In my January 23, 2026, “The Universe” column, I wrote about some of the biggest bangs the universe has to offer: exploding stars, hiccupping magnetars, stellar disruptions and colliding black holes.

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory temporarily halts science operations to reduce orbital drag, preparing for a commercial reboost mission with Katalyst Space Technologies.

Hidden in the Pacific, two very different volcanoes are forcing scientists to rethink what counts as “biggest.” Tamu Massif, ...

If you were going for a refreshing swim, the last thing you’d expect is to suffocate from toxic gases. But when it comes to Lake Kivu, this is one dangerous body of water you wouldn’t want to dive ...

Beijing sparkles with Lunar New Year celebrations.

S trange things are afoot in Yellowstone National Park.

In 2014, a massive star in the Andromeda galaxy began glowing brighter in infrared light, then slowly faded from view. Nearly a decade later, astronomers say they have identified the event as the ...