NASA"s Perseverance rover to begin building Martian sample depot
In the coming days, NASA's Perseverance rover is expected to begin building the first sample depot on another world. This will mark a crucial milestone in the NASA-ESA (European Space Agency) Mars Sample Return campaign, which aims to bring Mars samp.....»»
With AI, extreme microbe reveals how life"s building blocks adapt to high pressure
An assist from a Google Artificial Intelligence tool has helped scientists discover how the proteins of a heat-loving microbe respond to the crushing conditions of the planet's deepest ocean trenches, offering new insights into how these building blo.....»»
Could comets have delivered the building blocks of life to ocean worlds like Europa, Enceladus and Titan?
Throughout Earth's history, the planet's surface has been regularly impacted by comets, meteors, and the occasional large asteroid. While these events were often destructive, sometimes to the point of triggering a mass extinction, they may have also.....»»
Like a diamond in the sky: How to spot NASA"s solar sail demo in orbit
Now that its reflective sail has deployed fully open in orbit, the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System can be seen in the night sky from many locations across the world!.....»»
NASA scientific balloon takes flight with student-built payloads
NASA's Scientific Balloon Program's fifth balloon mission of the 2024 fall campaign took flight Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, from the agency's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The HASP 1.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform).....»»
New mass spectrometry technology could transform tiny sample analysis
Mass spectrometry is a powerful technique that allows scientists to break down and identify the building blocks of just about anything by measuring the mass of the tiny particles of which something is comprised. It has a major limitation, however—a.....»»
Hubble and Chandra find supermassive black hole duo
Like two Sumo wrestlers squaring off, the closest confirmed pair of supermassive black holes have been observed in tight proximity. These are located approximately 300 light-years apart and were detected using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Ch.....»»
Parker Solar Probe lines up for final Venus flyby
NASA's Parker Solar Probe executed a short maneuver on Aug. 26 that kept the spacecraft on course for the mission's seventh and final planned Venus flyby on Nov. 6......»»
Glitch in protein synthesis could affect tumor growth
During protein synthesis, or translation, genetic information transcribed in the cell's mRNA directs the stringing together of amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. As the translation machinery carouses along the string of nucleotides that m.....»»
Hidden, compact galaxies in the distant universe—searching for the secrets behind the little red dots
Astronomers exploring the faraway universe with the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's most powerful telescope, have found a class of galaxies that challenges even the most skillful creatures in mimicry—like the mimic octopus. This creature can imp.....»»
Two astronauts are left behind in space as Boeing"s troubled capsule returns to Earth empty
Boeing's first astronaut mission ended Friday night with an empty capsule landing and two test pilots still in space, left behind until next year because NASA judged their return too risky......»»
Two NASA astronauts stuck in space have flown long missions before
The two NASA astronauts left behind at the International Space Station following the return of Boeing's troubled capsule are Navy test pilots who have ridden out long missions before......»»
Boeing Starliner Returns Home to an Uncertain Future
NASA has three more operational Starliner missions on the books. It hasn't decided whether it will commit to any more than that......»»
The maiden voyage of Blue Origin"s massive new rocket won"t be for NASA
The maiden voyage of Blue Origin"s massive new rocket won"t be for NASA.....»»
With NASA’s plan faltering, China knows it can be first with Mars sample return
"China is likely to become the first country to return samples from Mars." Enlarge / A "selfie" photo of China's Zhurong rover and the Tianwen-1 landing platform on Mars in 2021. (credit: China National Space Administration).....»»
Faced with a tight deadline, NASA and Blue Origin agree to delay New Glenn debut
"We can’t take our foot off the pedal here." Enlarge / The second stage of the New Glenn rocket rolled to the launch site this week. (credit: Blue Origin) NASA and Blue Origin announced Friday that they have agreed to.....»»
NASA wants Starliner to make a quick getaway from the space station
Starliner is set to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico shortly after midnight. Enlarge / Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set to undock from the International Space Station on Friday evening. (credit: NASA) B.....»»
ChemCam hits 1 million laser shots on Mars since 2012
The ChemCam instrument, developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, recently zapped its laser for the 1 millionth time on Mars. Sitting on top of NASA's Curiosity rover, ChemCam has been helping make groundbreaking discoveries since 2012......»»
Boeing"s beleaguered space capsule is heading back to Earth without two NASA astronauts
After months of turmoil over its safety, Boeing's new astronaut capsule is set to depart the International Space Station on Friday without its crew......»»
Neutral atom innovations by quantum systems accelerator mark quantum computing milestones
Before quantum computers can solve complex problems, researchers must develop technologies that manage larger numbers of qubits (the building blocks of quantum computers) for extended periods. Neutral atoms play an important role in this effort and a.....»»
Video: Mars rover trials
Rover trials in a quarry in the U.K. showing a four-wheeled rover, known as Codi, using its robotic arm and a powerful computer vision system to pick up sample tubes......»»