Greetings readers,

Well, it finally happened, and I couldn't be more pleased. My first long-form science video is out, courtesy of the team at Big Think! It was on the biggest topic or idea I could think of in the entire Universe: the subject of our ultimate cosmic origins. It was so much fun, and I was so pleased with how the video turned out that I wrote a companion article along with it. Should we make more science videos like this? Let us know if you feel strongly!

This week, we also looked at some big science topics and discoveries. On the discovery front, we've just revealed the second-closest supermassive black hole to our own. It was found in the heart of the Large Magellanic Cloud, just 165,000 light-years away. For a galaxy that's just 1% of the Milky Way's mass, it's impressive that it houses a black hole of 600,000 solar masses. We also have, at long last (and after several false starts), found exoplanets around the nearest singlet star to our own: Barnard's star. Located less than six light-years away, it was seen to have four (well, maybe only three) sub-Earth-sized exoplanets around it, hinting at how planet-rich our Universe may be.

We also took on a seemingly paradoxical question: If the Universe is expanding and galaxies are mutually receding from one another, then why do we still see galaxy mergers? And at a time when a lot of people are questioning the value of fundamental research, it's important to remember that people have always sought to mortgage our long-term future in service to short-term benefits. However, there are good reasons to keep investing in exploring the most basic questions about reality. Stay tuned; there's plenty more out there to discover!

All the best,

Ethan

Since the dawn of history, humans have pondered our cosmic origins. In the 20th century, science provided its first answer: the Big Bang. In the 21st century, however, we've gone far beyond that initial picture. Cosmic inflation is reshaping our understanding of the Universe’s ultimate beginnings. Here's how.

Barnard’s star, the closest singlet star system to ours, has long been a target for planet-hunters. After many years and “false detections,” we’ve finally confirmed Barnard star’s elusive exoplanets. They exist, and they have so much more to teach us.

Dubbed "the rocket fuel of AI" by Wired, this innovation is causing a stir on Wall Street. With projections hitting $80 trillion – that's 41 Amazons – the potential is huge. But here's the deal: sharp investors who are ahead of the game have the opportunity to invest in a technology poised for domination. Thanks to The Motley Fool, you can access the full story in this exclusive report.

On the largest of cosmic scales, the Universe is expanding, yet galaxies continue to collide and merge. Why is this the case? It all depends on if you grow massive enough fast enough.

If you have a burning question about the Universe, send me an email.

Scientists have long suspected the existence of a supermassive black hole in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the closest galaxy beyond the Milky Way. Typically, supermassive black holes are only detectable if they are active (i.e., feeding on mass from a rich source of normal matter.) While we have never observed this activity in the Large Magellanic Cloud, here’s how we found new evidence that strongly suggests the presence of a supermassive black anyway.

In times of crisis, particularly when resources are scarce, people often question “unnecessary” investments such as science, research, and discovery. But we must remember that human civilization is a long-term endeavor, and today’s investments will pay off in unforeseeable ways down the road. Former Nazi scientist Ernst Stuhlinger, who was brought to the United States at the end of World War II, famously defended these essential investments — a lesson we all must remember.