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The Galactic empire

1 December 1990

Our Milky Way is more than just a huge spiral galaxy, it is also the centre of a vast empire that spans more than a million light-years and governs at least 10 other galaxies

The death throes of a red giant: Astronomers have known for years that old stars swell up to become red giants. Now they are beginning to understand how these stars cook up many important elements, such as carbon

24 March 1990

Good vibrations from the stars: Our planet rings like a bell after a large earthquake. Stars can ring, too. Astronomers use these vibrations to probe stellar interiors and even estimate the age of the Universe

27 January 1990

A new wave in astronomy: Astronomers are excited by the possibilities of exploring a neglected part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Extreme ultraviolet radiation can reveal the hottest stars and probe the gases in space

29 September 1989

A sudden thaw in the Arctic

14 April 1989

With oil slicks and ozone holes, submarines on fire and perils from the greenhouse effect, the Arctic is no longer a political or scientific backwater

The search for dark matter in the laboratory: Across the world, small groups of physicists are tracking down the principal component of the Universe. Will it be the neutrino or will it be the axion? Place your bets, please . . .

14 April 1989