA and Santa Barbara counties. Robson and Safechuck issued subpoenas to obtain the records. MJJ Productions, Jackson’s production company, is fighting to block […]
Growing quickly helped the earliest dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles flourish in the aftermath of mass extinction
The earliest dinosaurs lived around 230 million years ago after a major mass extinction event wiped out most life on Earth. They were small and not very diverse at first. A study looked at the growth rates of bones from the earliest dinosaurs and other reptiles from that time by examining microscopic features preserved in […]
Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher Reveal They’re Divorcing After 13 Years of Marriage
Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have announced they are divorcing after 13 years of marriage. In a joint statement on their Instagram stories, they said they filed for divorce in 2023 and have been “quietly working through this change.” They added that they will continue to share devotion and love for their three children. […]
NASA Figured Out Why Its Voyager 1 Probe Has Been Glitching for Months
NASA’s Voyager 1 probe has been experiencing glitches since May 2022, sending nonsensical data back to Earth instead of scientific measurements. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory believe they have identified the cause – a problem with the memory hardware on the flight data system (FDS) onboard Voyager 1. The FDS collects and combines data […]
“Reacher”’s Alan Ritchson Says He Quit Modeling After Being Sexually Assaulted by Known Photographer
Alan Ritchson, who plays the lead role in the Prime Video series Reacher, opened up about his past experience as a model in the 1990s. He said he quit modeling after being sexually assaulted by a famous photographer who demanded nude photos in exchange for work opportunities. When Ritchson refused, he left and cut ties […]
James Webb Space Telescope spots hints of exomoons forming in infant star system
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted hints of exomoons forming around two planets in the young star system PDS 70, located about 400 light years from Earth. Astronomers using Webb detected what may be a third planet in the system, designated PDS 70D, in addition to the two previously known planets PDS 70B and […]
NASA picks 3 companies to design lunar rover for Artemis astronauts to drive on the moon
NASA has selected three companies – Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab – to develop concepts for a new lunar rover called the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). The LTV will transport astronauts as they explore the Moon’s southern polar region starting in 2030 under the Artemis program. It is intended to operate both with […]
For the Maya, solar eclipses were a sign of heavenly clashes − and their astronomers kept sophisticated records to predict them
For the ancient Maya civilization in Mexico and Central America, solar eclipses were viewed as signs of clashes between the gods and omens of possible destruction. The Maya were skilled astronomers who kept detailed records of the movements of the sun, moon, and stars using advanced calendars and mathematics. They could predict solar eclipses based […]