StartsWithABang

@startswithabang
1.5K Followers
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348 Posts
The Universe is expanding, cooling, and dark. It started with a bang, and I'm here to bring it all to you!

Yes, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is older than the Solar System

When we first spotted 3I/ATLAS, its trajectory told us it might be older than the Solar System.

Today, three even stronger lines of evidence point to its ancient age.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/3i-atlas-older-solar-system/

Famous globular cluster Terzan 5: an imposter after all

One of the largest, most famous globular clusters in our Milky Way is Terzan 5.

Only, it might not be a true globular cluster after all.

In fact, many of them might be imposters.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/globular-cluster-terzan-5-imposter/

Ask Ethan: How do space telescopes stay focused?

Focusing a space telescope takes a lot more than just making a perfectly-shaped mirror and launching it.

Keeping it focused, especially with moving parts, takes a whole lot more

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/how-space-telescopes-focus/

The entire quantum Universe exists inside a single atom

If you looked deep enough inside even one single atom, you'd find the entire story of the Universe, including all the forces and particles, encoded inside of it

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/entire-quantum-universe-inside-single-atom/

Rarest elements reveal planets eaten by white dwarfs

The lightest and rarest of the heavy elements, beryllium and boron, have now been found on a white dwarf.

Is it evidence of a recently devoured planet, or perhaps something better?

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/elements-planets-white-dwarfs/

The most overlooked fact about JWST's Little Red Dots

We've identified a lot of factors that help explain JWST's mysterious Little Red Dots, but big questions still remain.

Could a suppression of low-mass stars be the next big clue?

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/overlooked-fact-jwst-little-red-dots/

A single illustration reveals the entirety of cosmic history

It took 13.8 billion years for the Grand Cosmic Story to actually unfold.

Why not view the whole thing in one illustration: from before the Big Bang to humanity's modern rise?

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/single-illustration-entire-cosmic-history/

Ask Ethan: How are black holes active if nothing escapes from them?

Nothing can escape from inside a black hole.

But black holes launch jets, flares, radiation, antimatter, and much more all the time.

Here's the reconciliation.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/black-holes-active-if-nothing-escapes/

Move over, giant meteor. Here’s what the largest comet would do to Earth

Quit praying for a giant meteor to fix our problems here on Earth.

It's much better to pray for comet Bernadelli-Bernstein: the Solar System's largest comet ever.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/largest-comet-earth/

10 big questions about the search for life beyond Earth

Every time scientists talk about life beyond Earth, audience questions range from profound to unexpected.

Here are honest, up-to-date answer to 10 of the most interesting ones.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/big-questions-life-beyond-earth/