technical updates

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have delivered the first detailed weather report of a nearby rogue world, and it's stormier than expected. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/TIeOE0K

Lunar samples reveal the far side of the moon, hidden from Earth's view, may have a cooler interior than the near side. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/1HlLSXj

The JWST has studied the chemical composition of a moon-forming disk circling a giant planet 625 light-years away. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/iW7EUYJ

Firefly Aerospace's seventh Alpha rocket exploded on Monday (Sept. 29) during preflight testing. The vehicle was destroyed, and Firefly is assessing the damage to its test stand. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/yU7WqOm

International Space Station astronauts can breathe easy — other NASA missions not so much. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ihbzXuA

'Foundation' actress Cherry Jones discusses her character's tempestuous relationship with Brother Dusk. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/y9ipkFG

From twinkling constellations to stellar life cycles, this starry skywatching quiz will test your cosmic knowledge. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/XyWEFda

Human fertility hinges on a delicate molecular ballet that begins even before birth. UC Davis researchers have uncovered how special protein networks safeguard chromosomes as eggs and sperm form, ensuring genetic stability across generations. Using yeast as a model, they revealed how crossovers between chromosomes are protected for decades in female eggs, preventing errors that could lead to infertility, miscarriage, or conditions like Down syndrome. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DRzy23M

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/RImYuM4

Living with a sense of purpose may not just enrich life, it could also guard against dementia. A UC Davis study tracking over 13,000 adults for up to 15 years found that people with higher purpose were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment. Purpose was linked to resilience across ethnicities, even in those with genetic risks for Alzheimer’s, and activities like relationships, volunteering, spirituality, and personal goals can help nurture it. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/34KvtSr

Researchers in Japan discovered that Parkinson’s patients diagnosed in their 80s are far more likely to show signs of amyloid buildup, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, even without dementia symptoms. The study compared younger and older patients, finding that older individuals had three times the rate of amyloid positivity. Surprisingly, Parkinson’s patients overall showed lower amyloid buildup than healthy people their age, suggesting that Parkinson’s might change the way Alzheimer’s-related processes unfold in the brain. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PMqoQYU

A moon rock brought back over 50 years ago by the Apollo 17 mission has been connected with the birth of the Sea of Serenity — if true, it means the lunar mare formed hundreds of millions of years earlier than thought. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/BmahAt2

'Futurama' co-creator David X. Cohen dives into the details of the show's 13th season. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Qifu7eI

Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket is taking steps toward the launchpad to fly NASA's ESCAPADE Mars mission, now lifting off no earlier than (NET) mid-October. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/6Gl1UMV

Scientists measure the distance to the Moon by bouncing lasers off mirrors placed there by space probes and astronauts. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/bz1tXPR

Modifications to a cargo deal between Sierra Space and NASA may mean the Dream Chaser space plane never reaches the International Space Station. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/bC90RWg

Scientists have confirmed that the Silverpit Crater in the North Sea was caused by an asteroid impact over 40 million years ago, ending years of controversy over its origin. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/WemltHs

Katalyst Space Technologies has scored a contract to raise the altitude of NASA's Swift Observatory, which has been hunting for gamma-ray bursts from low Earth orbit for more than two decades. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/TvGe5ta

The star-forming region called Sagittarius B2 contains half of the galactic center's stars, yet only 10% of the gas. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Br8tWO9

A new study suggests that, without plate tectonics and the right balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen, advanced alien civilizations may be exceedingly rare. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/0yKS9jW

The challenge is getting this technology where it's needed. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/aykVRMi

Ben Bailey has 2,000 hours of flight time, including with high-profile military helicopters. The NASA astronaut candidate may be able to leverage that experience for moon landings. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/kOrZpeU

Scientists didn't expect to find the remnants of an icy world around this extremely dense white dwarf star. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/m5CsPEV

SpaceX performed a full-duration static fire test with its latest Starship spacecraft recently to help gear up for the 11th test flight of the massive rocket. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/BmleE9T

