Press Releases
What fireworks can teach us about the sky at night
With New Years Eve on the horizon, scientists reveal just why fireworks are differently coloured and what this can teach us about stars in space.
Elements commonly found in salts are used to make the colours in fireworks. The colours are caused when the elements are heated, causing them to release light in different colours, from bright blues to deep reds.
First JWST observations of a 鈥楰ilonova鈥� merger of two stars
For the first time, the JWST has observed the rare merger of two dense neutron stars (known as a kilonova) – in a spiral galaxy a billion light years away.
Satellite swarm to provide 鈥榤issing link鈥� between space weather and space debris
The European Space Agency (ESA) has funded a new mission concept involving a 鈥渟warm鈥� of satellites to address the growing threat of . The news comes as just this week the US government issued its to a company for leaving space junk orbiting the Earth.
The fourth state of matter: How Sun's plasma could help answer humanity's challenges
Scientists are studying plasma in the Sun鈥檚 atmosphere, to help address some of humanity鈥檚 greatest challenges – from harnessing an endless source of green energy to building knowledge of the Earth鈥檚 climate.
Two-faced star exposed in first for astronomy
An unusual white dwarf star is made of hydrogen on one side and helium on the other.
Play 鈥榮pot the difference鈥� to help scientists identify cosmic explosions
Members of the public are invited to take part in a brand new citizen science project to identify cosmic explosions in real-time.