Astronomers in Europe have mapped out the cosmic history of one of life’s most essential elements, phosphorus, tracing the mineral’s interstellar journey from the star-forming regions of space ...

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is producing phosphorus, meaning that this icy moon holds all the essential building blocks for life as we know it. Every life form on Earth contains six key elements: carbon, ...

Hidden within Cassiopeia A, the youngest known exploded star in our galaxy, astronomers have found surprisingly high levels of chlorine and potassium. These elements carry an odd number of protons in ...