Discover the vibrant Mermaid Nebula supernova remnant—its shape, composition, and what it reveals about star death and cosmic rays. A vivid, accessible guide.
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Imaging Basics
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Tonight’s Sky Story: The Eagle Nebula and Friends (NASA APOD, 2026-06-10)
Discover the stunning Eagle Nebula and its neighbors, uncover recent space discoveries, and learn how to view this stellar nursery from your backyard tonight.
A giant star may have destroyed itself in one of the rarest explosions
Astronomers observed SN 2023vbw, a rare pair-instability supernova, suggesting a massive blue supergiant star destroyed itself without leaving a remnant.
Why are cells small?
Exploring the physics behind why cells are small, focusing on surface area-to-volume ratio and diffusion constraints that shape cell size.
What appear to be biochemical processes may be a natural feature of geology
Research suggests some biochemical reactions, previously thought to occur only in living cells, may occur naturally in sterile soil, challenging assumptions about life and geology.
A fundamental principle of aeronautical engineering has been overturned
Researchers at Tohoku University have demonstrated that applying distributed micro-roughness can reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 43.6%, challenging long-held principles.
TIL physicist Karl Schwarzschild solved Einstein’s field equations while dying of disease on the WWI Eastern Front. His solution predicted black holes. He wrote to Einstein: “the war treated me kindly enough to allow me to take this walk in the land of your ideas.” He died months later.
German physicist Karl Schwarzschild found a solution to Einstein’s equations during WWI hospitalization, laying groundwork for black hole theory.
Lost Images from the 1945 Trinity Nuclear Test Restored
Historical photographs from the 1945 Trinity nuclear test have been recovered and restored, offering new insights into the first atomic explosion.
TIL that in 2024 a PhD student “accidently” discovered Valeriana – a Edinburgh sized hidden Mayan city in Mexico while browsing for data on the internet.
A Tulane PhD student uncovered a large ancient Maya city in Campeche, Mexico, using lidar data, revealing new insights into pre-Columbian civilizations.
This Is A Photograph Of A Single Atom. The Pale Blue Dot In The Center Between The Metal Electrodes Is A Single Strontium Atom Illuminated By A Laser
A recent image shows a single strontium atom illuminated by a laser, marking a significant advancement in atomic imaging technology.