Featured Astrobites
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![[Guest] The Walking Red: Why are you so quiet and overdense?](https://astrobites.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cover-1-320x260.png)
[Guest] The Walking Red: Why are you so quiet and overdense?
Why do we see so many massive, dead galaxies at early cosmic times? Guest author Tatevik Mkrtchyan illuminates a slice of the cosmic graveyard!
Deblurring the Dark Compact Object Picture with Microlensing
Lenses aren’t always made of glass, sometimes they’re made of dark matter compact objects! Today’s paper explores if and how we can tell primordial black holes apart from dark black holes using gravitational microlensing measurements.
![[Beyond] Undergraduate astronomy degrees vary widely. Here’s what could be done to fix that.](https://astrobites.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-17-at-16.40.06-320x260.png)
[Beyond] Undergraduate astronomy degrees vary widely. Here’s what could be done to fix that.
A survey of physics and astronomy departments across the country has shown that degrees in astronomy can be pretty different. Read more about the AAS SURGE committee’s findings and recommendations!
Recycle your paper, plastic, and… pulsars?
Most pulsars gradually spin slower and slower, making weaker and weaker radio pulses until the pulses stop altogether. Today’s paper is about a star that has spun its neutron star companion back up, recycling it into a millisecond pulsar.
Dancing with the Blazars: Variability you can groove to
In today’s paper, we explore how blazar light curves can be transformed into music and the benefits of this for both scientists and science communication.
Life on the (Red) Edge
Today’s bite explores life on the vegetation red edge…and how we might find it on other worlds.
Beyond astro-ph
Astronomy beyond the research
Representation matters in physics teaching: introducing the Contemporary Physicists project
Looking to add a more modern touch to your physics teaching? Check out “Bringing Contemporary Physicists to the Classroom” for resources, slide decks, and more!
Preparing students for astronomy beyond the classroom
In today’s (Beyond) bite, I describe a new course at Columbia University that aims to equip undergrads with foundational research skills.
The Top Ten Differential Equations in Astronomy, Ranked!
Interested in the definitive, absolutely objective ranking of the best differential equations in astronomy and astrophysics?? Read on!!
Navigating careers in astronomy
Career advice
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Meenakshi Wadhwa
We interviewed @ASU planetary scientist and #MarsSampleReturn principal scientist Meenakshi Wadhwa who will be giving a plenary talk today at #AAS242!
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Joel Kastner
Learn all about beautiful planetary nebulae with Joel Kastner at his plenary talk at #AAS242 this afternoon! We interviewed Kastner about his journey into astronomy here:
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Kathryne Daniel
Today we interview astrophysicist Kathryne Daniel for her plenary talk at #AAS242!