How 2024 Transformed Our View of the Universe

Gizmodo - Dec 18th, 2024

In 2024, astrophysical discoveries and advances included the identification of the oldest black hole, dating back over 13 billion years, and the first detailed view of a star outside the Milky Way. Researchers utilized data from the Voyager missions to reveal plasma jets in Jupiter's magnetosheath and confirmed the end of Mars' Ingenuity helicopter's historic flights. The OSIRIS-REx mission brought back asteroid samples from Bennu, while the Webb Space Telescope delivered images of distant galaxies and merging quasars. New moons were discovered around Uranus and Neptune, and a supernova was observed birthing a black hole. The North American solar eclipse captivated audiences, and increased solar activity produced remarkable auroras on Earth and Mars. A potential tunnel on the Moon was proposed, and a theory about the Wow! signal suggested it was caused by a hydrogen cloud. Other notable findings included the possibility of a companion star for Betelgeuse, gigantic black hole jets, and a dark matter breeding ground around neutron stars. Frontier, a supercomputer, simulated the universe's evolution, contributing to the understanding of cosmic physics.