NASA green-lights mission to send car-sized drone to Saturn moon
NASA’s Mars helicopter mission is now officially over, but following it is an even more complex flying machine destined to explore Saturn’s largest moon......»»
SpaceX gets green light for seventh Starship test, but when is it?
The FAA has given the nod to SpaceX to conduct its seventh Starship test from its Starbase site in Texas......»»
NASA finds "sideways" black hole using legacy data and new techniques
NASA researchers have discovered a perplexing case of a black hole that appears to be "tipped over," rotating in an unexpected direction relative to the galaxy surrounding it. That galaxy, called NGC 5084, has been known for years, but the sideways s.....»»
Researchers explore, sample and interpret lunar volatiles in polar cold traps
The moon has both a South and North Pole, but just how cold are they? For context, Antarctica's coastal temperatures average around 14°F (-10°C), while the interior drops to -76°F (-60°C), making Earth's South Pole one of the coldest places on th.....»»
Researchers address material challenges to make commercial fusion power a reality
Imagine if we could take the energy of the sun, put it in a container, and use it to provide green, sustainable power for the world. Creating commercial fusion power plants would essentially make this idea a reality. However, there are several scient.....»»
Old moon, young crust: Violent volcanism may mean the moon is much older than previously thought
After its formation, the moon may have been the scene of such immense volcanic activity that its entire crust melted several times and was completely churned through. At that time, the moon orbited significantly closer to Earth than today. The result.....»»
Scientists provide insights into photosystem II under low-light conditions
In higher plants and green algae, photosystem II (PSII) usually combines with light harvesting complex II (LHCII) to form the PSII-LHCII supercomplex. Under low-light conditions, the PSII-LHCII supercomplexes are organized laterally into higher-order.....»»
Research reveals how bad bacteria trigger painful gut contractions
After a meal of questionable seafood or a few sips of contaminated water, bad bacteria can send your digestive tract into overdrive. Your intestines spasm and contract, efficiently expelling everything in the gut—poop and bacteria alike......»»
Q&A: Inside the search for dark matter
More than a decade ago, dark matter experts Daniel Akerib and Thomas Shutt joined the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, continuing their mission to uncover the elusive substance. SLAC recently caught up with them to discuss.....»»
NASA again delays return of astronauts stranded on space station
Two US astronauts stranded for months on the International Space Station will remain there at least until late March, NASA said Tuesday as it announced another delay in the mission to bring them home......»»
Cutting-edge satellite tracks lake water levels in Ohio River Basin
The Ohio River Basin stretches from Pennsylvania to Illinois and contains a system of reservoirs, lakes, and rivers that drains an area almost as large as France. Researchers with the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission, a collaboration.....»»
Ocean microbe"s unusual pair of enzymes may boost carbon storage
Stanford researchers have found a surprising genetic twist in a lineage of microbes that may play an important role in ocean carbon storage. The microbes, known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, have two different forms of a ubiquitous enzyme tha.....»»
The winter solstice is almost here, the Northern Hemisphere"s darkest day
The winter solstice is Saturday, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere—ideal conditions for holiday lights and warm blankets......»»
Gladiator II: A historian on the real north African kingdom of Numidia—and the men who ruled it
"Gladiator II" opens with a Roman fleet brutally laying siege to a city in the north African kingdom of Numidia. On the big screen we see ships set ablaze by pots of burning oil and defenders impaled by man-sized iron bolts. The so-called barbarian i.....»»
NASA sees progress on Starlab commercial space station development
A NASA-funded commercial space station, Starlab, recently completed four key developmental milestones, marking substantial progress in the station's design and operational readiness......»»
Climate change could overwhelm sewage systems. Here"s how green infrastructure could help
Aside from hotter summers and melting glaciers, climate change is transforming how, when and where rain falls. This challenges much of the world's sewer systems, especially with the added strains of population growth and increased urbanization......»»
NASA missions spot cosmic "wreath" displaying stellar circle of life
Since antiquity, wreaths have symbolized the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It is fitting then that one of the best places for astronomers to learn more about the stellar lifecycle resembles a giant holiday wreath itself......»»
NASA telescopes capture a cosmic wreath for the holidays
Two NASA telescopes have worked together to capture a stunning view of a star cluster......»»
NASA finalizes strategy for sustaining human presence in low Earth orbit
As part of the agency's efforts to enable broader use of space, NASA has released its final goals and objectives for low Earth orbit, defining the long-term approach toward advancing microgravity science, technology, and exploration for the benefit o.....»»
Image: Artemis II core stage moves to High Bay 2
In this image from Dec. 11, 2024, the 212-foot-tall SLS (Space Launch System) core stage is lowered into High Bay 2 at the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With the move to High Bay 2, NASA and Boeing technicians n.....»»
Ammonia production goes green: Biomethane approach offers net-zero emissions
Using biomethane to produce ammonia, a crucial chemical in agriculture, could drastically reduce the climate impact of the process. In a study published in One Earth, researcher Robert Istrate shows it's even possible to make ammonia production net-z.....»»