Science
Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities
Science is best communicated through identity and culture – how researchers are ensuring STEM serves their communities Researchers from underrepresented backgrounds believe that personal experiences can help foster a sense of belonging for aspiring scientists, and that identity is intertwined with how they engage in and share their work. The traditional approach to science communication […]
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Rural areas have darker skies but fewer resources for students interested in astronomy – telescopes in schools can help
Rural areas have darker skies but fewer resources for students interested in astronomy – telescopes in schools can help Rural areas have some of the darkest skies in the country, making them ideal for stargazing and astronomy education, but they often lack resources to support students’ interests in STEM fields. The night sky has long […]
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Research institutions tout the value of scholarship that crosses disciplines – but academia pushes interdisciplinary researchers out
Research institutions tout the value of scholarship that crosses disciplines – but academia pushes interdisciplinary researchers out Interdisciplinary researchers face significant challenges in academia, despite being trained to conduct work that crosses between fields. The American academic system is dominated by disciplines and departments, making it difficult for interdisciplinary researchers to find a journal willing […]
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Raccoons break into liquor stores, scale skyscrapers and pick locks – studying their clever brains can clarify human intelligence, too
Raccoons break into liquor stores, scale skyscrapers and pick locks – studying their clever brains can clarify human intelligence, too Raccoons are known for their intelligence, curiosity, and problem-solving skills, but they have been overlooked as a model organism in scientific research. The species’ impressive cognitive abilities, including mental imagery capabilities similar to humans, may […]
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Out of This World Discoveries: Space Station Research in 2025
Out of This World Discoveries: Space Station Research in 2025 By the end of 2025, the International Space Station had completed over 5,800 orbits around Earth, hosting more than 750 experiments that supported exploration missions, improved life on Earth, and opened commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. The space station reached a milestone of 25 […]
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Listen: Quantum sensors could detect diseases earlier
Listen: Quantum sensors could detect diseases earlier Scientists at the University of Chicago have made a breakthrough discovery by turning a protein into a biological quantum bit (qubit), which could lead to more precise measurements of cells. The qubit, also known as a “first-of-its-kind” biological quantum bit, has the potential to detect diseases earlier and […]
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Inflatable robot arm picks apples
Inflatable robot arm picks apples A low-cost, simple robotic apple picker arm has been developed by researchers at Washington State University, which can pick apples in about 25 seconds. The inflatable arm weighs less than 50 pounds and is made of a soft fabric filled with air that is similar to, but stronger than, the […]
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Hubble Snaps Stellar Baby Pictures
Hubble Snaps Stellar Baby Pictures Hubble Space Telescope has captured stunning images of newly developing stars shrouded in thick dust, providing valuable insights into massive star formation theories. The telescope’s near-infrared emission detection capabilities allow researchers to study “outflow cavities” formed by protostars’ jets of gas and dust, shedding light on the properties of young […]
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Hubble Observes Ghostly Cloud Alive with Star Formation
Hubble Observes Ghostly Cloud Alive with Star Formation Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of Lupus 3, a star-forming cloud 500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, revealing new life amidst its eerie landscape. The image shows white wisps of gas swirling throughout the region, including a dark dust cloud and bright T Tauri […]
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How mountain terraces have helped Indigenous peoples live with climate uncertainty
How mountain terraces have helped Indigenous peoples live with climate uncertainty Indigenous communities have developed mountain terraces to adapt to climate uncertainty for centuries, using their knowledge of weather patterns, water cycles, and soil conditions to create systems that slow runoff and retain moisture. The Ifugao rice terraces in the Philippines and Moroccan terraces in […]
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From a new flagship space telescope to lunar exploration, global cooperation – and competition – will make 2026 an exciting year for space
From a new flagship space telescope to lunar exploration, global cooperation – and competition – will make 2026 an exciting year for space 2026 will be an exciting year for space exploration, with several high-profile missions planned, including NASA’s crewed flight around the Moon, the launch of China’s Xuntian space telescope, and the European Space […]
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Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – new study examines each method’s risks
Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – new study examines each method’s risks Climate engineering methods aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or counter its effects, but these interventions come with risks, especially for the ocean and global food security. There are two broad categories of climate interventions: carbon dioxide […]
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Why does orange juice taste bad after you brush your teeth?
