A sharp-eyed satellite captured an amazing photo of SpaceX’s first Starship V3 megarocket on the pad Thursday (May 21), just before it was supposed to lift off. Continue ReadingStarship V3 from space: Satellite snaps amazing photo of SpaceX megarocket on the pad
Life on Earth relies on energy from astrophysical sources. But what if the astrophysical source isn’t a star, but a supermassive black hole and its active galactic nuclei? Life needs shelter from their powerful energy, and the only shelter is distance. New research shows that SMBH and their AGN could strip away exoplanet atmospheres and destroy their ozone at vast distances.
Long before the full moon rises, shifting sunlight transforms the lunar surface into one of the sky’s best telescope targets. Continue ReadingDon’t wait for the full moon: Here’s when the moon looks best through a telescope
This is part of an even-larger “restructuring” at NASA. Continue ReadingShakeup at JPL? Control over iconic NASA center could change for 1st time in nearly 100 years
Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, have identified a promising new method for measuring the mass of galaxies orbiting the Milky Way by using pulsars, some of the universe’s most precise natural clocks, to detect tiny gravitational effects across our galaxy.
Forget Baby Yoda, we want to see more big buff slug adventures in our Star Wars. Continue Reading‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ is better viewed as a ‘Star Wars’ origin story for Rotta the Hutt
A Japanese poet wrote in his diary that “red lights” appeared in the sky over Kyoto. An analysis of tree rings suggests a powerful solar storm created the sight. Continue ReadingAn ancient solar storm left clues in tree rings and a famous poet’s diary: ‘Red lights in the northern sky’
Two hydrogen atoms can’t form an H2 molecule on their own in empty space. They need a surface. The universe has only one surface available, and it’s something I have just spent two articles complaining about.
The liquid iron in Earth’s outer core doesn’t always behave as expected. When it changed direction in an unexplained way, ESA satellites provided data on the direction of flow, helping scientists gain better insight into the dynamics at the center of our planet.
A Nature Sustainability paper titled “A multidimensional assessment of Systemic Cooling Poverty in the Global South,” provides the first large-scale, multidimensional measurement of Systemic Cooling Poverty (SCP)—defined as situations in which individuals are “prevented from attaining thermal safety as a result of intersecting forms of systemic deprivation.”
Look closely at this image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and you’ll see galaxies of various shapes and sizes clustered together toward the center-left of the image. A few foreground stars shine brightly and are easily distinguished by the spikes that appear to extend outward from each star. These spikes, called diffraction spikes, are the result of how point sources of light (such as stars) bend, or diffract, around the supports for Hubble’s secondary mirror.
A breathtaking new image captures the Crystal Ball Nebula, the remains of a dying star found in the constellation Taurus. Continue ReadingCosmic crystal ball reveals an ancient dying star | Space photo of the day for May 22, 2026
Vortices in superconductors have so far been considered a disruption, as they can impair the superconducting properties. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have proved in experiments that magnetic vortices can be used as controllable quantum systems in certain materials. This means that a previously unwanted phenomenon is becoming a potential resource in quantum technologies, opening up new avenues for the development of quantum computers, highly sensitive sensor systems, and innovative approaches in materials research. These results are published in Nature.
NASA will give an update on Tuesday afternoon (May 26) about its plans to build a moon base, and you can watch it live. Continue ReadingNASA is updating its Artemis moon base plan. You can find out how on May 26.
The final mission before the landmark Apollo 11, Apollo 10 served as a dress rehearsal, testing every aspect of the Moon landing except for the actual landing itself. On May 18, the crew of Commander Tom Stafford, Command Module Pilot John Young, and Lunar Module Pilot Gene Cernan blasted off from Kennedy Space Center. WhileContinue reading “May 22, 1969: Snoopy’s closest approach to the Moon” The post May 22, 1969: Snoopy’s closest approach to the Continue ReadingMay 22, 1969: Snoopy’s closest approach to the Moon
A new computational program, MicroFinder, enables faster and more accurate assembly of bird genomes. Improved genome assemblies will help researchers better understand bird biology, evolution, and help inform conservation efforts.
The moon will pass in front of Regulus for some observers on May 23, blocking its light. Continue ReadingThe moon will ‘swallow’ a star on May 23. But will you be able to see it?
“The evidence for water vapor plumes on Europa isn’t as strong as we first understood it.” Continue ReadingScientists thought Jupiter’s moon Europa was ejecting water. Now they’re not so sure
SpaceX says it will launch a private flyby mission to Mars that will be led by cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, but when it will fly is unclear. Continue ReadingThis cryptocurrency billionaire will fly SpaceX’s 1st private Starship to Mars, but when?
Elon Musk’s SpaceX postponed the highly anticipated launch of its upgraded Starship megarocket, calling off Thursday’s test after multiple countdown stops-and-starts.
