Astronomers identify mystery object at centre of galaxy

Astronomers have solved a mystery about a thin, bizarre object, known as G2, headed toward the monster black hole at the centre of our galaxy. While some scientists believed G2 was a cloud of hydrogen gas that the black hole would tear apart in a fiery show, the new study found it was more interesting. Instead, the team found it was a pair of binary stars. The pair had also been orbiting the black hole together and merged together into an extremely large star, cloaked in gas and dust. The black hole’s powerful gravitational field choreographed the event.

Why did dinosaurs have feathers long before flight?

It has been proposed that these ancient lizards had a highly developed colour sensitivity, and that feathers made them more colourful, aiding communication, mate selection and procreation.

Vulcanism may have triggered water flow on early Mars

Volcanic eruptions could have kept Mars warm enough for liquid water to intermittently flow across its ancient surface.

Hungry black hole found to eat faster than thought possible

Astronomers have found a black hole consuming a nearby star 10 times faster than previously thought possible.

Hint of dark matter found?

Astrophysicists have measured a curious signal that they say might come from the mysterious dark matter, an invisible substance detected so far only through its gravity.

Dark matter: half as much as previously thought?

A new measurement of “dark matter” in our galaxy indicates there is half as much of the mysterious substance as previously thought.

Comet landing: Philae finds organic molecules

The Philae comet-lander has found traces of organic molecules on the surface of the comet 67P.

Interstellar Complex Or­gan­ic Mol­e­cule Detected

The most complex organic molecule detected in interstellar space thus far: isopropyl cyanide.

Mystery fossils seem to represent tiny balls of cells

The new specimens, Megaclonophycus, slightly under a millimetre wide, are thought to offer a window onto the early evolution of complex multicellular organisms.

Seal-like beast gave rise to dinosaur-era sea monsters

Researchers say they have found a fossil of a seal-like animal that represents an ancestral form of ichthyosaurs — which were believed to have evolved out of land-dwelling animals, though a “missing link” tying them to such creatures was missing.  The new fossil is said to fill that gap by displaying amphibious capabilities.

Newfound particle might not be famous Higgs

Many calculations indicate a particle discovered in a giant particle accelerator in Switzerland in 2012 was an entity famously known as the Higgs boson.  But it might be something else, a research team claims.

Storms flare up on Uranus

Storms are churning up the normally bland blue-green face of Uranus—creating huge cloud systems visible for the first time in even amateur astronomers’ telescopes.

Feeling of seeing the world in detail is illusory

We usually think we can see the world around us in sharp detail.  In reality, that’s only true for a tiny patch our field of vision — an area about the size of the thumbnail of our outstretched hand. The rest is blurred. But the brain fools us into thinking otherwise by using memory to fill in the blanks.

Rosetta mission lands Philae probe on comet

After a 10-year journey, Philae has landed on the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet after being launched from the space probe Rosetta. Astrophysicists hope Philae will unlock knowledge about the origins of the solar system and even life on Earth, which some believe may have started with comets seeding the planet with life-giving carbon molecules and water.

Heart of supernova reveals hints of hidden pulsar

Astronomers have detected the first signs of the birth of a neutron star at the heart of a supernova remnant.

Comet 'sings a mysterious song'

The Rosetta mission has detected a mysterious signal coming from Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Through some kind of interaction in the comet's environment, 67P's weak magnetic field seems to be oscillating at low frequencies.

Gut bacteria evolved rapidly as humans evolved

As humans diverged from the other apes our gut flora evolved rapidly, with selection favouring bacteria more specialised for living off meat-based diets, an unsurprising new study finds.