Since the late 1950s, we have been aware of the existence of radiation belts around Earth and Jupiter. A radiation belt is a doughnut-shaped region around an object created by its magnetic field. Charged particles (mainly electrons, but not exclusively) are trapped in this region... click to read more

What's out there? — We always have lots to learn from "others". The hunt for extrasolar planets (exoplanets) sets us to explore the diversity of the universe around us. An exoplanet is a planet orbiting around a star outside the Solar System. In the last few... click to read more

Complex life on Earth requires oxygen. Understanding how oxygen levels have evolved on our planet can provide an insight into our own evolution and the possibility of complex life evolving elsewhere. Current theories suggest that Earth's O2 levels have risen three times over its 4.5... click to read more

The mild oscillation of Earth's axial tilt, or obliquity, over time is less than a few degrees and is one of the reasons that complex lifeforms prospered on our planet. Will this be true if the giant planets are replaced by a Sun-like star? Alpha... click to read more

KELT-9 is a hot blue star in the constellation Cygnus. It has a temperature of over 10,000 K and a mass that is over twice larger than the Sun. It is very luminous (though not visible with the naked eye) and as such belongs to... click to read more