Universe

UK team seeking to put suitcase-sized satellite in orbit around moon in search for 21cm line radio frequency signalLittle is known about what was happening shortly after the big bang, but now researchers are hoping to shed fresh light on the matter by harnessing the dark side of the moon.Scientists are hoping to put a suitcase-sized satellite into orbit around the moon, using the data it collects as it passes the far side to search for a radio frequency signal emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms in the early universe. Continue reading...

• NASA is utilizing the SPHEREx mission to conduct an all-sky spectral survey of the galaxy to better understand the origins of the universe. • The mission aims to collect extensive data on over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars located within the Milky Way. • Astronaut Sunita Williams highlights that space exploration drives innovation and problem-solving by pushing humans to think beyond Earth's known physics.

• Scientists using Earth's largest particle accelerator have observed a specific phenomenon within a hot, dense particle "soup" that mimics the conditions of the cosmos immediately following the Big Bang. • The discovery is the result of a decades-long quest to understand the fundamental state of matter that existed during the universe's earliest moments. • This breakthrough matters because it provides a rare experimental window into the evolution of the early universe and the behavior of matter under extreme density and heat.

• Astronomers have utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to create the most detailed map of the cosmic web to date. • The project focuses on unmasking "hidden corners" of the universe by visualizing the vast network of filaments that connect galaxies. • This achievement matters as it provides unprecedented insight into the large-scale structure of the cosmos and the distribution of dark matter.

• Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) are developing a new solar wind forecasting method to locate the first plasma boundary of the outer heliosphere. • The team is combining this forecasting approach with analytic and numerical heliosphere models to map the region's characteristics. • This research is critical for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which is currently traveling toward this mysterious boundary of the solar system.

• The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has officially launched the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a massive 10-year mission to map the southern sky. • Chief Scientist Tony Tyson describes the project as a "movie of the universe" that will repeatedly image the sky to track cosmic changes. • The survey is expected to provide groundbreaking data that could be scientifically significant for a century, though Tyson warns that corporate satellites may obstruct the view.

• Astronomer J-P Macquart and an international team from Curtin University have successfully tracked down "missing" baryonic matter in the universe. • Unlike dark matter, this missing material consists of normal protons, neutrons, and electrons that were previously undetectable because they are spread too thinly across deep space. • The team utilized fast radio bursts (FRBs) as cosmic probes to detect this diffuse matter, solving a long-standing inventory problem in astrophysics.

• The Vera Rubin Observatory has officially launched an unprecedented 10-year survey designed to map the solar system and the Milky Way. • The project aims to create a comprehensive new inventory of celestial bodies and investigate the elusive nature of dark matter. • This initiative matters as it provides a massive scale of data that could fundamentally change our understanding of the universe's composition.

• The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has launched an unprecedented survey of the southern sky to map the solar system and the broader universe. • The project utilizes the largest camera ever constructed to capture high-resolution data on the Milky Way galaxy and distant celestial objects. • This initiative matters as it provides the most detailed survey of the universe to date, allowing astronomers to peer deeper into space than previously possible.

• The 61st ACM Awards, broadcast via a global Prime Video livestream, triggered significant streaming surges for several country music artists. • Post-show data from Luminate highlights massive commercial growth for performers including Ella Langley, Parker McCollum, and other emerging talents. • The event underscores the power of high-visibility award shows and digital streaming platforms in driving immediate listener discovery and consumption.

• Carbon Brief has launched Project Cosmos, a collaborative initiative aimed at creating the world's most comprehensive database of climate change research. • The project aggregates a vast volume of academic peer-reviewed studies, books, and reports from diverse global researchers and institutions. • This effort addresses the rapid increase in scientific data regarding human-caused climate change, making complex academic findings more accessible.

• Theoretical physicists are exploring the holographic principle, a theory suggesting that the three-dimensional universe may actually be a projection of two-dimensional information. • The concept stems from the study of black holes, where information about falling matter appears to be stored on the event horizon's surface rather than within the volume. • This hypothesis is significant because it attempts to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics, potentially providing a unified framework for understanding gravity and spacetime.

• The SETI Institute conducted a search for technosignatures from 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever observed entering our Solar System. • Researchers utilized the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory in Northern California to scan a broad spectrum of radio frequencies. • No technological signals were detected, which aligns with previous astronomical data indicating that 3I/ATLAS possesses a natural, comet-like composition and behavior.

Light from nearly 4m galaxies measured as it twisted and travelled through intergalactic spaceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA cosmic map of magnetic fields – the largest ever produced – could help scientists delve into one of the major and most mysterious forces in the universe.A global team led by Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO charted the magnetic fields by measuring light from nearly 4m galaxies as it twisted and travelled through intergalactic space. Continue reading...

• On April 14, 2026, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) completed its primary mission early, creating the largest-ever 3D map of 47 million galaxies. • The dataset represents a sixfold increase over all previous galactic measurements, enabling new analysis of the universe's shape and size. • This breakthrough could reconcile quantum physics and general relativity toward a theory of everything, positioning US National Laboratories to lead global science.

• Researchers introduced GAME, a suite of AI algorithms that improve accuracy in tracking cosmic changes by 95% for derivatives and 20% overall. • Published on arXiv in February, GAME enhances astrophysical modeling of the universe's dynamic behavior. • The technique sharpens AI's ability to reconstruct test functions, revealing potential flaws in current cosmological understanding.

Astronauts make first remarks at jubilant homecoming in Houston after their record-breaking moon flybyStill marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a thunderous welcome home on Saturday from hundreds who took part in setting a record for deep space travel during the US space agency Nasa’s lunar comeback.The crew of four arrived at Ellington Field near Nasa’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control in Houston, flying in from San Diego, where they splashed down just offshore the evening before. Continue reading...

Last year, our most detailed map of the universe yet suggested our understanding of dark energy has been wrong for decades. The shock result is reigniting the search for a better cosmic story