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    Category Astronomy/Space

    Supermassive black holes sit in ‘eye of their own storms,’ studies find

    February 5, 2026, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Illustration of gigantic black hole surrounded by a disc of gas and a jet of particles coming from both ends.
    An artist’s rendition of the immediate vicinity around the supermassive black hole known as M87*. However, the roiling, superhot gases around these black holes extend much further than seen in this visualization. Two new studies give us new insight into the regions around these black holes and how they influence their surrounding galaxies.Illustration by S. Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF)

    Gigantic black holes lurk at the center of virtually every galaxy, including ours, but we’ve lacked a precise picture of what impact they have on their surroundings...

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    New 3D map of the sun’s magnetic interior could improve predictions of disruptive solar flares

    February 1, 2026, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    New 3D map of the sun's magnetic interior could improve predictions of disruptive solar flares
    Panels (a), (b), and (c) show the 3D evolution of the toroidal field during Cycle 23 at three different times. (d) Time–latitude plot of the azimuthally averaged toroidal field that shows the equatorward migration. (e) Here, we show the contribution of the nonaxisymmetric toroidal field at different depths of the convection zone. Credit: The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2026). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae3138

    For the first time, scientists have used satellite data to create a 3D map of the sun’s interior magnetic field, the fundamental driver of solar activity. The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, should enable more accurate predictions of solar cycles and space weather that affects satellites and power grids.

    Magnetic star
    The sun is more than just a fier...

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    Jupiter’s clouds are hiding something big

    February 1, 2026, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Gigantic storms swirl across the surface of Jupiter
    Gigantic storms swirl across the surface of Jupiter. These storms have made it impossible to see what lies beneath—but a new simulation led by a UChicago scientist adds new depth to our understanding.Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS, Image processing by Kevin M. Gill, © CC BY

    Jupiter’s swirling storms have concealed its true makeup for centuries, but a new model is finally peeling back the clouds. Researchers found the planet likely holds significantly more oxygen than the Sun, a key clue to how Jupiter—and the rest of the solar system—came together. The study also reveals that gases move through Jupiter’s atmosphere much more slowly than scientists once thought. Together, the findings reshape our understanding of the solar system’s largest planet.

    Towering clou...

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    A possible ice-cold Earth discovered in the archives of the retired Kepler Space Telescope

    January 30, 2026, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Artist’s concept of exoplanet candidate HD 137010 b, dubbed a “cold Earth” because it’s a possible rocky planet slightly larger than Earth, orbiting a Sun-like star about 146 light-years away.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/Keith Miller (Caltech/IPAC)

    Scientists continue to mine data gathered by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, retired in 2018, and continue to turn up surprises. A new paper reveals the latest: a possible rocky planet slightly larger than Earth, orbiting a sun-like star about 146 light-years away. The candidate planet, HD 137010b, might be remarkably similar to Earth, but it has one potentially big difference: It could be colder than perpetually frozen Mars.

    A promising Earth-sized exoplanet emerges
    An international science team published a paper on the discovery, “A Cool Earth-sized ...

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