Key molecule for life may have formed on interstellar ice

Some scientists think amino acids formed in space and reached Earth via asteroids or meteorites Mark…

Our hunt for alien life needs solid guidelines for clear-cut success

BARELY a month goes by these days without the detection of a tantalising “sign of life”…

Glimpse of the earliest supernovae could reveal our cosmic origins

The galaxy GLASS-z12 shows signs of the earliest supernovae in the universe Naidu et al, P.…

Majestic photo shows China’s Tiangong space station in all its glory

China’s Tiangong space station, photographed from the Shenzhou 16 spacecraft China Manned Space China’s Tiangong space…

How to spot this year’s Geminid meteor shower

Graeme Whipps/Shutterstock I RECENTLY learned that the field of radio astronomy essentially started with a meteor…

Glimpse of the earliest supernova ever could reveal our cosmic origins

The galaxy GLASS-z12 shows signs of the earliest supernova in the universe Naidu et al, P.…

Strange way black holes lose energy could help solve cosmic puzzle

A polarised view of the black hole M87* with lines that mark the orientation of polarisation…

Mercury has salt glaciers that could provide the conditions for life

Geological formations called hollows on Mercury taken by NASA’s orbital Messenger spacecraft NASA/JHU APL/CIW Mercury might…

How excited should we be by signs of life spotted on alien worlds?

“DON’T be excited,” says Sara Seager. She is talking about putative signs of life from observations…

What would life on Earth be like if our planet were cube-shaped?

It’s coming home. In the season one finale of Dead Planets Society, our hosts Leah Crane…