NASA's ambitious mission to return astronauts to the moon for the first time this century is on track to launch no later than April 2026, but it just might fly sooner if all goes well. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/upB3FdA

Final tests of NASA's laser beam communication technology offer a promising new way to keep in touch with astronauts and spacecraft venturing into deep space, including future missions to Mars. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/bvIK1uP

A massive earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in late July triggered a tsunami that rippled across the Pacific — and NASA’s experimental detection system tracked the event in real time by monitoring the atmosphere above. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/PIptcRC

Test your knowledge of the Artemis program—from cutting-edge tech and lunar missions to the astronauts leading the way. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/0cUFfgV

NASA revealed the members of its 2025 astronaut class, the 24th group in the agency's history — some of whom may be among the first people to set foot on Mars. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Nzw4ILc

Scientists have developed a new multi-layered metalens design that could revolutionize portable optics in devices like phones, drones, and satellites. By stacking metamaterial layers instead of relying on a single one, the team overcame fundamental limits in focusing multiple wavelengths of light. Their algorithm-driven approach produced intricate nanostructures shaped like clovers, propellers, and squares, enabling improved performance, scalability, and polarization independence. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/y04WsVl

Scientists have discovered that ordinary ice is a flexoelectric material, capable of generating electricity when bent or unevenly deformed. At very low temperatures, it can even become ferroelectric, developing reversible electric polarization. This could help explain lightning formation in storms and inspire new technologies that use ice as an active material. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/KsX4fj5

Witness the first images of the September 2025 partial solar eclipse. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/QxWVKqa

Diabetes affects millions of Americans, and many don’t even realize they have it. Instead of relying on costly and time-consuming lab tests, scientists at Penn State have developed a breath sensor that can detect diabetes and prediabetes within minutes by measuring acetone levels. Built from laser-induced graphene and zinc oxide, the sensor is lightweight, inexpensive, and designed to overcome challenges like humidity in exhaled breath. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PpmlAub

Insects are essential for ecosystems, but mounting evidence suggests many populations are collapsing under modern pressures. A new study used cutting-edge genomic techniques on museum specimens to track centuries of ant biodiversity across Fiji. The results reveal that nearly 80% of native ants are in decline, with losses intensifying in the past few hundred years as human activities expanded. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NVR6kuh

The Expedition 73 crew on the International Space Station began their week with the arrival of an extra-large cargo delivery with new science and supplies, as well as care packages from home. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/bzgoP49

Natural geologic processes at Mars' Oxia Planum may improve the Rosalind Franklin rover's chances of detecting organic compounds. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Yh8mDWe

The autumn equinox brings fall to the Northern Hemisphere today when the sun passes over our planet's equator at noon. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/07Pz9Z8

A new program has discovered chaos in a nearby planetary system, which could explain the existence of a phenomenon astronomers call the hot-Neptunian desert. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/z6h21bp

Mysteriously powerful cosmic winds around neutron star may be 'game-changer' for understanding monster black holes from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/m0KHprn

This asteroid quiz is your launchpad to discovery from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/p54Q3Ft

Foundation star Pilou Asbæk tells Space.com how he channeled Asimov villain The Mule in Season 4 of Apple TV's sci-fi saga. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pvagUJf

Alien objects may be seeding the universe. Here's what that means. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/pcGoWlk

A new study suggests that a group of cells, key for the health of blood and the immune system, are vulnerable to aging-like processes after spending time on the ISS. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/hts4fNi

"It's been fantastic to watch 'Foundation' become such a global phenomenon, with fans tuning in from every corner of the world." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/eshW2FD

Chants of "Save NASA!" echoed through downtown Washington, D.C., Monday(Sept. 15) as agency workers and supporters rallied outside NASA headquarters. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/5y1NzRh

Newly released images of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy M87 show that the plasma that swirls around it has unexpectedly reversed directions. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/DUEyYfi

"The fact that we captured the aurora again demonstrates that our method for predicting aurorae on Mars and capturing them works." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/cdGxDY0

The crescent moon will shine with Jupiter among the stars of Gemini early on Sept. 16. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/qKbOfEM

