Science
Where Does Gold Come From? NASA Data Has Clues
Where Does Gold Come From? NASA Data Has Clues NASA data has provided clues to the origin of gold in the universe, suggesting that flares from highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) could be responsible for creating and distributing heavy elements like gold. The study, led by Anirudh Patel, estimates that magnetar giant flares could contribute […]
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In the Starlight: Jason Phillips’ Unexpected Path to Johnson Procurement
In the Starlight: Jason Phillips’ Unexpected Path to Johnson Procurement Jason Phillips joined the US Air Force in 1994 and planned to serve for at least 20 years, but a medical separation led him to transition into a new career path. Phillips was able to leverage his experience as an Air Force contracting officer to […]
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NASA Moon Observing Instrument to Get Another Shot at Lunar Ops
NASA Moon Observing Instrument to Get Another Shot at Lunar Ops NASA’s Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) instrument will launch to the Moon on a commercial rover no earlier than 2026, following its successful demonstration in lunar conditions during the Intuitive Machines 2 mission. MSOLO will measure low molecular weight volatiles on the lunar […]
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How Are We Made of Star Stuff? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 58
How Are We Made of Star Stuff? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 58 According to NASA expert, we are literally made of star stuff, as the elements that make up our bodies were formed in previous stars. The universe existed for billions of years before humans and our solar system, and all the elements […]
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NASA 3D Wind Measuring Laser Aims to Improve Forecasts from Air, Space
NASA 3D Wind Measuring Laser Aims to Improve Forecasts from Air, Space NASA’s Aerosol Wind Profiler (AWP) instrument aims to improve weather forecasts by collecting precise measurements of wind direction, speed, and aerosol concentration. The AWP uses a coherent Doppler wind lidar technology to gather data on atmospheric conditions, which can significantly improve weather forecasts, […]
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Algorithm could help solve hearing aids’ ‘cocktail party problem’
Algorithm could help solve hearing aids’ ‘cocktail party problem’ Boston University researchers have developed a new brain-inspired algorithm that could help hearing aids tune out interference and isolate single talkers in a crowd, addressing the “cocktail party problem” faced by people with hearing loss. The algorithm, called BOSSA (biologically oriented sound segregation algorithm), was tested […]
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Seeing the Cygnus Loop in a New Way
Seeing the Cygnus Loop in a New Way NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has created a 3D model of the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant that provides insights into the explosive death of a massive star. The 3D model allows people to explore and print examples of stars in the early and end stages of their […]
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How does soap keep you clean? A chemist explains the science of soap
How does soap keep you clean? A chemist explains the science of soap Soap has been used for over 5,000 years to clean bodies and clothes, dating back to ancient Babylon. The science behind soap lies in its unique molecular structure, which is both water-loving (hydrophilic) and water-fearing (hydrophobic), allowing it to effectively remove dirt, […]
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Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work
Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work Scientists have long struggled to understand how granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, behave when individual grains interact with each other. A new research approach uses photoelasticity, a property that makes transparent materials […]
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‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ − an astronomer explains how much evidence scientists need to claim discoveries like extraterrestrial life
‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ − an astronomer explains how much evidence scientists need to claim discoveries like extraterrestrial life Scientists searching for extraterrestrial life need extraordinary evidence to support their claims, as suggested by Carl Sagan’s phrase “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” The detection of life on K2-18b, a planet in another star system, […]
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‘Oz’ system tricks the eye into seeing entirely new color
‘Oz’ system tricks the eye into seeing entirely new color Scientists have developed a new technique called “Oz” that tricks the human eye into seeing a brand-new color, named “olo,” which is a blue-green color of unparalleled saturation. The Oz system uses tiny doses of laser light to individually control up to 1,000 photoreceptors in […]
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Why predicting battery performance is like forecasting traffic − and how researchers are making progress
Why predicting battery performance is like forecasting traffic − and how researchers are making progress Battery performance prediction is challenging due to various factors such as temperature, physical structure, and material aging, making it comparable to forecasting traffic. Researchers are working on improving battery lifespan, calculating degradation, safety under extreme conditions, and exploring new materials […]
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Sols 4520-4521: Prinzregententorte
Sols 4520-4521: Prinzregententorte NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity has acquired an image of its target area, “Hale Telescope,” using its Front Hazard Avoidance Camera on Sol 4518 (April 22, 2025), featuring prominent laminations that reminded the science team of a layered-cake like Prinzregententorte. Curiosity successfully completed its plan tosol, which included APXS and MAHLI activities at […]
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Searching for the Dark in the Light
Searching for the Dark in the Light The Perseverance rover has been exploring lower “Witch Hazel Hill” on Mars, focusing on understanding the relationships between light and dark layers. The team has discovered that dark layers tend to be composed of larger clasts compared to light layers, and they’re searching for a place to sample […]
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Saturn’s moon could have life, but only a little bit
Saturn’s moon could have life, but only a little bit Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, may harbor life, but only in tiny amounts. A new study suggests that the moon’s subsurface ocean could support simple, microscopic life forms. The researchers used bioenergetic modeling to develop a realistic scenario of what life on Titan might look like, […]
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Navigation Technology
