StartsWithABang

Ask Ethan: How empty are the depths of space?

We often talk about "the vacuum of space" as being a place where pressures and particle densities drop to zero.

But outer space is never truly empty, even in the emptiest places.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/how-empty-depths-space/

The science case for why Pluto still isn’t a planet

Sure, we lived in a simpler time when we had 9 planets, including Pluto.

But we've learned a whole lot since 1929, and can't in good conscience ignore it to suit our comforts.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/pluto-not-planet/

Dark matter in the Bullet Cluster celebrates 20 years

It was our first empirical proof of dark matter, using the natural lab of the Universe.

Contrarians argue against it, but the evidence speaks louder than any ideologically-driven voice.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/dark-matter-bullet-cluster-595214/

I'm sure this is fine.

This is fine.

Surely nothing bad could ever come from this.

Right, @sundogplanets@mastodon.social?

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/27/meta-inks-deal-for-solar-power-at-night-beamed-from-space/

Dark matter passes a new cosmic test, while MOND fails

A new cosmic test has finally, with CMB and large-scale structure data, become realistic: using the kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect to test dark matter vs. MOND.

Guess who wins?

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/dark-matter-new-cosmic-test-mond-fails/

This viral image of Saturn isn’t real; it’s AI slop

A new image of "Saturn's North Pole" has gone viral.

Too bad it's an AI fake.

Here's what the real things look like, and how you can tell for yourself.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/viral-saturn-real-ai-slop/

How did Artemis II break Apollo’s distance record?

If you ask google how Artemis II broke Apollo 13's distance record, it'll lie and say "because the rocket was more powerful."

But these three reasons, combined, are how it really happened.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/how-artemis-ii-break-apollo-distance-record/

The flimsy case for evolving dark energy

There's been a lot of talk about evolving dark energy, and how DESI data demands it.

But the case for this remains somewhat weak, while the true underlying puzzles remain unsolved.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/flimsy-case-evolving-dark-energy/

JWST peers inside a dying star’s “exposed cranium”

In 2013, NASA's Spitzer observed PMR 1, finding a structure that resembles a human brain.

Today, JWST actually resolves the Exposed Cranium Nebula, revealing what's inside.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/jwst-dying-star-exposed-cranium/

Starts With A Bang podcast #127 – Satellites and space pollution

There are many excellent technological uses of satellite technology, but also many harms associated with the pollution of the environment around Earth.

When they clash, must we all lose?
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/starts-with-a-bang-podcast-127-satellites-and-space-pollution/

Ask Ethan: Do signals degrade as they travel through space?

Light and gravitational waves redshift, sure, as they travel through the expanding Universe.

But do those signals degrade and deteriorate, and if so, what do we lose?
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/signals-degrade-space/

No, particle physics colliders cannot ever destroy the Universe

Every time we push the energy frontier in particle physics, laypersons fear that the world, or even the Universe, will be destroyed.

Here's why we're certain it's all safe... for now.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/particle-physics-destroy-universe/

Can the Drake equation’s final term predict humanity’s demise?

Here in 2026, we still have not found the existence of any life beyond Earth.

What does that mean for the Drake equation, the longevity of intelligent civilizations, and humanity's future?

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/drake-equation-final-term-humanity-demise/

Did Hubble’s new “dark galaxy” kill modified gravity?

Hundreds of millions of light-years away, a collection of four globular clusters was found orbiting... nothing.

Is there a "dark galaxy" there, and if so, is modified gravity now dead?
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/hubble-dark-galaxy-modified-gravity/

Only these six spacecraft will ever escape the Solar System

Tired: not wanting to live on this planet anymore.

Wired: already on a path to exit the Solar System.

Only these six spacecraft (yes, six) are living the dream.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/six-spacecraft-escape-solar-system/

Discussion time!

I went on the Bordering on Belief podcast, along with Dr. Luke Barnes, to give cosmological perspectives and arguments on whether physics and astrophysics supports, refutes, or is agnostic about the existence of God.

WDYT??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzATT5mR1qA

Can quantum entanglement survive a black hole?

#AskEthan

When one member of an entangled pair of particles falls into the black hole, is the entanglement broken?

And if not, is there any way to test and confirm its persistence?
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/quantum-entanglement-black-hole/

Record-breaking natural laser discovered 11 billion light-years away

Lasers aren't just technological inventions here on Earth, but are also produced naturally in astrophysical environments.

We just found one 11 billion light-years away: a new record.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/most-distant-laser/

How Einstein revolutionized the meaning of “where” and “when”

Here on Earth, notions like "where" and "when" are easy to practically define and use.

