Can an Asteroid's Movements Reveal a New Force in the Universe?

By Brian Koberlein - October 14, 2024 11:29 AM UTC | Physics
When NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission arrived at asteroid Bennu, its primary mission was to grab a sample and bring it home to Earth. But researchers also tracked its movements carefully throughout the encounter, and this data could help physicists probe for additional forces in the Universe. Although additional forces haven't been found, the observations help set constraints on what's possible. The spacecraft's upcoming encounter with Apophis will continue the experiment.
Continue reading

A Black Hole has Destroyed a Star, and Used the Wreckage to Pummel Another Star

By Brian Koberlein - October 11, 2024 09:05 AM UTC | Black Holes
Astronomers have discovered the telltale signature of a supermassive black hole that recently tore a star apart that came too close. This is known as a tidal disruption event, and it causes a flash of X-ray radiation that's detectable from our space telescopes. The expanding debris cloud from the shredded star has drifted into the path of another star, which is now repeatedly crashing through the cloud every 48 hours, sending out additional flares.
Continue reading