habitat
The natural home and environment for all things sci fi, including future homes and territories.
VASIMR Plasma Engines: The Next Leap Toward Interplanetary Travel
For more than half a century, humanity has been dreaming of Mars. Countless films, novels, and scientific proposals picture astronauts stepping onto the Red Planet’s dusty plains. Yet despite all the excitement, one stubborn obstacle remains: getting there in a reasonable amount of time.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
Earendel: The Most Distant Star Ever Detected
In the spring of 2022, astronomers spotted something extraordinary through the Hubble Space Telescope: a tiny glimmer of light from the edge of the observable universe. At first, many believed it could be a distant galaxy, or perhaps just a cluster of stars blurred together. But now, thanks to the unprecedented clarity of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists have confirmed that this faint spark is, in fact, a single star.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
Millions of Small Bodies Threatening Earth Will Soon Be Visible — Predictions from LSST and Next-Generation Sky Surveys
For decades, the night sky has looked like a familiar canvas, dotted with stars, planets, and the occasional streak of a meteor. Yet beneath this seemingly calm picture hides a dynamic swarm of small bodies — asteroids, comets, and other fragments left over from the birth of our Solar System. Many of them cross paths with Earth, sometimes uncomfortably close. Until now, only a fraction of these objects have been cataloged. But that is about to change.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
New Observations of Exoplanet WASP-52 b Reveal Helium and Water Despite Its Host Star’s Fierce Radiation
When astronomers first began discovering exoplanets in the 1990s, most of them were little more than faint dots of light in distant skies. Today, thanks to advanced telescopes and precise techniques, these alien worlds are no longer just points in the dark—they are objects we can study in detail, even down to the chemical makeup of their atmospheres. Recently, the hot Jupiter known as WASP-52 b has surprised astronomers with a remarkable discovery: signs of both helium and water vapor in its atmosphere. This is astonishing, considering the harsh radiation from its host star, which should, in theory, strip such fragile molecules away.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
A Record-Breaking System: The Exoplanet Family Racing Through the Galaxy
Astronomy has a way of surprising us, even when we think we’ve seen it all. We’re used to hearing about new stars, exoplanets, or distant nebulae lighting up the cosmic stage. But sometimes, discoveries are so striking that they make us pause and reimagine what’s possible in the universe.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Mysterious “Dark Beads” Above Saturn’s Pole: JWST Unveils a Cosmic Puzzle
Saturn has always been one of the most enigmatic worlds in our solar system. Known for its dazzling rings, its golden-hued atmosphere, and its bizarre six-sided polar storm, the gas giant is a favorite subject of astronomers. Yet just when we think we’ve learned most of its secrets, Saturn surprises us again. Recently, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured something utterly unexpected in the planet’s northern atmosphere: a string of strange, dark structures scientists are calling “mysterious dark beads.”
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Most Distant Quasar: A Glimpse Into the Dawn of the Universe
Astronomers have recently made a discovery that pushes the limits of our cosmic vision: the most distant quasar ever found. This ancient beacon of light formed just 500 million years after the Big Bang—when the Universe itself was still in its infancy. Peering at this quasar is like looking back across time to witness the first chapters of cosmic history.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
A New System of “Super-Earths” Found Around Star Gliese: Multiple Potentially Habitable Worlds Discovered
Astronomers have once again delivered a discovery that could reshape our understanding of the universe. Orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese, scientists have identified a remarkable planetary system that includes several so-called “super-Earths.” These are worlds larger than our planet, yet still small and rocky enough to resemble Earth in their physical makeup.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
The Biggest Explosion Since the Big Bang: Astronomers Uncover Traces of a Cosmic Cataclysm
The universe has always been full of surprises. For decades, scientists believed that nothing could rival the scale of the Big Bang — the primordial event that gave birth to space, time, and all matter. But recent observations suggest that billions of years later, the cosmos staged another show of unimaginable power. Astronomers have now confirmed evidence of the largest explosion since the Big Bang, a cosmic outburst so powerful that it reshaped an entire region of space.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
A New Moon of Mars Discovered: A Tiny Satellite Even Closer Than Phobos
For decades, Mars has fascinated scientists and dreamers alike. We often imagine its red deserts, its ancient riverbeds, and the possibility of life once having thrived there. But Mars also has a small and curious family of moons — Phobos and Deimos — which have long been considered its only companions. Recently, however, astronomers were stunned by a remarkable discovery: a brand-new, miniature moon orbiting the planet even closer than Phobos, rewriting what we thought we knew about Mars and its satellites.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
Strange Geysers on Europa: JUICE Confirms Active Plumes
When it comes to the most mysterious places in our Solar System, few worlds inspire as much curiosity as Europa, the icy moon of Jupiter. For decades, scientists have suspected that beneath Europa’s frozen crust lies a vast ocean of liquid water — an ocean that might harbor conditions suitable for life. Now, the European Space Agency’s JUICE mission (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) has confirmed what many astronomers have long hoped: Europa is home to active geysers that shoot water into space.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
Evidence for a “Fifth Dimension”: Cosmology Hints at New Laws of Physics
Modern science often feels like it is edging closer to science fiction. From black holes that swallow light to galaxies drifting apart at ever-increasing speeds, the universe never ceases to surprise us. Yet among the most intriguing ideas gaining attention today is the possibility that our cosmos may not be confined to the four familiar dimensions—length, width, height, and time. Instead, new cosmological evidence hints at the existence of a fifth dimension, an unseen layer of reality that could radically reshape our understanding of physics.
By Holianyk Ihor4 months ago in Futurism
