How Mars became the prize for the new space race – and why China is hellbent on winning it
Looking at its achievements over the past decade, nobody would doubt China is aiming to win the new space race. Not only has it been the only country to land on the Moon in about 40 years, and the first to soft land on its far side, it has also plant.....»»
What"s the best material for a lunar tower?
Physical infrastructure on the moon will be critical to any long-term human presence there as both America and China gear up for a sustained human lunar presence. Increasingly, a self-deploying tower is one of the most essential parts of that physica.....»»
NASA turns off another of Voyager 2’s instruments to save power
The Voyager spacecraft, launched in the 1970s, has turned off its plasma science instrument to save power for exploring interstellar space......»»
What an achievement: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra was the first robot vacuum in space
In an amazing feat, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra was the first robot vacuum in space. It traveled and made it back safely. Here's the story......»»
EU formerly approves tariffs on China EVs; talks to continue
Ten member states voted in favor of the measure, while Germany and four others voted against and 12 abstained, according to reports......»»
A NASA Mars rover has a giant hole in one of its wheels
The wheels on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover are falling apart, but the plucky rover keeps on rolling......»»
NASA is working on a plan to replace its space station, but time is running out
"Initially, Congress almost treated the program as a joke." The next year is crucial for the future of NASA and its plans to extend human activity in low-Earth orbit. For the firs.....»»
ULA hasn’t given up on developing a long-lived cryogenic space tug
On Friday's launch, United Launch Alliance will test the limits of its Centaur upper stage. The second flight of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, planned for Friday morning.....»»
NASA"s laser comms demo makes deep space record, completes first phase
The Deep Space Optical Communications tech demo has completed several key milestones, culminating in sending a signal to Mars' farthest distance from Earth......»»
2-billion-year-old rock could help understand very early life on Earth and the hunt for evidence of life on Mars
Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in a 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for its rich ore deposits. This is the oldest example of living.....»»
The best 60 percent keyboards for 2024
If you don't have a ton of desk space, a small keyboard is best. Here are some of the best 60 percent keyboards if you care for the small form factor......»»
Bird Flu Fears Stoke the Race for an mRNA Flu Vaccine
Researchers have been working on mRNA flu vaccines since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but we may get one for bird flu first......»»
Will AI one day win a Nobel Prize?
Artificial intelligence is already disrupting industries from banking and finance to film and journalism, and scientists are investigating how AI might revolutionize their field—or even win a Nobel Prize......»»
2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount
Next week's Nobel Prize announcements will crown achievements that made the world a better place, a glimmer of optimism amid a spiraling Middle East conflict, war in Ukraine, famine in Sudan and a collapsing climate......»»
New solar wind plasma sensor will help track space weather
The Southwest Research Institute-developed Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) has been delivered and integrated into a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite dedicated to tracking space weather. SWiPS will measure the properti.....»»
Investigating the statistical likelihood of triple star systems hosting exoplanets
Why is it important to search for exoplanets in triple star systems and how many can we find there? This is what a recent study accepted by Astrophysics & Space Science hopes to address after a pair of researchers from the University of Texas at Arli.....»»
Solar Sails and Comet Tails: How Sunlight Pushes Stuff Around
It seems crazy, but light actually exerts a physical force on objects. It could power a new generation of spacecraft for deep-space missions......»»
An International Space Station Leak Is Getting Worse—and Keeping NASA Up at Night
A NASA inspector general report gives new details on a leak that has plagued the ISS for five years, and reveals that the agency considers it the highest-level risk......»»
Formula E’s Race to Get the Whole World Electrified
Since launching in 2014, the world’s premier EV racing series has made huge technological leaps and gained hundreds of millions of fans. But CEO Jeff Dodds won’t rest until every new car is electric......»»
The biodiversity jukebox: How sound can boost beneficial soil microbes to heal nature
In a race against time, scientists are exploring new ways to restore natural systems. Alongside traditional methods such as planting trees, reducing pollution and reintroducing native species, a surprising new tool is emerging: sound. Ecologists can.....»»
Webb telescope detects unusual gas jets from Centaur 29P
Inspired by the half-human, half-horse creatures that are part of Ancient Greek mythology, the field of astronomy has its own kind of centaurs: distant objects orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Neptune. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has mapped.....»»