image showing the change in brightness of a star that is microlensed by a black hole

Astrobites reports on how we can find isolated black holes by searching for the twinkling of stars that these black holes pass in front of.

photograph of a white dwarf

When white dwarfs begin to crystallize, can the change prompt the formation of magnetic fields millions of times stronger than Earth’s?

photo collage showing two previous AAS Media Fellows emceeing press conference alongside an image of the Carina Nebula

Are you an astronomy graduate student who’s interested in science communication? Apply for the AAS Media Fellowship by June 21!

active galaxy Centaurus A

A new modeling technique lets black holes and their surroundings “talk” more easily, allowing researchers to simulate the complicated physics of accretion and feedback.

illustration of a neutron star

Astrobites reports on two objects whose unusually spaced-out radio pulses have puzzled astronomers. Could these objects be white dwarfs or magnetars?

map of matter in the universe, showing matter concentrations derived from measurements of the cosmic microwave background in grayscale and measurements of dusty galaxies in blue and orange contours

Researchers measure tiny distortions in the oldest light in the universe to determine where matter is concentrated.

A star at bottom-right and a bright jet leading from it towards top-right.
Features

How to Slice a Star

Massive stars are not typically inclined to go gentle into the good night. Some, new work suggests, might dramatically cut themselves in two using a “relativistic blade.”

radio image of the star Betelgeuse

Three recent studies of the famous red supergiant examine the aftermath of the Great Dimming, probe the possibility of a stellar merger, and reconsider some critical evidence that suggests that Betelgeuse was once two stars.