An astronomer takes us on a tour of the universe to learn about the birth of stars and planets and how they get their spin.
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Articles on Sun
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Spending too long in the sun can damage your DNA. But what about if you retreat back to the shade? How long does it take to get back to normal?
Our ancient ancestors didn’t have clothes or houses – but that constant exposure to the sun helped their skin protect itself from the worst sun damage.
Rising concern about possible environmental damage from the active ingredients in sunscreens could have ripple effects on public health if it causes people to use less of them.
After the announcement of President Biden’s heat initiative, The Conversation revisits stories on high summer temperatures and human health.
Popular belief suggests the highest tides in the St. Lawrence River are reached around the equinoxes. In truth, they arrive close to the solstices.
Space weather can affect satellites in a number of different ways, from frying electronics to increasing drag in the atmosphere.
The sun has entered a phase causing more chances to see the northern lights in the UK, an expert explains.
Penguins will have the best seat in the house as a total solar eclipse passes over Antarctica on December 4. Australia and New Zealand will experience a minor partial eclipse, but not a noticeable one.
The fastest things ever made by humans are spacecraft, and the fastest spacecraft reached 330,000 mph – only 0.05% the speed of light. But there are ways to go faster.
Such a mission could be developed soon, allowing astrophysicists to take selfies of the solar system and use the Sun’s gravity as a lens to peer deep into space.
For the first time ever, astronomers have astrophysical evidence that Jupiter and many other planets will survive the death of the Sun.
Scientists have a good estimate on the staggering number of stars in the universe.
The temperature of the Sun’s surface is about 6,000℃. But higher above the surface, in the atmosphere, it suddenly shoots up to more than a million degrees!
Without a magnetic field, the Moon’s surface is exposed to solar wind. These could have been depositing resources like water and potential rocket fuel on the Moon’s surface for billions of years.
When heat in doesn’t equal heat out, Earth sees changes.
Astronomers know a lot about what’s in outer space – and think it’s possible it never ends.
Test out scientific ideas, connect with your ancestors or just marvel at the beauty of nature.
The vast majority of people will be oblivious to what’s going on above their heads.
Alfvén waves, first proposed 80 years ago, could explain why the sun’s atmosphere is so much hotter than its surface.
Top contributors
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Senior Curator (Astronomy), Museums Victoria, and Honorary Fellow, The University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor, RMIT University
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Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham
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Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University
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Professor (Physics), University of Southern Queensland
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Director, Abrams Planetarium, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University
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Head, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences; Professor of Medicine, Monash University
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Research Assistant Professor, Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University
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Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland
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Adjunct Professor, School of Psychology, Curtin University and College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University
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Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Solar Physics, Monash University
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Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland
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Professor of Dermatology, The University of Queensland
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Chief Specialist Scientist (Public Health), South African Medical Research Council
