Wally Funk, Aviation Pioneer and Oldest Woman to Travel to Space, Dies at 87

Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

A Rapidly-Growing Black Hole in a Nearby Galaxy Could Provide a Window Into the Early Universe.

The black hole at the centre of a nearby galaxy is growing exceptionally fast, and is producing a burst of radio emission that has never been observed before. With characteristics that are expected in the early Universe, this unique galaxy provides important insights into the processes that governed the growth of the first black holes.

Only Binary Stars Can Create Interacting Supernovae

When a massive star reaches the end of its life, it explodes as a supernova that can light up the sky for months. But some supernovae stay luminous for much longer, and astrophysicists have wondered what causes their extended brightness. New research points to binary stars, where one star expels material right before the explosion that creates a cocoon of circumstellar medium.

How 'Star City' Reimagined the Space Race With Soviets as the Stars

How do you capture the mood of the 1960s space race in a fictional universe where the Soviets beat the Americans to the moon? The production team for Apple TV's "Star City" series rose to the challenge.

To Ancient Astronomers, Theta Eridani Was Brighter For A Thousand Years. Now We Know Why

Ptolemy and al-Sufi were keen ancient astronomers, one in Greece and one in Persia, whose observations were separated by almost a thousand years. They both noted that the star Theta Eridani was far brighter than it is today. Now we know why.

Ultra-Black Coating Could Mitigate Light Pollution Caused by Satellites

Astrophysicists working tirelessly to tackle the growing impact of satellite constellations have pioneered a new ultra-black coating as one possible way to mitigate the problem.

7,000 Galaxy Clusters, Hiding in Plain Sight

A five year survey by the South Pole Telescope has produced a catalogue of more than seven thousand galaxy clusters, some dating back nearly eight billion years, giving astronomers their most detailed map yet of the universe's largest structures. Hidden inside the data is something even the researchers did not expect, a discovery that is quietly reshaping how we think star formation unfolded across the history of the universe.