Cosmic rays can come from distant supernovas, black holes and even the sun, and they constantly lash Earth's upper atmosphere. When they splinter as they interact with air molecules, they produce ...

Researchers think that during the most active part of the sun's 11-year cycle, known as solar maximum, fewer cosmic rays reach the planet because its magnetic field is strengthened by the constant ...

A story that begins with three animals riding in a balloon ends with the discovery of protons impacting our atmosphere with ...

"Magnetar birth rates and formation scenarios are among the most pressing questions in high-energy astrophysics." ...

A distant galaxy that lay quiet for decades has suddenly stirred, lighting up in dramatic bursts that have caught astronomers ...

For some Dallas-area scientists, the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, was more than just a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic ...

Kilonova explosions from neutron star collisions may damage atmospheres and threaten life if nearby, according to a new study ...

Additionally, ancient humans may have ramped up their use of ochre. This naturally occurring pigment is composed of iron ...

A mysterious black hole in a distant galaxy just woke up after decades of silence—and it’s putting on a cosmic light show! ESA’s XMM-Newton and other X-ray telescopes are capturing massive bursts of ...

Scientists have revealed a hidden trigger of lightning that could resolve a centuries-old weather mystery. Earth is struck by some 44 bolts of lightning each second, on average. Despite this, ...