What happens to planets when their star dies?

Many of the most dramatic cosmic events take the form of explosions, from asteroid impacts to the Big Bang itself. Here are some of the most spectacular examples

Seeking answers to your science questions? Ask our resident expert, Peter Gallivan

How many planets are there in the Solar System? It sounds like an easy question, but it’s more complex than you might think – and actually it’s one we still can’t answer. With scientists finding evide

There’s a worrying problem with the ‘Higgs field’ — the energy field that gives particles their mass. It seems to be dangerously close to having an inherent instability. In the absence of particles, t

The year 2025 has been a vintage one for astronomy. In January, we were hooked on reports of a building-sized asteroid on course to collide with Earth. The risk was quickly downgraded from worrying to

It’s a cold, clear February evening on Brighton beach. The sun has not yet dipped below the horizon and the last of the light is that strange, luminescent blue that presages dusk. Hundreds of pairs of