NASA to overhaul mission returning samples from Mars—here"s why it must and will go ahead
NASA recently announced that it is seeking new ways to complete the return to Earth of rock cores drilled by the Perseverance Rover in the Jezero Crater on Mars. This has led to some anxiety among space scientists, who view the Mars Sample Return (MS.....»»
Is dark matter’s main rival theory dead?
There’s bad news from the Cassini spacecraft and other recent tests. Enlarge / Galaxy rotation has long perplexed scientists. (credit: NASA/James Webb Telescope) One of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics today is.....»»
How the Moon got a makeover
The Moon's former surface sank to the depths, until volcanism brought it back. Enlarge (credit: NASA Goddard/ASU) Our Moon may appear to shine peacefully in the night sky, but billions of years ago, it was given a facial.....»»
NASA wants a cheaper Mars Sample Return—Boeing proposes most expensive rocket
"To reduce mission complexity, this new concept is doing one launch." Enlarge / The Space Launch System rocket lifts off on the Artemis I mission. (credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) NASA is looking for ways to get rock samples.....»»
Hubble Space Telescope glimpses spiral galaxy UGC 9684
The celestial object showcased in this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is the spiral galaxy UGC 9684, which lies around 240 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Boötes. This image shows an impressive example of several.....»»
CarGurus reports net income jump, more digital wholesale losses
The vehicle listings company said its marketplace revenue grew by double digits and work to overhaul its wholesale business is continuing......»»
We need to consider conservation efforts on Mars, say researchers
Astrobiology is the field of science that studies the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. In practice, this means sending robotic missions beyond Earth to analyze the atmospheres, surfaces, and chemistry of extraterr.....»»
First Dream Chaser spaceplane needs more work when it gets to launch site
The rest of Dream Chaser's heat shield tiles will be installed at Kennedy Space Center. Enlarge / Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane inside a NASA test chamber in Ohio. (credit: Sierra Space) There is still some work.....»»
NASA watchdog report: 100+ cracks on heat shield biggest threat to human moon mission
The damage to the Orion capsule from the Artemis I mission is already top of mind for NASA as it works to make the Artemis II mission safe for humans. But a new agency report has revealed the extent of the problem, including scores of cracks in Orion.....»»
Scientists win World Food Prize for work on Global Seed Vault
Scientists Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler, who on Thursday received the prestigious World Food Prize for "their work to preserve the world's heritage of seeds", are on a mission......»»
NASA confirms “independent review” of Orion heat shield issue
"There's no guarantee that changing the trajectory is the answer," says the Artemis II pilot. Enlarge / The Orion spacecraft after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at the end of the Artemis I mission. (credit: NASA) NASA.....»»
NASA reveals new target date for first crewed Starliner launch
Following Monday's postponement of the launch of the first crewed Starliner flight, NASA has revealed a new target date for the highly anticipated mission......»»
International SWOT mission can improve flood prediction
Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are like our planet's arteries, carrying life-sustaining water in interconnected networks. When Earth's water cycle runs too fast, flooding can result, threatening lives and property. That risk is increasing as climate c.....»»
Webb presents best evidence to date for rocky exoplanet atmosphere
Researchers using NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope may have detected an atmosphere surrounding 55 Cancri e, a rocky exoplanet 41 light-years from Earth. This is the best evidence to date for a rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system......»»
NASA and JAXA XRISM spot iron fingerprints in nearby active galaxy
After starting science operations in February, Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) studied the monster black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 4151......»»
Researchers can now accurately measure the emergence and damping of a plasmonic field
An international research team led by Universität Hamburg, DESY, and Stanford University has developed a new approach to characterize the electric field of arbitrary plasmonic samples, like, for example, gold nanoparticles. Plasmonic materials are o.....»»
Limited adaptability is making freshwater bacteria vulnerable to climate change
Freshwater bacteria with small genomes frequently undergo prolonged periods of adaptive stagnation. Based on genomic analyses of samples from Lake Zurich and other European lakes, researchers at the University of Zurich have uncovered specific evolut.....»»
Helldivers 2 PC woes prove that PlayStation needs an online overhaul
The recent Helldivers 2 PC fiasco is the latest example of why PlayStation needs to finally give its online services a 2.0 upgrade......»»
NASA 360-degree video shows what it’s like to plunge into a black hole
Ever wondered what it would be like to fall into a supermassive black hole? A new 360-degree video from NASA attempts to answer that very question......»»
Faulty valve scuttles Starliner’s first crew launch
The soonest opportunity for Atlas V and Starliner to launch is Friday night. Enlarge / The Atlas V rocket and Starliner spacecraft on their launch pad Monday. (credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni.....»»
Boeing’s Starliner Is Almost Ready to Launch a NASA Crew Into Space
Seven years behind schedule, this month Starliner will send two astronauts to space on a mission for NASA. The troubled company still has lots of catching up to do......»»