Astrophysical research

Visible coronal loops observed by the TRACE spacecraft. Credit: NASA/TRACE

NASA Just Found the Sun's Secret Warning Before Massive Solar Outbursts

This discovery could help NASA and other organizations protect astronauts, satellites, and technologies on the ground from the potentially harmful effects of space weather.
This image from the ALMA telescope shows the star system HD101584 and the complex gas clouds surrounding the binary pair. The clouds are the result of two stars that shared a common outer layer in the last moments of their lives. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), Olofsson et al., : Robert Cumming.

Dead and Alive: Astronomers Reveal Star Pairs That Are Changing Our Universe

Astronomers have discovered for the first time pairs of binary star systems, consisting of the remnant of a dead star (a white dwarf) and a living star (a main sequence star), within young clusters
This figure shows a stage in the merger of two galaxies that creates a single galaxy with two supermassive black holes at the center and surrounded by disks of hot gas. The black holes orbit each other for hundreds of millions of years as they merge to form a single supermassive black hole that sends out powerful gravitational waves. Credit: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart

Gravitational waves hint that the universe still has secrets

New research sheds light on the origin of low-frequency ripples in space-time
The 25 most interesting images taken by the Chandra Space Telescope in its 25 years so far. Credit: NASA/SAO/CXC

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory Celebrates 25 Years With Impressive Cosmic Images

Since its launch in 1999, Chandra has helped unravel cosmic mysteries, supported the research of thousands of astronomers, and maintained its status as a cornerstone of astrophysical research.