technical updates

NISAR, a joint mission of NASA and ISRO set to launch on July 30, will be able to see shifts in the landscape smaller than a centimeter to give warning of potential natural disasters. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ioQOZrK

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two of SES's O3b mPOWER communications satellites toward medium-Earth orbit today (July 22), then aced its landing on a ship at sea. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pxnsHM2

Astronomers have discovered a 200-light-year-wide Giant Molecular Cloud dubbed the Midpoint cloud that seems to be feeding star-building material to the heart of the Milky Way. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/x9uF8SU

The thin crescent moon and Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye for early risers on July 23. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/XqVzgjo

Our expert travel guide to the 2026 total solar eclipse in Greenland, Iceland and Spain is packed with insider tips, travel advice and skywatching secrets from seasoned eclipse chasers. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/nybu9ls

U.K. scientists plan to send a small spacecraft to the moon's far side to detect faint radio signals emitted shortly after the Big Bang. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Mexpkob

NASA recently took its new X-59 "quiet' supersonic jet for a drive during taxi tests, one of the final hurdles between the aircraft and its first flight. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/1ZT4RSL

The Orion Nebula, the Pleiades and the Hyades open clusters could represent the different phases of star clusters: baby, adolescent and elderly. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/FsyLDf7

Gene editing may hold the key to rescuing endangered species—not just by preserving them, but by restoring their lost genetic diversity using DNA from museum specimens and related species. Scientists propose a visionary framework that merges biotechnology with traditional conservation, aiming to give struggling populations like Mauritius’ pink pigeon a fighting chance against extinction. From agriculture to de-extinction, these tools are already transforming biology—and now, they could transform the future of biodiversity itself. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xzMSAeZ

Our planet has been rotating at its fastest since records began in 1973. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/tNGafCv

Scientists have used DNA's self-assembling properties to engineer intricate moiré superlattices at the nanometer scale—structures that twist and layer like never before. With clever molecular “blueprints,” they’ve created customizable lattices featuring patterns such as honeycombs and squares, all with remarkable precision. These new architectures are more than just scientific art—they open doors to revolutionizing how we control light, sound, electrons, and even spin in next-gen materials. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/dtkET47

Scientists have grown algae in bioplastic habitats under Mars-like conditions, a step that could bring long-term space colonization closer to reality. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/VzijDWq

Find the locations of the five landing zones considered as the setting for humanity's first steps on another world. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/eOzaH8C

Supernovas, kilonovas, gamma-ray bursts... oh my! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will uncover 100,000 of these explosions and many more powerful and violent cosmic events. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/KuPM2on

Two teams of astronomers have simultaneously discovered a strange, spinning dead star that seems to defy our current understanding of both neutron stars and white dwarfs. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/3MhCwaB

The Southern Delta Aquariids are active alongside the trusty Perseid meteor shower. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/JLk4je1

"The mountaineer defies gravity; the astronomer looks up. Both seek to reach the unreachable." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9D0eiPn

Soil excavated from the moon could be used to produce oxygen and methane, which could be used by lunar settlers for breathing and for rocket fuel. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Azxt2mu

China has taken a new step in its long-term planning for lunar exploration with the completion of a "simulated moon underground space." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ioTfvpl

The European Space Agency is funding the development of a hypersonic space plane pathfinder, which will start flying by 2031, if all goes according to plan. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/cPI7Jtv

The basaltic meteorite is a piece of lunar rock that formed in a lava flow 2.35 billion years ago, long after volcanism on the moon was supposed to have ended. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/QalVysX

Lightning-ignited Grand Canyon wildfires burn tens of thousands of acres, as NOAA’s GOES satellites continue to monitor the fires. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/cdDhwua

The high winds that birth dust devils can also revitalize robots by cleaning their solar cells. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/mveiLBT

Astronomers using the Subaru Telescope have discovered a strange new body in a weird orbit at the edge of the solar system, which could be bad news for Planet Nine theories. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/DuPs5Sk

New research indicates that cellular "pockets" that are the first step toward protocells, the precursors of life, could form in the methane seas of Saturn's moon Titan. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9gTk3MJ

SpaceX plans to launch 24 of Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband satellites early Wednesday morning (July 16), the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 liftoff. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/r096x3u

'We had an idea for a meat planet' — Revenge of the Savage Planet game director Alex Hutchinson talks strange new worlds and mocking corporate spaceflight. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ptVN9W4

Each summer, skywatchers around the world look forward to the famous Perseid meteor shower, but often overlook four lesser showers that peak between July 29 and Aug. 16. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/DBpCFy0

NASA has released remarkable video captured during the Parker Solar Probe's record-breaking 2024 flyby, offering the closest views of the sun ever recorded. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/7jD3iSy

The moon, Saturn and Neptune will rise a little before midnight for those in the U.S. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6iE9vfy

A monster exoplanet as big as 10 times the size of Jupiter has emerged from the stellar gas and dust surrounding a young star, thanks to the telescope tag team of Gaia and ALMA. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/axT6HZV

U.S. President Trump's "One, Big Beautiful Bill Act," H.R. 1 includes $1 billion for the U.S. Space Force (USSF) X-37B military spacecraft program. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/OvuF3Jz

The four astronauts of Axiom Space's latest private mission have concluded their stay aboard the International Space Station. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/oFC5gOi

Gravitational wave detectors have "heard" the ripples in space caused by the most massive black hole merger yet. One "forbidden" by current theoretical models. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/BSZ1Fcv

The winners will be announced during a ceremony in September. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/aV0lpuy

"It is incredible that modern telescopic surveys have the ability to detect such small objects up to millions of kilometers away." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/cK8kirN

