deep space

Molecular emission lines from mysterious icy bodies captured by ALMA. The background image is a composite color map of the AE, with 1.2-micron light shown in blue and 4.5-micron light in red, based on AE data from 2MASS and WISE. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), T. Shimonishi et al. (Niigata Univ.)

Alien ice or cosmic relic? Scientists wonder about chilling discovery in deep space

Scientists have discovered two mysterious interstellar objects containing water-rich ice and organic molecules, but their characteristics do not match any known objects. Are these cosmic relics or a new environment for the formation of living molecules?
In this image, the complex dust lanes of the galaxy are a spectacular sight. NGC 4753 is about 60 million light years away in the constellation Virgo. Photo by ESO's Gemini South Telescope in Chile

Gemini South Observatory images NGC 4753's spiral dust disk, the result of a galaxy merger

NGC 4753 was discovered in 1784 by astronomer William Herschel and has some fascinating features. In this image, the complex dust lanes of the galaxy are a spectacular sight. NGC 4753 is about 60
Artist's rendering showing the Voyager spacecraft flying through space against the background of the stars. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Engineers have solved the data problem on NASA's Voyager 1 - but there are still glitches

It turns out that the fault lies in the fact that a certain device that is still working tried to transfer the data through the spacecraft's main computer, which has been malfunctioning for many years. The engineers found a way around this