State-of-the-art computer simulations show that the first water in the Universe formed in primordial supernova remnants 100 Myr after the Big Bang, enriching future sites of planet formation to levels that were nearly those in the Solar System today.

Using JWST, more than 40 individual stars have been detected in a distant galaxy, dating back to when the Universe was only half of its current age. The stars appear to be red (super)giants that are magnified by factors of hundreds.

Microscale fluctuations originating from the mirror instability can effectively keep sub-teraelectronvolt cosmic rays confined to galaxy clusters and explain recent observations.

Benzene formation via sequential cold ion–molecule reactions is followed experimentally to understand how aromatic molecules are formed in interstellar clouds. Surprisingly, the chain of reactions involving the addition of acetylene terminates at C₆H₅⁺.

ILT J1101 is a white dwarf–M dwarf binary that emits minute-duration radio pulses with a 2-h periodicity. The period of the radio pulses is linked to the orbital period of the binary, rather than the rotation period of the stellar components.

Numerical simulations reveal how deep ocean circulation in Saturn’s moon Enceladus transports hydrothermal heat and organic matter emitted at the seafloor to the surface ice shell, feeding the moon’s unique plume.

ALMA observations have established the presence of warm, X-ray-heated gas near a supermassive black hole at redshift z = 6, demonstrating that highly excited CO lines are a powerful method for exploring heavily dust-obscured quasars in the early Universe.

The authors report the photometric detection of the distant spectroscopically confirmed galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0 at z > 14 with JWST/MIRI. The inferred properties suggest rapid mass assembly and metal enrichment during the earliest phases of galaxy formation.

State-of-the-art computer simulations show that the first water in the Universe formed in primordial supernova remnants 100 Myr after the Big Bang, enriching future sites of planet formation to levels that were nearly those in the Solar System today.

The adage that ideas are cheap in astronomy, with execution being paramount, may already be obsolete. The impact of large language models (LLMs) on research looms on the horizon, compelling the astronomy community to reevaluate the very metrics of merit, the definition of research identity and methodology, and the foundations of education.