But in space, particularly at cosmic distances, Einstein gives us a whole lot more to think about.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/einstein-revolutionized-where-when/

The 5 biggest obstacles to AI data centers in space

There are five main objections to building AI data centers in space.

Engineering challenges are one thing.

When you need to defy the laws of physics, that's where you get into trouble.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/5-biggest-obstacles-ai-data-centers-space/

How our view of “fundamental” has evolved over time

The idea of what's fundamental has evolved: from primeval elements to atoms to subatomic particles and, finally, to the Standard Model.

Nevertheless, there's still a long way to go.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/fundamental-evolved-over-time/

Will anything persist when the Universe dies?

#AskEthan

The last star will burn out, the last black hole will decay, and entropy will reach its maximum: a heat death.

After all that, can any trace of our existence still persist?
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/will-anything-persist-when-universe-dies/

The Big Bang’s final and most difficult prediction: confirmed

Beyond cosmic expansion, the CMB, light elements, and large-scale structure, the Big Bang also predicts a cosmic neutrino background.

At last, that prediction has now been validated. Twice.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/big-bangs-final-prediction/

Metabolism, not cells or genetics, may have begun life on Earth

What came first in the story of life's origin on Earth?

A cell?

A genetic code?

Over the past decade, beliefs have changed, and many now favor a metabolism-first scenario.

Here's why.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/metabolism-begun-life-earth/

The biggest overlooked problem in the hunt for alien Earths

In hunting for Earth-like planets, it's a huge bias to look for worlds similar to Earth's appearance today.

For most of our planet's history, Earth looked very different.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/biggest-problem-hunt-alien-earth/

Are you tired of shouting into the void?

Would you rather shout at the US government directly?

Here's how to submit comment to the FCC about Reflect Orbital's catastrophic "sunlight at night" satellites and SpaceX's equally catastrophic ONE MILLION LEO satellite proposal, from AAS and International Dark Sky:

https://aas.org/posts/advocacy/2026/02/how-submit-comments-satellite-applications-fcc

https://darksky.org/news/two-satellite-proposals-threaten-the-night-sky-the-window-to-act-is-now/

What are the most energy-efficient reactions in physics?

Chemical, gravitational, and nuclear reactions all can emit energy, often in very large amounts.

But to reach 100% efficiency, we have to go more exotic: to the realm of antimatter.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/most-energy-efficient-reactions-physics/

Can we see the expanding Universe changing?

#AskEthan

We've measured the expanding Universe by looking at many objects at different distances and with different redshifts.

Here's how we'll measure it directly: with just one object over time.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/see-expanding-universe-changing/

Einstein the “lone genius” is a complete myth

Was Einstein a lone genius who succeeded because he bucked the establishment?

Without the help he got from his contemporaries, he never would have discovered all he did.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/einstein-lone-genius/

Last gasps of dying Sun-like star captured by Hubble

Before making a planetary nebula, Sun-like stars go through a brief "preplanetary nebula" phase.

We just imaged the closest, youngest one with Hubble.

The result is as educational as it is beautiful.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/dying-sun-like-star-hubble/

Starts With A Bang Podcast #126 – The origin of dust

Dust is much more than just light-blocking "noise" for astronomers.

It's required to form rocky planets and enable life.

And now, in 2026, we're finally uncovering its ultimate origins!
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/starts-with-a-bang-podcast-126-the-origin-of-dust/

How long can the longest-lived star shine?

#AskEthan

It's been 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang, but the longest-lived stars will shine for many trillions of years.

How long do we have before the last survivor goes out?

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/longest-lived-star-shine/

8 ways that Venus is the Solar System’s most extreme planet

Venus is the Solar System's hottest planet, as well as the brightest planet in Earth's night skies.

But there are so many additional ways that Venus is truly a world of extremes.

https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/venus-brightest-most-extreme/

Yes, JWST should take the deepest deep-field image ever

The Hubble deep fields revealed the Universe.

JWST's novel imagery has surpassed all of Hubble's limits.

So when are we going to get a truly deep JWST deep field?
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/jwst-deepest-deep-field-image/

The most important quantum advance of the 21st century

The discovery of quantum mechanics forced us to reckon with the concept of an indeterministic Universe.

2012's PBR theorem closed the door on all kinds of deterministic options.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/most-important-quantum-advance-21st-century/

JWST shakes up the hunt for earliest galaxy cluster

A newly discovered galaxy protocluster by JWST doesn't break the cosmic record; it's only the 4th most distant one.

But it's the first with hot, X-ray emitting gas, and that means something.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/jwst-earliest-galaxy-cluster/