Gallery: Space Photos of the Week: A Supermassive Black Hole Just Wants Some Privacy

  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space and Nebula
    <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA21087">NASA</a>
    01

    SPoW-Jan13-05.jpg

    Gas and dust obscure this supermassive black hole in the IC 3639 galaxy.
  • Image may contain Rock Rug Slate Soil Outdoors and Nature
    <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA13485">NASA</a>
    02

    SPoW-Jan13-02.jpg

    These depressions, located in the northern mid-latitudes of Mars, have scalloped edges and polygonal fractures.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Nebula Outer Space Outdoors and Nature
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/black-holes-hide-in-our-cosmic-backyard">NASA</a>
    03

    SPoW-Jan13-04.jpg

    This galaxy's nucleus is hidden within gas and dust.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Night Astronomy Moon Outdoors Outer Space and Nature
    <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA20515">NASA</a>
    04

    SPoW-Jan13-03.jpg

    The crater in Mimas, an icy moon of Saturn, is 86 miles wide, nearly 1/3 the diameter of the moon itself.
  • Image may contain Water Outdoors and Ripple
    <a href="http://m.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/01/Global_colour_mosaic_of_Dione">NASA</a>
    05

    SPoW-Jan13-01.jpg

    Dione, shown here in a mosaic of images, is an icy satellite of Saturn, and the 15th biggest moon in our solar system.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space and Nebula
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2017/hubble-gazes-into-a-black-hole-of-puzzling-lightness">ESA</a>
    06

    SPoW-Jan13-07.jpg

    Most large galaxies, including the Milky Way, have supermassive black holes at their center. This galaxy is an exception, centering around a black hole with a very low mass.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Ice Landscape Snow Snowman Winter and Mountain
    <a href="http://m.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/01/Saint_Petersburg">ESA</a>
    07

    SPoW-Jan13-08.jpg

    This satellite image shows St. Petersburg, Russia covered in snow.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Nebula and Outer Space
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/hubbles-front-row-seat-when-galaxies-collide">NASA</a>
    08

    SPoW-Jan13-06.jpg

    The blue object in the middle of this photo is a combination of two gas-rich spiral galaxies, which have slowly merged into one.
Read More
DOJ Lawyers Argue xAI Is ‘Vital’ for National Security in NAACP Lawsuit
In a bid to dismiss a lawsuit over xAI’s polluting gas turbines, the Justice Department claimed the company is integral to military operations—including the Iran War.
Molly Taft
Anthropic Is Still at Odds With the White House Over Claude Fable 5
Anthropic leaders flew to Washington, DC, to meet with White House officials on Monday. After high-level talks, they’re still split on the risk Claude Fable 5 presents.
Hugo Lowell
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth Admits the Company’s AI Reorg Was ‘Atrocious’
In an internal memo seen by WIRED, Bosworth promised employees more stability, better communication, and the return of workplace perks as the company seeks to improve morale.
Lauren Goode
The New Wave of Fans Is Surprisingly High-Tech
Swap out your creaky old box fan for a new model that lights up, mists, or even follows you around the room.
Kat Merck
This Small TCL Soundbar Surprised Me With Its Big Sound
Don’t be fooled by the compact size of this soundbar. It’s a solid option for smaller TVs or spaces without having to sacrifice sound quality.
John Brandon
Microsoft’s New Surface Laptop and Surface Pro Get Faster—and Way More Expensive
Microsoft has finally refreshed its premium Surface Laptop and Surface Pro with new chips, but the update comes with a steep price hike.
Luke Larsen
The Kratom Civil War Is Heating Up, and MAHA Has Picked a Side
Both kratom and one of its active components, 7-OH, have opioid-like effects and are widely available across the US. As health secretary RFK Jr. aims to get 7-OH banned, proponents of both are fighting.
Mattha Busby
How Apple Is Making Your Older iPhone Run Faster and Stay Alive Longer
Even the aging iPhone 11 will feel a little more responsive soon, thanks to improvements in an unsung iOS feature.
Julian Chokkattu
1 in 4 World Cup Matches Could Be Played in Dangerous Temperatures
A new report warns that Miami, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Houston could be particularly hot places to play during the 2026 World Cup.
Fernanda González
A Crypto Scam Targeted a Gay OnlyFans Star. Then His X Feed Was Flooded With ‘MAGA Propaganda’
In recent months hackers have attempted to extort money from porn stars with big followings, in some cases filling their feeds with pro-MAGA and crypto content.
Jason Parham
The US Government Is Letting a Key Data Center Regulation Expire
The federal government is planning to let a rule regulating federal data center operations sunset in September with no replacement.
Vittoria Elliott
The UK Places a Sweeping Ban on Social Media for Kids Under 16
The UK government is introducing a ban on social media for children and a minimum age for some chatbots in an attempt to shield young people from dangerous corners of the web.
Joel Khalili