While planets are generally spherical due to their gravitational pull, some planets can deviate from perfect spheres due to centrifugal force and tidal forces from their host stars. This article explores how these forces can create elongated and squished planets, even potentially leading to tidally locked planets. The article also touches on the hypothetical existence of toroidal planets, shaped like a donut.
A new study suggests that tiny, primordial black holes, formed shortly after the Big Bang, could be flying through our solar system every decade. These black holes, while minuscule, could generate detectable gravitational disturbances in the orbits of planets. This intriguing possibility could shed light on the mystery of dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe.
NASA’s Cold Atom Lab, a facility on the International Space Station, has successfully used ultra-cold atoms to detect vibrations in the space station itself. This achievement opens doors for future applications of atom interferometry in space, including improving navigation, studying dark matter and dark energy, and refining our understanding of gravity.
A team of scientists has directly imaged eight dim objects, including brown dwarfs, orbiting bright stars using the Gaia and GRAVITY instruments. This discovery marks the first time a brown dwarf has been directly observed so close to its host star. The research highlights the powerful synergy between Gaia’s ability to identify potential companion objects and GRAVITY’s ability to directly image them.
