Scientists have discovered that Uranus’ unusual magnetic field and radiation belts, observed by Voyager 2 in 1986, may be due to a rare solar wind event that compressed the planet’s magnetosphere. This finding could explain several long-standing puzzles about Uranus and its moons, and may inform planning for future missions to the planet. Forecast for…
In a groundbreaking discovery, two independent studies have revealed that the brown dwarf Gliese 229 B is not a single object, but rather a pair of brown dwarfs. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of star formation and the existence of binary systems in the universe. The discovery was made possible by the…
A mathematician from the University of Toronto, Daniel Litt, has been sharing probability puzzles on social media, captivating tens of thousands of people worldwide. His posts have sparked lively discussions among experts and non-experts alike, highlighting the limits of mathematical intuition and the counterintuitive nature of probabilistic reasoning. Forecast for 6 months: The popularity of…
A recent census of the cosmos has more than tripled the number of active black holes known to reside in miniature galaxies, with the biggest haul of middleweight black holes to date. The survey, which used early data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), observed nearly 1.5 million galaxies and found about 2,500 dwarf…
In a groundbreaking discovery, two mathematicians, Christoph Kehle and Ryan Unger, have proved that extremal black holes can exist in the real world, contradicting a long-held theory by Stephen Hawking and his colleagues. The researchers used mathematical models to demonstrate that it is theoretically possible for extremal black holes to form, which could have significant…
In a recent presidential election, two AI startups, xAI and Perplexity, attempted to provide accurate, real-time information to the public. While xAI failed miserably, Perplexity successfully offered helpful insights and maps, linking to reliable resources and providing historical context. This achievement sets Perplexity apart from other AI chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which refused to…
Archaeologists have discovered rare depictions of Stone Age net fishing on engraved stones at a 16,000-year-old German site. The findings, made possible by a digital imaging technique, provide new insights into the fishing practices of ancient hunter-gatherer groups. The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of human societies and their relationship…
Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a massive black hole in a distant quasar, 13 billion light-years from Earth. The black hole, powered by a quasar named ULAS J1120+0641, is half as massive as all the stars in its host galaxy, a record high ratio for a quasar host galaxy. This finding has shed…
Scientists have made significant discoveries about Jupiter’s moons, with the latest count standing at 95. The discovery of new moons and the exploration of existing ones are expected to reveal more about the planet’s composition and potential for life. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and the European Space Agency’s Juice mission are set to launch in…
Historians have used AI to analyze 359 astronomy textbooks from the 15th to 17th centuries, revealing a widespread understanding of astronomical knowledge across Europe. This challenges the idea that scientific breakthroughs are made by individual geniuses and highlights the importance of social, political, and cultural contexts in shaping scientific discoveries. In the next 6 months,…
