As the sun rises on a new academic year, a brand-new Bruin urges us to look up
Abraham Amiri, who escaped the Taliban, is pursuing his passion for planetary sciences — and inviting the UCLA community to join in.
astronomy
Results
Planetary defense test deflected an asteroid but unleashed a boulder swarm
A UCLA-led study of NASA’s DART mission determined that the strategy presents previously unanticipated risks.
Astrophysicists confirm the faintest galaxy ever seen in the early universe
The small, distant galaxy JD1 is typical of the kind that burned off hydrogen fog left over from the Big Bang.
Study could help solve mystery of the disappearing twins
A UCLA-led team of astronomers found, surprisingly, that there are no young binary stars near the Milky Way’s black hole.
Earth-like planets may be an inevitability
A UCLA-led study looks at how water might be formed by planets across the galaxy and why Earth-like planets may be common.
A mysterious object is being dragged into the supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s center
Research by UCLA and Keck Observatory scientists concluded that the object, X7, could be a debris cloud from a stellar collision.
Edward Wright named American Astronomical Society fellow
The professor, who started teaching at UCLA in 1981, is being honored for his contributions to two NASA missions.
UCLA-led study explains how one of Saturn’s moons ejects particles from oceans beneath its surface
“Enceladus is giving us free samples of what’s hidden deep below,” says Ashley Schoenfeld, a UCLA doctoral student.
Are we alone in the universe? UCLA astronomers enlist the public to find out
Anyone with a computer or smartphone can help scientists classify radio signals that could reveal existence of intelligent life elsewhere.
7 professors named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
The honorees are Roger Wakimoto, Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Kenneth Nagy, Yi Tang, Tommaso Treu, Christine Dunkel Schetter and Gary Orfield.
How was the solar system formed? The Ryugu asteroid is helping us learn
UCLA scientists have discovered that minerals were being produced through reactions with water more than 4.5 billion years ago.
Webb Space Telescope reveals birth of galaxies, how universe became transparent
Studies led by UCLA astrophysicists shed light on how hydrogen fog burned away after the Big Bang.
Nearly 40 UCLA scholars are among the most highly cited researchers in their fields
The annual list compiled by Clarivate identifies scholars whose work has been referenced most often in studies published by other researchers.
Her work helped her boss win the Nobel Prize. Now the spotlight is on her
Donna Elbert’s predictions about planetary magnetic fields deserve recognition, say UCLA researchers who have built on her work.
First underground radar images from Mars Perseverance rover reveal some surprises
The rover’s RIMFAX instrument, co-led by UCLA’s David Paige, has found unexpectedly tilted rock layers beneath the Jezero crater.
UCLA scientists discover places on the moon where it’s always ‘sweater weather’
People could potentially live and work in lunar pits and caves with steady temperatures in the 60s.
Dead star’s cannibalism of its planetary system is most far-reaching ever witnessed
UCLA-led research on a white dwarf 86 light-years from Earth sheds light on the systemic chaos that occurs when a star dies.
Q&A: Space physicist Jacob Bortnik on the new UCLA SPACE Institute
The UCLA professor speaks about why even non-scientists should be intrigued by space research and how the new organization will foster scholarly collaboration.
Prepare to go back in cosmic time at 132nd Faculty Research Lecture
UCLA astronomer Alice Shapley will discuss the origins of our galaxy in a virtual event, May 17.
4 billion-year-old relic from early solar system heading our way
The comet could be as large as 85 miles across but is not a threat, according to UCLA professor David Jewitt.
Ready for mission to International Space Station, alumna Jessica Watkins reflects on her journey so far
The astronaut, who earned a doctorate from UCLA in 2015, will be the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission on the ISS.
Jean-Luc Margot awarded SETI citizen science grant from the Planetary Society
The professor of Earth, planetary and space sciences will lead a radio astronomy search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
UCLA researchers discover source of super-fast ‘electron rain’
The rapid downpours, which can affect satellites and space travel, result from whistler waves affecting Earth’s magnetosphere, scientists say.
UCLA, JPL scientists observe mysterious death of a star emitting six rings
A red giant called V Hya is undergoing rapid evolution as it ends its life in a blaze of glory before shutting down energy production.
UCLA astronomers discover more than 300 possible new exoplanets
The findings were made possible by an algorithm developed by UCLA postdoctoral scholar Jon Zink.