Bookmarks (3) clear filters

Astronomers photographed two planets orbiting a sun-like star for the first time ever. Because the planets are so far from their star — much further than any planet in our solar system — they come through clearly in the image. Future telescopes could study this young star and its planets in more detail to learn about how systems like ours form. Visit Business Insider's...

Astronomers have discovered a black hole just 1,000 light-years from our solar system — the closest ever found. Usually scientists find black holes by detecting the X-rays they emit, but scientists stumbled upon this one when they observed two stars orbiting each other and realized a massive, invisible object was in the mix. There could be millions of other silent black holes like this...

Phosphorus is key in forming DNA and giving rise to life on Earth, but the element is rare in the universe. Scientists don't know how Earth got its phosphorus, but scientists just found phosphorus-carrying molecules forming around newborn stars.  Researchers found the same molecules on a comet orbiting Jupiter. A new study suggests that comets from newborn stars may have delivered the life-giving element...