ScienceDaily: Space & Time News


Not just for finding planets: Exoplanet-hunter TESS telescope spots bright gamma-ray burst

Posted: 30 Apr 2021 10:54 AM PDT

NASA has a long tradition of unexpected discoveries, and the space program's TESS mission is no different. Astrophysicists have discovered a particularly bright gamma-ray burst using a NASA telescope designed to find exoplanets - those occurring outside our solar system - particularly those that might be able to support life. It's the first time a gamma-ray burst has been found this way.

Small galaxies likely played important role in evolution of the Universe

Posted: 30 Apr 2021 06:31 AM PDT

A study found evidence of a galaxy in a 'blow-away' state, which could give more insight into the Universe's early stages.

Using cosmic-ray neutron bursts to understand gamma-ray bursts from lightning

Posted: 28 Apr 2021 10:30 AM PDT

Analysis of data from a lightning mapper and a small, hand-held radiation detector has unexpectedly shed light on what a gamma-ray burst from lightning might look like - by observing neutrons generated from soil by very large cosmic-ray showers.