The mystery of the James Webb Space Telescope's "little red dots" could be solved if they are not ancient galaxies but are entirely new celestial objects called "black hole stars." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/sOj9ile

Dry eyes are far more common than previously believed, with over half of adults in the US and Europe experiencing symptoms, yet most remain undiagnosed for years. The large-scale NESTS study reveals that sufferers often endure daily discomfort that disrupts work, driving, and even surgery outcomes. Many accept the condition as part of aging, unaware that simple treatments could provide relief. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fR14puS

A massive study of over 4 million adults has revealed that cannabis use may nearly quadruple the risk of developing diabetes. Despite some earlier suggestions that cannabis might have metabolic benefits, this large analysis found significantly higher diabetes rates among users, even after adjusting for other health factors. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9pqWkAo

New research from Denmark challenges long-held assumptions about body weight and health, revealing that being overweight—or even moderately obese—does not necessarily increase the risk of death compared to those at the upper end of the "normal" BMI range. In fact, those who are underweight or at the lower end of the so-called healthy spectrum faced higher risks. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8bd4IOP

Scientists in Tokyo have uncovered “Inocles,” massive strands of extrachromosomal DNA hidden inside bacteria in human mouths. These giants, overlooked by traditional sequencing, could explain how oral microbes adapt, survive, and impact health. Found in nearly three-quarters of people, Inocles carry genes for stress resistance and may even hint at links to diseases like cancer, opening a whole new frontier in microbiome research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/YkJEMyi

SpaceX launched 24 Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California today (Sept. 13), on the company's 115th Falcon 9 mission of the year. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/umn0c8Y

Russia's Progress 93 freighter arrived at the International Space Station today (Sept. 13), two days after launching atop a Soyuz rocket. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/B2Vny9i

Everything about the Infinity Galaxy, recently discovered by the JWST, is strange. One odd feature could be the first evidence of a "direct collapse" black hole. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Pldq9hS

Astronomers have discovered a rogue intermediate mass black hole blasting out jets over 3,000 light-years from the heart of its home galaxy, where it would usually lurk. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/JtfbBKz

Blue Origin and Anduril each received AFRL contracts to deliver rocket-flown cargo to any point in the world within one hour, according to a media report. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/TKDdczP

Red Mars meets bright Spica in the sunset sky this week. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/0AXHrs7

Using the James Webb Space Telescope and the Subaru Telescope in powerful tandem, scientists have discovered the first shrouded supermassive black holes at Cosmic Dawn. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/ydMQeW6

New research shows that solar flares are six times hotter than thought and calls for updated sun models that could improve space weather forecasting. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/73URWvr

These breathtaking photographs are the winning entries of the 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Awards. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/DJF0aNk

A study of the "failed star" brown dwarf known as "The Accident," conducted by the James Webb Space Telescope, may reveal a solution to an old mystery of Jupiter and Saturn. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/MeN7ZRB

Destiny 2’s next chapter is bringing in themes and elements from a galaxy far, far away without breaking the canon. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/NOjMVWn

SpaceX just bought $17 billion worth of satellite spectrum from debt-ridden operator EchoStar to enhance Starlink direct-to-cell phone connectivity. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/X1i7unO

In an era when TV shows look like movies, have we lost sight of what should make sci-fi great? from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/0Gc73yv

Disney/Pixar's interstellar odyssey landed on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD for all Earthlings! from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/J9eijOV

A newly discovered gamma-ray burst is unlike any seen before, repeating over the course of a day rather than erupting in milliseconds, leaving astronomers perplexed by its origins. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/RfJV05D

A cadre of iron-rich extraterrestrial particles picked up faint whiffs of our planet's atmosphere when they fell to Earth millions of years ago. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Sti1yTa

Directive 8020 is shaking up the Supermassive Games formula for better and for worse. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/rDR6zOm

In the not-too-distant future, "artificial astronauts" could fly as actual crew members on human missions to Mars, and elsewhere in space. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/f2ucpLV

