Formation of a single massive galaxy through time in the TNG50 cosmic simulation

Creating this simulation took a supercomputer over a year.

Watch a galaxy form over more than 13 billion years

Come Together

Scientists used a powerful supercomputer to create a new simulation that lets you see a galaxy form over the course of 13.8 billion years.

Watch a Galaxy Form Over More Than 13 Billion Years

Scientists had to speed the simulation up just a little bit.

It fills a "missing link" in our understanding of the universe.

Astronomers find evidence of a "monster galaxy" like no other

Missing Link

A newly discovered monster galaxy fills a gap in astronomers' understanding of galactic formation soon after the birth of the universe.

Astronomers Find Evidence of A “Monster Galaxy” Like No Other

They're comparing the discovery to spotting a Yeti's footprints.

Our ravenous galaxy keeps stealing smaller galaxies

Snatched Up

At least six of the smaller galaxies orbiting the Milky Way were stolen from one of its other satellites, according to new research.

Our Ravenous Galaxy Keeps Stealing Smaller Galaxies

At least six of the Milky Way's satellites used to belong to another galaxy.

Astronomers discover an entire population of ancient galaxies

We See You

Astronomers have discovered 39 massive ancient galaxies — and they could inform our understanding of everything from black holes to dark matter.

Astronomers Discover an Entire Population of Ancient Galaxies

And they could shed new light on everything from black holes to dark matter.

"These are very compact, blue, luminous sources."

"Cold quasar" discovery sheds light on galactic death

Final Days

A researcher has discovered a new phase known as the "cold quasar" that could upend our understanding of galaxies' lifecycle.

“Cold Quasar” Discovery Sheds Light on Galactic Death

We never knew this phase in the galactic lifecycle existed.

"The new mass estimate puts our galaxy on the beefier side, compared to other galaxies in the universe."

New NASA measurements: Milky Way galaxy is "on the beefier side"

Galaxy Quest

New data collected by NASA, using two space telescopes, shows that the vast majority of our galaxy's mass is dark matter.

New NASA Measurements: Milky Way Galaxy Is “On the Beefier Side”

New data shows that the vast majority of our galaxy's mass is dark matter.

It turns out our galaxy isn't the flat disk we once thought.

The Milky Way is a lot more warped than scientists thought

Distinct Kink

A new 3D map of the Milky Way galaxy shows a different structure than scientists expected. It turns out the outer disk is all warped out of shape.

The Milky Way is a Lot More Warped Than Scientists Thought

A new 3D map shows that our galaxy isn't nearly as tidy as we thought.

Believe it or not, scientists have been trying to do this for a long time.

A new trick lets us weigh the galaxy. It's the first step toward figuring out what it's made of

Off World

By changing the way we try to calculate galactic mass, we have a better chance of understanding how dark and luminous matter fit together.

A New Trick Lets Us Weigh The Galaxy. It’s The First Step Toward Figuring Out What It’s Made Of

So that we can finally understand dark matter. 

"Icarus" is 100 times farther than the previous most distant star we've seen.

Four notable things about the most distant star scientists have ever glimpsed

Thanks to gravitational lensing, the Hubble telescope captured an image of the most distant star ever seen, 9 million light years away.

Four Notable Things About the Most Distant Star Scientists Have Ever Glimpsed

Looking at the distant star is literally looking back in time.

For one thing, it completely changes how we think galaxies owrk

Scientists found a galaxy with almost no dark matter. Here's what that means.

Hard Science

A galaxy known as DF2 contains almost no dark matter, challenging what researchers thought they knew about how galaxies form.

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