Science
Upcoming Launch to Boost NASA’s Study of Sun’s Influence Across Space
Upcoming Launch to Boost NASA’s Study of Sun’s Influence Across Space NASA and NOAA are launching three new spacecraft to study the Sun’s influence across space, including the IMAP, Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and SWFO-L1 missions. The IMAP mission will investigate the interaction of the solar wind at its boundary with interstellar space and the energization […]
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Scientific objectivity is a myth – cultural values and beliefs always influence science and the people who do it
Scientific objectivity is a myth – cultural values and beliefs always influence science and the people who do it The idea of scientific objectivity is a myth, as cultural values and beliefs always influence science and its practitioners. Cultural norms and assumptions shape the questions scientists ask, the methods they use, and the conclusions they […]
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Orion Mission Evaluation Room
Orion Mission Evaluation Room NASA’s Orion spacecraft is on its Artemis II mission, carrying crew around the Moon. A team of expert engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will be monitoring the spacecraft during its journey. The team operates from a new space called the Orion Mission Evaluation Room (MER) inside the Mission […]
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NASA, Northrop Grumman to Send Medical, Technology Studies to Space
NASA, Northrop Grumman to Send Medical, Technology Studies to Space Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft will launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station, carrying research for Artemis missions and improving life on Earth. The mission aims to refine semiconductor crystals for next-generation technologies, reduce harmful microbes, improve medication production, and manage fuel […]
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NASA astronauts Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman pose for a portrait in the Unity module
NASA astronauts Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman pose for a portrait in the Unity module NASA astronauts Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman pose for a portrait inside the Unity module on the International Space Station. The two astronauts, part of NASA Astronaut Group 22, are conducting weekend housecleaning and maintenance activities during their Expedition 73 […]
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Hubble Spies Galaxy with Lots to See
Hubble Spies Galaxy with Lots to See Hubble Spies Galaxy with Lots to See: The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of galaxy NGC 7456, located over 51 million light-years away in the constellation Grus. Galaxy Details Revealed: The Hubble image reveals fine detail in the galaxy’s patchy spiral arms, clumps of […]
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Curiosity Blog, Sols 4641-4648: Thinking Outside and Inside the ‘Boxwork’
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4641-4648: Thinking Outside and Inside the ‘Boxwork’ Curiosity Rover Explores Boxwork Unit: The Mars rover Curiosity has been exploring the boxwork unit, investigating both the ridges and hollows to better characterize them and understand how they may have formed. Remote Science and Contact Science: The rover planners conducted remote science, contact science, […]
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5 forecasts early climate models got right – the evidence is all around you
5 forecasts early climate models got right – the evidence is all around you Early climate models made specific forecasts about global warming decades before those forecasts could be proved or disproved, and when the observations came in, the models were right. One particularly prescient and persistent climate modeler, Syukuro Manabe, who was awarded the […]
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Why do people collect stuff?
Why do people collect stuff? People collect things to regain a sense of order during chaotic times, according to new research from the University of Arizona. The desire for control is a key driver behind collecting behaviors, and those who score high in this trait are more likely to engage in collecting activities. Research found […]
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The first stars may not have been as uniformly massive as astronomers thought
The first stars may not have been as uniformly massive as astronomers thought The first stars in the universe may not have been as uniformly massive as previously thought, with new studies suggesting that lower-mass stars also formed early on. Astrophysical computer simulations and laboratory experiments suggest that molecular hydrogen, a molecule essential for star […]
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Team figures out how cavefish lost their eyes
Team figures out how cavefish lost their eyes Researchers have discovered how cavefish lost their eyes, which provides a method for dating cave systems. The study found that different species of amblyopsid cavefish colonized caves independently and evolved similar traits, such as eye loss and reduced pigment, to adapt to dark environments. The researchers developed […]
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NASA’s Chandra Reveals Star’s Inner Conflict Before Explosion
NASA’s Chandra Reveals Star’s Inner Conflict Before Explosion NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has revealed that a star called Cassiopeia A (Cas A) underwent a violent rearrangement of its interior just hours before it exploded as a supernova. The study found that part of an inner layer rich in silicon traveled outwards and broke into a […]
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NASA Marsquake Data Reveals Lumpy Nature of Red Planet’s Interior
NASA Marsquake Data Reveals Lumpy Nature of Red Planet’s Interior NASA’s InSight lander has revealed that Mars’ interior is composed of giant lumps of rocky material, scattered throughout the planet’s mantle, which were formed by massive impacts 4.5 billion years ago. The discovery was made possible by the InSight lander’s seismometer, which recorded over 1,300 […]
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NASA Invites Media to Learn About New Missions to Map Sun’s Influence
NASA Invites Media to Learn About New Missions to Map Sun’s Influence NASA will hold a media teleconference on September 4 to discuss its upcoming Sun and space weather missions, including IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) and Carruthers Geocorona Observatory. The IMAP mission will map the boundaries of our heliosphere, exploring how it interacts […]
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Landsat 9 Sees Buccaneer Archipelago
Landsat 9 Sees Buccaneer Archipelago The Buccaneer Archipelago, located off the coast of Western Australia, was formed when rising sea levels submerged part of the coastal landscape, creating hundreds of islands and low-lying reefs. The archipelago’s unique landforms are shaped by powerful tidal currents that stir up sediment in shallow areas, producing striking turquoise swirls […]