For centuries, we’ve imagined Neanderthals as distant cousins — a separate species that vanished long ago. But thanks to AI-powered genetic research, scientists have revealed a far more entangled history. Modern humans and Neanderthals didn’t just cross paths; they repeatedly interbred, shared genes, and even merged populations over nearly 250,000 years. These revelations suggest that Neanderthals never truly disappeared — they were absorbed. Their legacy lives on in our DNA, reshaping our understanding of what it means to be human. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BK6Ujh3

SpaceX launched a mystery satellite to geostationary transfer orbit from Florida's Space Coast early Sunday morning (July 13). from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/e2fvapD

It's the last day of Amazon Prime Day and some of these deals are ending tonight. Grab some new optics in time to see Saturn's rings! from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pS9PXET

This room-filling Cadrim star projector has never been cheaper, an absolute steal at 20% off. It's perfect for parties, game rooms or as a night light and even projects the moon! from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/FJDPQ6v

These are the best Amazon Prime Day streaming deals that are still on offer, but you'll have to hurry, as Prime Day is ending soon. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9RJblmx

Scientists had assumed that the ice in space was purely amorphous, but new experiments show it can have a partly crystalline structure similar to ice on Earth. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9jcuh7K

Grab the Unistellar eQuinox 2 (the best smart telescope) for $2199 in this anti-Prime Day deal from BH Photo and Video from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/3BKpvf9

Astronomers have traced a mysterious blast of X-rays to a star that, like a cosmic action hero, just refused to die. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/UIBQXT5

Astronomers use algorithms to analyze the numerous images coming from space, but how accurate are they? from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/zoaSC6p

Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new proposal to take over NASA's beleaguered Mars Sample Return mission for less than half the current cost while achieving key science goals. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/2znrqUO

Here are the best Amazon Prime Day model rocket deals as we round up the biggest discounts ahead of the sales event, which launches on July 8. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/JXOdGHp

The U.S. military is suspending its efforts to secure a small Pacific island as the test landing site for a new program using rockets to rapidly deliver cargo anywhere on Earth. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/wRtDSWm

Brown dwarfs, also known as "failed stars," could be corrupted by dark matter and transformed into "dark dwarfs" powered by the universe's strangest stuff. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/wLsom0S

As James Gunn's Superman (2025) races into cinemas faster than a speeding bullet, we look at the planet that could have hosted his home world and why he might be older than he looks. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/hHGBltO

Kenyan fig trees can literally turn parts of themselves to stone, using microbes to convert internal crystals into limestone-like deposits that lock away carbon, sweeten surrounding soils, and still yield fruit—hinting at a delicious new weapon in the climate-change arsenal. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wvPy1hE

Tissue samples sent to the International Space Station reveal what can happen to astronauts on long-term missions. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/dARjrn9

A collection of more than 50 pieces of memorabilia previously owned by Sally Ride, the first American woman to reach space, sold at auction last week for more than $145,000. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/sE5awkO

In the latest attack on science by the Trump administration, researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center will no longer receive data from a fleet of military satellites. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/8jUP6k5

Sprites have been known to form above intense thunderstorms. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/VOQou97

Preserving strips of native vegetation beside avocado orchards gives insects a buffet of wild pollen when blossoms are scarce, doubling their plant menu and boosting their resilience. Using cutting-edge eDNA metabarcoding, Curtin scientists revealed how this botanical diversity underpins pollination, a service vital to 75% of crops and our brunch-worthy avocados. Their findings urge farmers to weave natural habitat back into farmland to secure food supplies for a swelling global population. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/T3mGrfP

The ALMA radio telescope array in the Atacama Desert temporarily halted operations after a rare snowfall blanketed the base camp last week. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/5MB24kL

The "Golden Handle" appears each month when the sun illuminates a mountain range lining a vast impact crater. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/9vcfw1N

The "One Big Beautiful Bill," now enacted, directs that space shuttle Discovery be removed from the Smithsonian and placed on display at Space Center Houston by January 2027. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/MJBNOHA

Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is reshaping how we understand rainforest health and carbon storage, as storms may be responsible for up to 60% of tree deaths in some regions. Researchers now warn that failing to account for this hidden force could undermine forest conservation and climate models alike. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/FOLRnI0

Very massive stars are cosmic "rock stars" that live fast, die young and leave black holes in their place. During this transformation, they may vomit out more stellar material than we knew. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/8zkTwUB

Want to make the most of your Fujifilm camera? We've rounded up the best Fujifilm lenses, now with expected savings on Amazon Prime Day this July 8. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/wDWaxXY

The rocky world will be visible for a brief window after sunset. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Xlp1DOJ

"…are we potentially the last generation that will see the night's sky in its entirety?" from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/tPQ8yAH

A plume of molten rock deep beneath eastern Africa is pulsing upward in rhythmic surges, slowly splitting the continent and potentially marking the birth of a new ocean, a new study reports. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/jv0UDKd

Astronomers have discovered the first evidence of a white dwarf wiped out by a double-detonation supernova, also providing space-lovers with stunning eye-candy. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/TVZYAoS

Cosmic archeologists have used the James Webb Space Telescope to excavate ancient disk galaxies that tell the story of how the Milky Way and other modern galaxies evolved. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/h7XOoPq

The phenomenon is created by the shifting play of light and shadow over the lunar surface. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/2CzZOt9

Scientists have discovered a stealthy mechanism that cytomegalovirus (CMV)—the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the U.S.—uses to infiltrate blood vessel cells while evading immune detection. The virus forms a hidden protein complex that acts like a molecular “backdoor,” allowing it to bypass the immune system’s defenses. This newly identified pathway may explain why vaccine efforts have failed for decades and opens the door to targeted therapies that could finally prevent CMV-linked birth defects in newborns and protect vulnerable patients. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jXLhno7