We’ve long known that we could not account for all of the matter in the galaxy—with its evidence visible through gravitational force but its presence simply not observable. Now, two different groups have made a substantial discovery: half of it can be attributed to particles called baryons (rather than dark matter), which links galaxies together “through filaments of hot, diffuse gas,” according to New Scientist. …
The Golden Records (first created to be taken aboard the Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977) were always intended for extraterrestrial ears. Made with 55 greetings in different languages, nature sounds, plus all kinds of music, the contents were chosen by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan. With tracks from Beethoven to Chuck Berry, the records were meant to serve as a welcome for alien life, …
Beautifully illustrated by artist Kelsey Oseid, the new hardcover “What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky” explores the long-lasting human fascination with outer space. From identifying and explaining the constellations to myths, stories, science and more, the book contains 100+ hand-painted images. For kids and adults alike, it’s a delightful trip into the cosmos.