Navigation Technology NASA scientists are working to improve navigation tools for crewed spacecraft and robots in space, enabling humans to explore farther into space safely. A current investigation called NAVCOM uses the ISS Ham Radio program hardware to test software for a system that could shape future lunar navigation, processing signals similar to GPS but […]
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NASA Tracks Snowmelt to Improve Water Management
NASA Tracks Snowmelt to Improve Water Management NASA’s C-20A aircraft conducted seven research flights in March to track snowmelt and improve water management, using its Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) to collect data on seasonal snow cover and freshwater content. The Dense UAVSAR Snow Time (DUST) mission mapped snow accumulation over the Sierra […]
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Hubble Visits Glittering Cluster, Capturing Its Ultraviolet Light
Hubble Visits Glittering Cluster, Capturing Its Ultraviolet Light Hubble Space Telescope has revisited stunning globular cluster Messier 72 (M72) as part of ESA/Hubble’s 35th anniversary celebrations, capturing its ultraviolet light for the first time. M72 is a collection of stars located in the constellation Aquarius, approximately 50,000 light-years from Earth, and is one of the […]
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Earth Science Showcase – Kids Art Collection
Earth Science Showcase – Kids Art Collection NASA’s Earth Science Division showcased its work at an event for kids, where they shared their favorite things about the Earth through art. The showcase featured a variety of artwork created by children aged 2.5 to 9 years old, including pieces on wildlife, the color blue, Hawaii, and […]
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Colors are objective, according to two philosophers − even though the blue you see doesn’t match what I see
Colors are objective, according to two philosophers − even though the blue you see doesn’t match what I see Colors are not subjective, but rather objective features of objects that exist independently of individual perceptions. This is supported by the fact that colors can be measured and quantified using scientific laws and instruments. The variation […]
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Air Force Pilot, SkillBridge Fellow Helps NASA Research Soar
Air Force Pilot, SkillBridge Fellow Helps NASA Research Soar Jeremy Johnson, a former US Air Force pilot, has joined NASA’s Glenn Research Center as a research pilot and aviation safety officer through the Department of Defense SkillBridge fellowship program. Johnson flies NASA planes to support important scientific research and testing, working with researchers to plan […]
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Sols 4518-4519: Thumbs up from Mars
Sols 4518-4519: Thumbs up from Mars The Curiosity rover on Mars has made another exciting discovery, detecting the mineral siderite in three drill holes, which allowed scientists to piece together the carbon cycle of Mars. Today’s workspace looks intriguing with its fine layers and weathering patterns, but the team had to keep the arm stowed […]
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NASA Airborne Sensor’s Wildfire Data Helps Firefighters Take Action
NASA Airborne Sensor’s Wildfire Data Helps Firefighters Take Action NASA’s AVIRIS-3 airborne imaging spectrometer helped firefighters contain a wildfire in Alabama by providing real-time data on the fire’s location, extent, and intensity. The sensor detected the 120-acre fire on March 19 and transmitted images to firefighters’ phones in minutes, allowing them to limit its spread […]
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Why do chicken eggs come in different colors?
Why do chicken eggs come in different colors? Chicken eggs come in different colors due to genetics, with hens having lighter earlobes producing white eggs and those with darker feathers and earlobes laying more colorful eggs. The color of an eggshell is determined by pigments deposited onto the shell during the egg-forming process, which can […]
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Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur
Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur Humans don’t have hair all over their bodies like other animals because our ancestors evolved to lose fur over time. This change likely occurred around 7 million years ago, when humans and chimpanzees took different evolutionary paths. The main […]
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Planetary Alignment Provides NASA Rare Opportunity to Study Uranus
Planetary Alignment Provides NASA Rare Opportunity to Study Uranus NASA recently conducted a rare planetary alignment event to study Uranus’ atmosphere and rings, providing valuable data on its stratosphere’s temperature, density, and pressure. The event, known as a stellar occultation, allowed NASA scientists to measure Uranus’ atmospheric properties at multiple altitude layers, shedding light on […]
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Perfect brownies baked at high altitude are possible thanks to Colorado’s home economics pioneer Inga Allison
Perfect brownies baked at high altitude are possible thanks to Colorado’s home economics pioneer Inga Allison Inga Allison, a pioneering home economics professor at Colorado State University (CSU), made significant contributions to high-altitude baking research in the early 20th century. Allison’s work led to the development of altitude-specific baking practices, which were first published in […]
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Nine Finalists Advance in NASA’s Power to Explore Challenge
Nine Finalists Advance in NASA’s Power to Explore Challenge Nine finalists have been selected from 45 semifinalist student essays in NASA’s Power to Explore Challenge, a national writing competition for K-12 students. The challenge asked students to explore how NASA has powered its science missions and dream up their own radioisotope-powered science mission, with the […]
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NASA’s Use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum
NASA’s Use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum NASA relies heavily on radio waves to send data, communications, and commands between researchers or flight controllers and their flight platforms or instruments. The use of radio frequencies (RF) within the electromagnetic spectrum is shared among different types of applications, including NASA’s everyday operations such as walkie-talkies and […]
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NASA Collaborates to Enable Spectrum-Dependent Science, Exploration, and Innovation
NASA Collaborates to Enable Spectrum-Dependent Science, Exploration, and Innovation NASA collaborates with various stakeholders to promote collaborative use of RF spectrum for science, exploration, and innovation. The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program coordinates with U.S. agencies, international civil space agencies, and private sector entities to avoid interference and protect NASA’s spectrum-dependent activities. NASA participates […]
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