What Happens Inside a Nebula: How Stars, Gas, and Dust Shape the Universe
Explore the physics inside nebulae, from star birth and stellar death to radiation, chemistry, and structure.
Explore the physics inside nebulae, from star birth and stellar death to radiation, chemistry, and structure.
Supernovae power chemical enrichment, drive galaxy evolution, and leave behind neutron stars and black holes.
I. What is Interstellar Glycolaldehyde? Interstellar glycolaldehyde is a simple sugar molecule that has been detected in the interstellar medium, the vast space between stars in our galaxy. It is a key building block for the formation of more complex organic molecules, including sugars and amino acids, which are essential for life as we know … Read more
Learn how pulsars form, why they flash so precisely, and what their signals reveal about neutron stars, magnetism, and relativity.
Learn why some stellar explosions leave neutron stars behind, while others form black holes or nothing at all.
Learn how near a supernova must be to threaten Earth, what kinds of damage it could cause, and why distance matters more than brightness.
Learn how massive stars collapse after a supernova and under what conditions that explosion leaves behind a black hole.
Discover how nebulae collapse, fragment, and ignite to form stars, from cold gas clouds to protostars and newborn stellar systems.
I. What is the Antikythera Mechanism? The Antikythera Mechanism is an ancient Greek analog computer that was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes. It is considered one of the most complex devices from antiquity and is often referred to as the world’s first analog computer. The mechanism was discovered … Read more
Learn how magnetars generate ultra-strong magnetic fields, power flares, and differ from ordinary neutron stars.