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    Category Astronomy/Space

    Scientists just mapped the hidden structure holding the universe together

    February 5, 2026, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    The Universe’s Hidden Structure Revealed
    This map shows the Dark Matter distribution in the COSMOS field observed by the Hubble Space Telescope (left) and by the James Webb Space Telescope (right). Dark Matter distribution in the COSMOS field. The overlaid contours mark regions of equal dark-matter density, highlighting where this invisible matter – shown here in a blue color ­– is most strongly concentrated. Credit: Dr. Gavin Leroy/Professor Richard Massey/COSMOS-Webb collaboration

    Scientists have produced the most detailed map ever created of dark matter that runs throughout the Universe, revealing how it has influenced the formation of stars, galaxies, and planets.

    The research, which includes astronomers from Durham University in the UK, provides new insight into how this unseen substance helped draw ordinary matt...

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    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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