American Astronomical Society

10/14/2026

From AAS Nova: Roughly one-third of stars in the Milky Way are in binary or multiple systems, but only ~1–10% of stars in globular clusters have a companion. Did globular clusters start with fewer binaries than the solar neighborhood, or have they since been wiped out?

Globular clusters have far fewer binary stars than the solar neighborhood. New research identifies black hole burning as the culprit.

10/13/2026

From AAS Nova: The Sun’s surface is peppered with spikes of plasma called spicules that appear to shift and twist over time. Recent simulations suggest a new explanation for the motion of solar spicules.

Why do spicules — tiny spikes of plasma on the Sun — appear to rotate, split, and merge? New simulations reveal the possible cause of these motions.

10/13/2026

Call for Late Abstracts

To share your latest research with an audience of scientists at all career stages, submit your late abstract (for iPosters only) in one of more than 50 topical categories by 11:59 pm ET on Monday, 26 October. For details, see our Abstract Information page. https://ow.ly/5GQq50ZXlIl

10/12/2026

From Astrobites via AAS Nova: Astrobites reports on why interstellar magnetic fields can appear ordered or tangled, depending on which gas clouds you measure and how.

Astrobites reports on why interstellar magnetic fields can appear ordered or tangled, depending on which gas clouds you measure and how.

10/12/2026

How did an impact change the way water moved through the Murchison meteorite?

Romy Hanna (UT Austin) used high-res X-ray CT and xenon gas to find out. Watch her AAS Journal Author Series talk: https://ow.ly/q4em50ZWSaV

10/09/2026

From AAS Nova: Researchers have discovered a millisecond pulsar with two stellar companions — one of only a handful of these rapidly spinning stellar remnants known to be in a triple system.

Researchers have discovered a millisecond pulsar with two stellar companions — one of only a handful of known millisecond pulsars in triple systems.

10/08/2026

🎥 New AAS Journal Author Series! Rimpei Chiba (U. Tokyo/U. Toronto) shows that the "tree-ring" structure in the Milky Way bar's resonance survives spiral arms, Sagittarius encounters & noise, a robust signal of bar spin-down and a dark matter halo. https://ow.ly/aXBe50ZVQfW

10/07/2026

From AAS Nova: In 3 million years or less, WASP-12b will tumble into its host star. It’s not surprising that the planet will meet its end this way, but it is surprising that it will happen so soon. New work tests a potential explanation for the planet’s rapid orbital decay.

The hot Jupiter WASP-12b is on a collision course with its host star, and it's heading that way faster than expected. New research examines a possible explanation for the planet's speedy inspiraling.

10/07/2026

AAS Member Francis Halzen Receives 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics

The American Astronomical Society congratulates member Francis Halzen (University of Wisconsin–Madison) for being named the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2026. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is awarding the $1.2 million prize to Halzen “for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin.”

: https://ow.ly/hQrl50ZVuSt

Illustration credit: Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach

10/07/2026

The American Physical Society and the AAS are pleased to welcome Jeff Feng as a Civic Science Fellow this fall. This fellowship will focus on strengthening public engagement across the physical sciences. https://ow.ly/y5v250ZVpva