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Katie Bisci: Resourcing for Big Science
Katie Bisci: Resourcing for Big Science Katie Bisci is a deputy project manager for resources on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, overseeing business, finance, outreach, and more. Katie’s career path began as a resource analyst at NASA, where she worked on various projects before joining the Roman […]
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Hubble Homes in on Galaxy’s Star Formation
Hubble Homes in on Galaxy’s Star Formation Hubble Space Telescope has released a new image of galaxy Messier 96, showcasing its asymmetric spiral arms and off-center galactic core. The latest image combines data from observations in ultraviolet, near infrared, and visible/optical light, revealing regions of ionized hydrogen and nitrogen that help astronomers study star formation. […]
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Earth-size stars and alien oceans – an astronomer explains the case for life around white dwarfs
Earth-size stars and alien oceans – an astronomer explains the case for life around white dwarfs Astronomer Juliette Becker explains that life could exist on planets orbiting white dwarfs, which are small, dense stars that form when a star like our Sun exhausts its fuel and expands into a red giant phase. White dwarfs are […]
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Women in STEM face challenges and underrepresentation – this course gives them tools to succeed
Women in STEM face challenges and underrepresentation – this course gives them tools to succeed Women in STEM fields face numerous challenges, including bias, stereotypes, and workplace cultures that hinder their success, leading to underrepresentation and high turnover rates. The “Tools for Women in STEM” course aims to empower women with tools and strategies to […]
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What is rust? A materials scientist explains metal’s crusty enemy
What is rust? A materials scientist explains metal’s crusty enemy Rust is a natural process that occurs when iron or steel reacts with oxygen and moisture, leading to the formation of iron oxide (rust) and causing metal to break down. The combination of rain, exposed metal, and time can trigger rusting on objects like bicycles, […]
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Summer Triangle Corner: Altair
Summer Triangle Corner: Altair Altair is the last star to rise for Northern Hemisphere observers before summer begins, appearing high overhead at sunset in September. Altair is a rapidly spinning star that appears “squished” due to its rapid rotation, which was first detected in the 1960s and confirmed through interferometry observations. The star’s equatorial dimming […]
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Spiderweb silks and architectures reveal millions of years of evolutionary ingenuity
Spiderweb silks and architectures reveal millions of years of evolutionary ingenuity Spiderwebs are incredibly diverse and complex structures that have evolved over millions of years to suit different spider species and environments. Each type of spiderweb has a unique architecture, such as orb webs for catching flying prey or cobwebs for capturing crawling insects, and […]
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Spacewalk Pop-Up
Spacewalk Pop-Up Astronaut Shane Kimbrough performed nine spacewalks during his three spaceflights, including a notable one on Jan. 13, 2017. Spacewalks are crucial for maintenance, equipment installation, and science experiment deployment at the International Space Station. The activities inform future missions like Artemis and Mars exploration through NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program. […]
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NASA Seeks Proposals for 2026 Human Exploration Rover Challenge
NASA Seeks Proposals for 2026 Human Exploration Rover Challenge NASA is now accepting proposals for the 2026 Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC), a contest to design, build, and test rovers for Moon and Mars exploration. The challenge will take place from September 15, 2025, to April 9-11, 2026, with teams competing in remote-controlled and human-powered […]
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My research team used 18 years of sea wave records to learn how destructive ‘rogue waves’ form – here’s what we found
My research team used 18 years of sea wave records to learn how destructive ‘rogue waves’ form – here’s what we found Rogue waves, also known as “rogue waves,” are giant, isolated waves that can reach heights of 65 feet (20 meters) or greater and pose a danger to ships and offshore structures. A study […]
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Magnets could guide tiny robots to deliver medicine in the body
Magnets could guide tiny robots to deliver medicine in the body Magnets could guide tiny robots to deliver medicine inside the body, improving on IV drug delivery that sends only 0.7% of the drug to the target tissue. The microrobots are two-sided particles composed of a gel that can carry medicines and magnets that enable […]
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Leaves inspire stronger, biodegradable plastic
Leaves inspire stronger, biodegradable plastic Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new biodegradable plastic inspired by leaves, which is stronger and more environmentally friendly than current bioplastics. The new material, called LEAFF, uses a unique structure that combines cellulose nanofibers with bioplastics to create a strong and multifunctional material that can […]
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Human Rating and NASA-STD-3001
Human Rating and NASA-STD-3001 Human-rating is a critical certification process that validates the safety, reliability, and suitability of space systems for human use and interaction. The human-rating certification process involves extensive testing, validation, and verification of system performance, including simulations, flight tests, and integrated safety analyses. NASA’s standards, such as NASA-STD-3001, emphasize risk-informed design, fault […]
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Hubble Examines Low Brightness, High Interest Galaxy
Hubble Examines Low Brightness, High Interest Galaxy Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the spiral galaxy NGC 45, which lies just 22 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus. The galaxy is a low surface brightness galaxy, meaning it appears fainter than the night sky itself due to having relatively few stars for […]
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Genomics can help insect farmers avoid pitfalls of domestication
Genomics can help insect farmers avoid pitfalls of domestication Genomics can help insect farmers avoid pitfalls of domestication by anticipating and addressing potential issues early on. Insect domestication, like other forms of domestication, comes with unique challenges, including the loss of immune abilities and increased susceptibility to disease in a homogeneous population. The use of […]
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