Holianyk Ihor
Bio
Stories (419)
Filter by community
Uranus’ New Moon — The Smallest Ever Found
In early 2025, astronomers were once again reminded that even in our own Solar System, surprises still await discovery. Using the sharp eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers identified a tiny new moon orbiting Uranus. Temporarily designated S/2025 U 1, this object is only about 10 kilometers (6 miles) across, making it the smallest known moon of the distant ice giant.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
The Universe as a Quantum Process
When we gaze at the night sky, the cosmos feels infinite, majestic, and timeless. Stars shine steadily, galaxies stretch out across unimaginable distances, and everything appears stable. Yet modern science suggests a surprising truth: behind this apparent permanence lies a world ruled by uncertainty, probabilities, and fluctuations. More and more physicists are exploring the idea that the universe itself may be a quantum process — a vast system unfolding according to the laws of quantum mechanics.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
Humanity as a Galactic Civilization
The idea of humanity becoming a galactic civilization sounds like something out of a science fiction novel. Yet if we take a step back and look at the history of our species, it feels less like fantasy and more like the natural continuation of a pattern. Humans have always been explorers. From the moment our ancestors ventured out of caves to sail oceans, climb mountains, and eventually reach the skies, we have expanded the boundaries of the known world. Our next frontier isn’t just another continent or even another planet — it’s the stars themselves.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
Why Are Some Stars Blue?
When we look up at the night sky, it often feels timeless and familiar. The stars twinkle like scattered jewels, and most appear white or slightly yellowish to the naked eye. Yet, if you observe carefully—or even better, through a telescope—you’ll notice that not all stars share the same shade. Some gleam in a striking blue light, brighter and sharper than their neighbors. But why are certain stars blue? What cosmic secrets are hidden behind this intense color?
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
Micronovae: The Lesser-Known Cosmic Explosions
When most people hear the word explosion in the context of space, their minds usually leap to spectacular events like supernovae—massive stellar outbursts that light up entire galaxies and mark the end of a star’s life. Others may think of novae, sudden but relatively less destructive flares that occur when white dwarfs steal matter from nearby stars. But hidden in the cosmic playbook lies a far quieter, far shorter, and only recently discovered kind of explosion: the micronova.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Education
Bioreactors for Space: Living Factories of the Future
As humanity moves closer to the age of long-term space exploration and colonization, one practical challenge grows louder: how can we sustain life far from Earth? Rockets can’t simply carry endless supplies of food, oxygen, and clean water for astronauts heading to Mars or building habitats on the Moon. The solution may lie in an elegant fusion of biology and engineering — bioreactors, compact “living factories” designed to keep astronauts alive and thriving beyond our planet.
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
Dark Exoplanets That Swallow Light
When we gaze at the night sky, we imagine planets as bright, reflective worlds glowing with the light of their parent stars. After all, that’s how we see Venus and Jupiter in our own solar system—by the sunlight bouncing off their clouds and surfaces. But astronomers have discovered a bizarre class of planets that defy this simple logic. These worlds are so dark that they reflect less light than coal or asphalt. They are known as dark exoplanets, and they are some of the strangest objects ever observed beyond our solar system.
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
Dark Exoplanets That Swallow Light
When we gaze at the night sky, we imagine planets as bright, reflective worlds glowing with the light of their parent stars. After all, that’s how we see Venus and Jupiter in our own solar system—by the sunlight bouncing off their clouds and surfaces. But astronomers have discovered a bizarre class of planets that defy this simple logic. These worlds are so dark that they reflect less light than coal or asphalt. They are known as dark exoplanets, and they are some of the strangest objects ever observed beyond our solar system.
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
Betelgeuse: Lesser-Known Facts About Orion’s Shoulder Star
When most people hear the name Betelgeuse, they immediately think of its dramatic future — the moment it will one day explode as a supernova. This impending cosmic firework show has captured the imagination of astronomers and stargazers alike. But focusing only on its explosive finale overlooks just how fascinating Betelgeuse already is. Long before it goes out in a blaze of glory, this red supergiant has been shaping history, science, and culture in remarkable ways.
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
How Scientists Measure the Age of Stars
The stars shine so steadily and so far away that it feels impossible to imagine them having a beginning or an end. Yet every star has a “date of birth” and a life cycle that eventually comes to an end. Astronomers have developed several clever methods to estimate how old stars are—even though nobody was around to watch them form.
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
What Are Cosmic Jets and Why Are They So Powerful?
If you ever found yourself near a young star, a neutron star, or a black hole, you might witness one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles in the universe — a cosmic jet. These are enormous streams of matter and energy blasting into space at nearly the speed of light. They appear as brilliant beams shooting from the poles of celestial objects, sometimes stretching for thousands or even millions of light-years. But what exactly are these cosmic “fire hoses,” and why are they so incredibly powerful?
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
The Mystery of “Dark” Galaxies Without Stars
When most of us picture a galaxy, we imagine vast spirals of radiant stars, glowing nebulae, and brilliant cores shining across unimaginable distances. Galaxies are often described as cosmic cities of light, each home to billions or even trillions of suns. But in recent decades, astronomers have stumbled upon a puzzling phenomenon that challenges this idea: so-called dark galaxies.
By Holianyk Ihor5 months ago in Education
