Kirsten Banks
Astrophysicist and prolific astronomy explainer distinguishing astronomy/astrophysics/cosmology with engaging visuals.
Explore the Diverse Types of Cosmic Black Holes
Do you know your black holes? Watch to find out what different types of black holes there are, and we think there are, in the universe. How many did you know?
Map of 47 Million Galaxies Challenges Dark Energy Constancy
47 million galaxies. One map. Every dot is a galaxy. Using DESI, astronomers mapped 47 million galaxies across 11 billion years of cosmic history — helping track the mysterious force called dark energy. Early data suggests dark energy might not be constant after...
Crab Nebula Named for a Mistaken Visual Impression
Why is it called the Crab Nebula? Not because it actually looks like a crab — but because someone thought it did. In the 1840s, the Earl of Rosse sketched the wispy filaments of this supernova remnant and said they looked like...
Newborn Massive Star Carves Light‑Escaping Cavities in Nebula
Saw a cool space image I hadn't noticed before and just had to share it with you. This is AFGL 5180, a stellar nursery where a massive star is being born right at the centre. That newborn star is blasting powerful jets...
Hubble's Legacy: Long-Term Data Still Outshines New Tech
Is Hubble obsolete? With JWST now in space, it’s easy to assume Hubble is outdated. But long-term data is where Hubble shines.
Body Gets Nervous Even when Mind Feels Calm
Excuse me body, why do you do this?! I just finished chatting to @abcnews_au about the final stages of Artemis II. I swear I don’t really feel like Iget nervous when I do live TV anymore but my body is apparently...
Gravitational Waves Reveal Missing Black Hole Mass Gap
Some stars leave nothing behind. Pair-instability supernovae predict that the most massive stars explode so completely that no black hole remains. For years, we didn’t have evidence. Now, gravitational wave data shows a gap in black hole masses — exactly where those explosions...
Glories: Rainbow Halos Reveal Cosmic Particle Physics
That’s not a filter. It’s a “glory” — a rainbow-like ring that forms around a shadow when sunlight interacts with cloud droplets. I went down a rabbit hole and learned they inspired the cloud chamber (which helped discover particles like the positron),...
Nebulae Vary: From Star Birth to Supernova Remnants
This is the Crab Nebula. It's a supernova remnant — the leftover debris from a star that exploded. But not all nebulae are the same. Some form stars, some mark the death of Sun-like stars, and some block light completely.
Isotope Fingerprints Reveal Asteroid Water Matches Earth, Not Comets
Not all water is the same. H₂O tells you the ingredients — but not the “version” of those atoms. Elements come in different isotopes, and that changes water’s chemical fingerprint. That’s how scientists discovered comet water doesn’t quite match Earth’s… but asteroid water...
24‑Hour Flight From Auckland to Melbourne: Unexpected Nightmare
What a nightmare… Who would have thought it would take over 24 hours to fly from Auckland to Melbourne 😅 Share your story in the comments so we can whinge together haha
Spot the Hidden Black Hole in Omega Centauri
You can see a black hole, or at least where one might be. It’s hiding in Omega Centauri. Here's how to spot it!