Why does orange juice taste bad after you brush your teeth? When you brush your teeth before drinking orange juice (OJ), it can temporarily change the way OJ tastes, making it taste bitter instead of sweet and tangy. The reason for this change lies in the detergent sodium lauryl sulfate in toothpaste, which disrupts the […]
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Virtual National Science Foundation internships aren’t just a pandemic stopgap – they can open up opportunities for more STEM students
Virtual National Science Foundation internships aren’t just a pandemic stopgap – they can open up opportunities for more STEM students Virtual National Science Foundation internships are not just a pandemic stopgap, but can open up opportunities for more STEM students and provide valuable research experience. The shift to remote learning during the pandemic showed that […]
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Supernova Remnant Video From NASA’s Chandra Is Decades in Making
Supernova Remnant Video From NASA’s Chandra Is Decades in Making NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has released a new video showing changes in Kepler’s Supernova Remnant over more than two and a half decades, using data from observations taken in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. The supernova remnant is located about 17,000 light-years from Earth […]
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Risks young chimps take as they swing through the trees underscore role of protective parenting in humans
Risks young chimps take as they swing through the trees underscore role of protective parenting in humans Researchers studied physical risk-taking in chimpanzees to understand human adolescence’s risk-taking behavior. They found that young chimps take more risks during later infancy (ages 2-5) and that this pattern declines as they age. The study suggests that a […]
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Lightning from Above
Lightning from Above NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured an image of lightning from above while orbiting the International Space Station. The image was taken on July 1, 2025, over Milan, Italy, at an altitude of more than 250 miles. Storm observations from space help scientists study Earth’s upper atmosphere and improve weather models. The data […]
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How facial recognition for bears can help ecologists manage wildlife
How facial recognition for bears can help ecologists manage wildlife Facial recognition technology for bears, known as BearID, is being developed to help ecologists manage wildlife by identifying individual animals and tracking their behavior. The tool uses deep learning algorithms to analyze images of bears and identify unique facial features, allowing researchers to track individual […]
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25 Years in Orbit: Science, Innovation, and the Future of Exploration
25 Years in Orbit: Science, Innovation, and the Future of Exploration NASA has supported humans continuously living and working in space since November 2000, with over 290 people from 26 countries visiting the International Space Station. The space station has hosted more than 4,000 experiments from over 5,000 researchers from 110 countries, facilitating the growth […]
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‘Supergene’ helps butterflies mimic wing patterns to stay safe
‘Supergene’ helps butterflies mimic wing patterns to stay safe Researchers have discovered how a single genetic switch, called doublesex, helps butterflies mimic wing patterns to protect themselves from predators. The study found that this supergene, which controls complex traits like color patterns and mating behaviors, gained its ability to control wing patterns by becoming linked […]
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Top 10 research news posts of 2025
Top 10 research news posts of 2025 Futurity’s top 10 research news posts of 2025 are now available, covering topics such as flea prevention, solid-state batteries, and ancient Maya population estimates. Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in various fields, including medicine (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis), sports nutrition (protein recovery), and environmental health (removing forever chemicals). […]
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The State of CERES: Updates and Highlights
The State of CERES: Updates and Highlights CERES (Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System) instruments and data products have been discussed at recent meetings, including updates on global mean surface temperature, cloud algorithms, and changes in SW flux. The CERES discussions compared ERB (Earth Radiation Budget) instruments, irradiance trends at different levels of the […]
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The Final Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: October–December 2025
The Final Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: October–December 2025 The Final Issue of The Earth Observer: After nearly 37 years, NASA has directed The Earth Observer to conduct an orderly shutdown, with no new content to be published after December 31, 2025. The archives page will remain accessible, featuring all historical and descriptive content preserved on […]
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The Earth Observer: Offering Perspectives from Space through Time
The Earth Observer: Offering Perspectives from Space through Time NASA has launched numerous satellite missions over the past 36 years to study Earth’s climate, land surface, ice sheets, and oceans. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) series of satellites measures atmospheric CO2 concentrations, while the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission maps soil moisture and freeze-thaw […]
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Terra: The End of An Era
Terra: The End of An Era Terra, one of NASA’s EOS flagship satellites, has been operating for over 37 years, far exceeding its original 6-year lifespan. The satellite has provided critical data on Earth’s climate, weather patterns, and natural disasters, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. Despite power limitations and orbit adjustments, Terra continues to collect […]
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Oldest known cremation in Africa poses 9,500-year-old mystery about Stone Age hunter-gatherers
Oldest known cremation in Africa poses 9,500-year-old mystery about Stone Age hunter-gatherers Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known cremation in Africa, dating back around 9,500 years to a pyre built by Stone Age hunter-gatherers in Malawi. The cremation was of an adult woman, estimated to be around 5 feet tall and middle-aged at the time […]
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NASA’s Chandra Rings in New Year With Champagne Cluster
NASA’s Chandra Rings in New Year With Champagne Cluster NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has released a new image of the “Champagne Cluster,” a galaxy cluster that was discovered on New Year’s Eve, 2020. The Champagne Cluster is actually two galaxy clusters merging to form an even larger cluster, with multimillion-degree gas spreading across the cluster […]
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Microbiology
Microbiology The JSC Microbiology team addresses the risks and benefits of microorganisms in spaceflight, including infectious disease, allergens, environmental contamination, and changes in human microbial ecology. The laboratory uses various techniques, such as classical microbiology, advanced molecular methods, and immunohistochemistry, to monitor and investigate microbial infections, allergens, and contamination on spacecraft. Microbiologists analyze air, surface, […]
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Curiosity Sends Holiday Postcard from Mars
Curiosity Sends Holiday Postcard from Mars NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover created a holiday postcard from Mars by taking images at two times of day on November 18, 2025. The postcard was made by commanding the rover to take panoramas at 4:15 p.m. and 8:20 a.m. on Sol 4722 and Sol 4723, respectively. The merged images […]
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2026 AAS Town Hall Schedule
2026 AAS Town Hall Schedule The 247th American Astronomical Society (AAS) Meeting will take place from January 3-7, 2026. NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) will have sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, January 3-4, in the 301D room. Other notable sessions include NASA’s Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group (COPAG), Physics of the Cosmos […]
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