The spin of Pluto’s moon, Charon, may be slowing down

by quasarn01 | Jul 14, 2026 | Astronomy

Evidence of the slowing of Charon’s spin period (despinning) is recorded in tectonic features on the surface of Pluto’s icy moon, according to a modeling study published in Nature Communications. The findings offer insights into the early thermal evolution...

Magnetic fingerprint of a cosmic explosion detected for the first time

by quasarn01 | Jul 14, 2026 | Astronomy

Astronomers have made a series of landmark observations of one of the universe’s most violent events. Using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) radio telescope, which is operated by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio...

World-first neutron lens brings sharp focus to structures inside materials and objects

by quasarn01 | Jul 14, 2026 | Latest in Physics

Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have developed the world’s first achromatic lens for neutron imaging. The lens overcomes a longstanding obstacle in the field: focusing neutrons of different wavelengths well enough to form a sharp, magnified image....

How the SKA will use fast radio bursts to decode the universe

by quasarn01 | Jul 14, 2026 | Astronomy

There are parts of the universe that are extremely hard to see, even for our most advanced telescopes. Gas and dust don’t emit light and are visible only by the light they block from stars and galaxies. Magnetic fields are even harder to detect because ordinary...

Data-driven tool can find mineral biosignatures on other worlds

by quasarn01 | Jul 14, 2026 | Astronomy

A technique for judging whether a common mineral formed through biological activity could aid the search for ancient life on Earth and Mars. Apatite is a ubiquitous phosphate mineral found in terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. It is a major component of...