Evan Gough

Writer at Universe Today

Writing about space, science, and ...

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Articles

Vast Filament of Hidden Matter Seen for the First Time

1 week ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

Regular matter is properly called baryonic matter. It's made of baryons, which are mostly protons and neutrons (but not electrons). Baryons make up the matter we interact with in everyday life, including our own bodies. Baryonic matter makes up about 5% of the Universe, while dark matter (27%) and dark energy (68%) make up the rest, according to the standard cosmological model, Lambda CDM. However, some of the Universe's baryonic matter has been missing, or unaccounted for.
Tabletop exercises can help us understand and avoid potential conflicts over the moon

1 week ago | phys.org | Evan Gough |Lisa Lock |Andrew Zinin

As different nations begin conducting operations on the lunar surface, humanity's penchant for geopolitical struggles will likely be along for the ride. Tension between nations and/or corporations could grow. There are few rules and treaties that can calm this potential rising tension. What kinds of conflict might erupt and how can it be prevented?
Tabletop Exercises Can Help Us Understand and Avoid Potential Conflicts Over the Moon

1 week ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

As different nations begin conducting operations on the lunar surface, humanity's penchant for geopolitical struggles will likely be along for the ride. Tension between nations and/or corporations could grow. There are few rules and treaties that can calm this potential rising tension. What kinds of conflict might erupt and how can it be prevented? Humans have shown an ineptness when it comes to dividing things fairly.
Do ocean worlds have smaller habitable zones?

1 week ago | phys.org | Evan Gough |Lisa Lock |Robert Egan

Hycean worlds are also called ocean worlds. They're planets covered in oceans that also have thick hydrogen atmospheres. There are no confirmed hycean worlds but many candidates. Even though they're only candidates so far, researchers are curious about their habitability. New research examines the role tidal heating plays in their potential habitability.
These Special Galaxies Lit Up the Cosmic Noon

1 week ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

Star formation peaked during the Cosmic Noon, which spanned from 10 to 12 billion years ago. During Cosmic Noon, star formation was 10 to 100 times greater than it is now. New research shows that a particular class of galaxy was experiencing its first intense burst of star formation during this time. Were these galaxies the progenitors of galaxies like the Milky Way?
Stellar flybys have not altered Earth's climate in the past 56 million years, study finds

1 week ago | phys.org | Evan Gough |Lisa Lock |Robert Egan

If our solar system seems stable, it's because our short lifespans make it seem that way. Earth revolves, night follows day, the moon moves through light and shadow, and the sun hangs in the sky. But in reality, everything is moving and influencing everything else, and the fine balance we observe can easily be disrupted. Could passing stars have disrupted Earth's orbit and ushered in dramatic climatic changes in our planet's past?
Supermassive Black Hole Has More Material Than it Can Consume

1 week ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

If super massive black holes (SMBH) were given a job description, it would tell them to park themselves in the middle of a massive galaxy and consume as much gas, dust, and even stars as they could. Like teenage boys in front of a well-stocked fridge, they're happy to oblige. However, even voracious SMBHs have limits, and astronomers have watched as one of them reached its limit.
Do Hycean Worlds Have Smaller Habitable Zones?

1 week ago | universetoday.com | Evan Gough

Hycean worlds are also called ocean worlds. They're planets covered in oceans that also have thick hydrogen atmospheres. There are no confirmed Hycean worlds—also called ocean worlds—but many candidates. Even though they're only candidates so far, researchers are curious about their habitability. New research examines the role tidal heating plays in their potential habitability.
Did a Passing Star Cause Earth to Warm 56 Million Years Ago?

1 week ago | sciencealert.com | Evan Gough

If our Solar System seems stable, it's because our short lifespans make it seem that way. Earth revolves, night follows day, the Moon moves through light and shadow, and the Sun hangs in the sky. But in reality, everything is moving and influencing everything else, and the fine balance we observe can easily be disrupted. Could passing stars have disrupted Earth's orbit and ushered in dramatic climatic changes in our planet's past?
The mother of all meteor showers could threaten satellites

1 week ago | phys.org | Evan Gough |Lisa Lock |Robert Egan

Shortly after astronomers detected asteroid 2024 YR4 on December 27, 2024, they realized it posed no threat to Earth. But it could still impact the moon in 2032. The impact debris could threaten satellites and trigger an extraordinarily stunning meteor shower.