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space exploration

Galaxy cluster MACS0416, also known as the Christmas tree

Video

JWST and Hubble take stunning image of the 'Christmas tree' cluster

JWST and Hubble take stunning image of the 'Christmas tree' cluster, so-called because of the colourful flickering lights found within

Video

Uranus, showing its rings and nine of the planet's 27 moons

Space

Stunning JWST image of Uranus shows 13 rings and nine moons

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Possibly the smallest stars ever discovered

Space

Astronomers have spotted what may be the smallest stars ever seen

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Space

The biggest science news stories of 2023 as chosen by 51¶¯Âþ

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Wolf-Rayet stars are known to be efficient dust producers, and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on NASA?s James Webb Space Telescope shows this to great effect. Cooler cosmic dust glows at the longer mid-infrared wavelengths, displaying the structure of WR 124?s nebula. The nebula is made of material cast off from the aging star in random ejections, and from dust produced in the ensuing turbulence. This brilliant stage of mass loss precedes the star?s eventual supernova, when nuclear fusion in its core stops and the pressure of gravity causes it to collapse in on itself, and then explode. As MIRI demonstrates here, Webb will help astronomers to explore questions that were previously only left to theory about how much dust stars like this create before exploding in a supernova, and how much of that dust is large enough to survive the blast and go on to serve as building blocks of future stars and planets.

Space

Six of the most amazing space pictures from 2023

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High resolution images presents creating planets of the solar system. This image elements furnished by NASA.

Space

This mathematical trick can help you imagine space-time

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TBTFJA star trail circle-space-night-sunset-blue

Physics

Why I've been somewhat obsessed with space-time this year

Comment

The best new science fiction books of December 2023

Comment

The best new science fiction books of December 2023

Culture

Space

Key molecule for life may have formed on interstellar ice

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Space

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

The Tiangong space station, China’s orbiting laboratory, was completed last year – now it has been photographed in full for the first time

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Space

How to spot this year's Geminid meteor shower

Regulars

Health

Space flight may increase erectile dysfunction among astronauts

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Space

Fluffy exoplanet blasted by its sun has clouds that rain sand

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Physics

Why the quantum universe is weirder than you think

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