The comet will come closest to Earth on Oct. 20. There's hope that it may become bright enough to glimpse with the naked eye. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/Ujt236o

SpaceX conducted a static-fire test with Super Heavy booster B15 on Sunday (Sept. 7), preparing the booster for Starship's Flight Test 11 — a fast turnaround from their successful Flight 10 launch two weeks ago. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/aAGTXei

'EVE Frontier' developers Helgi Freyr Rúnarsson and Guðlaugur Jóhannesson talk galaxy merger models, black holes, and the thin line between science and fun. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/PBe1UGp

A sweeping new study reveals that humanity has already pushed 60% of Earth’s land outside its safe biosphere zone, with 38% in a high-risk state. By analyzing centuries of data, researchers mapped how human demands on biomass—from farming to energy production—have destabilized ecosystems worldwide. Europe, Asia, and North America show the deepest disruptions, reflecting centuries of land-use change. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/En18uhK

See the first photos of September's majestic total lunar eclipse. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/YL0wFDh

Sucralose, the sugar substitute in many diet products, may weaken cancer immunotherapy by altering gut bacteria and reducing arginine levels needed for immune cells. But supplementation with arginine or citrulline could counteract this effect, pointing to new clinical trial possibilities. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/7gUpJXC

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 24 Starlink internet broadband satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/oLNZzSq

The U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane is carrying a sample of material that could someday help NASA land cargo and people on Mars. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/oNEbTqt

Make way for the shock and awe of this 'technological terror' coming to your galaxy next month. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/8qBd2VZ

"The results provide a rare, detailed look at how planet-forming chemistry operates in the extreme environments around brown dwarfs, potentially offering clues to the diversity of worlds beyond our solar system." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/IzFgo0x

Meal timing shifts with age, and researchers found that eating breakfast later is tied to depression, fatigue, sleep problems, and an increased risk of death. Monitoring when meals are eaten could provide an easy health marker for aging adults. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/nRUhpZl

These devoted followers in Mycogen might be the true outliers of the Seldon Plan. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/i3pVtHc

Amit Kshatriya, a veteran of NASA's Moon to Mars program, has been named NASA associate administrator, the agency's top civil-service role. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/NJYWZK1

Data from NASA's InSight lander suggests there's a chunky mix beneath the surface of Mars. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/qjhTWA9

The four Artemis 2 moon astronauts passed the "Bobby and Pete" fitness challenge recently, performing 100 pushups and 50 pull-ups in less than 10 minutes. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/LVulJgC

A new Big Bang model does away with speculative elements, putting gravitational waves at the forefront of the creation of galaxies, stars, and planets. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/RfF7S89

McArthur launched on two spaceflights, logging 213 days in orbit across her nearly 25 years, and held leadership positions at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/KfimlR0

Israel launched the Ofek 19 spy satellite atop a Shavit rocket on Sept. 2, which came as a surprise to some local residents, according to news reports. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/inNDFhY

A neutron star-powered pulsar is fleeing a supernova explosion in the outskirts of the Milky Way, a low-density region where such events are "forbidden." from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/FUlEno7

The iconic tabletop card game has dabbled in science fiction before, but this new set is space opera-flavored and full of celestial phenomena. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/dyF3Y81

Titan's shadow will fall over Saturn during the early morning hours of Sept. 4. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/QezcW43

Today, NASA recovers over 90% of the water used in space. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wLv769

A new live-action trailer for the upcoming sci-game "Borderlands 4" is here urging us all to "Quit Earth" and get on the rocket. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/gn7FLYv

The view underneath SpaceX's Starship spacecraft shows the Super Heavy booster's complex array of 33 Raptor engines. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/460POpu

Saturn’s moon Titan may be more alive with possibilities than we thought. New NASA research suggests that in Titan’s freezing methane and ethane lakes, simple molecules could naturally arrange themselves into vesicles—tiny bubble-like structures that mimic the first steps toward life. These compartments, born from splashing droplets and complex chemistry in Titan’s atmosphere, could act like primitive cell walls. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BuD9XKx