Science news

A project led by Dr. Shay Monat at the International Space University has caught the attention of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk – and could mark an important step toward establishing a crewed base on the Moon.

Elon Musk is putting the Moon at the top of SpaceX’s priorities. China successfully tested its Moon-launch rocket, a new crew arrives at the ISS, and an especially far-southern solar eclipse. This Week in Space.

Sometimes physics struggles to provide clear answers to questions that seem simple. One of these questions is why ice is slippery. Although humans have been slipping on ice for many years, scientists still haven’t agreed on a single theory that fully explains why. A new study offers a potential answer.

Falcon 9 launches were suspended after a rare anomaly; SpaceX is merging and seeking approval to deploy one million satellites; an Israeli partnership with the International Space University, and a small victory for darkness. This Week in Space

Most patients with the rare cancer neuroblastoma die within about five years – but one girl who received an experimental CAR-T treatment remains healthy 19 years later.

A veteran astronaut retires from NASA, a cracked spacecraft landed safely, a major military space-debris removal effort takes shape—and what’s the connection between solar eruptions and avalanches? Space News Roundup

Researchers have examined the bones of a seven-million-year-old ape and concluded that it walked on two legs. This new finding challenges earlier studies of the same fossils, which reached different conclusions.

An unprecedented wave of coral bleaching driven by warming oceans may signal that one of the world’s most important ecosystems has already reached a point of no return.

In a first for the ISS era, NASA cut short Crew 11’s mission after a medical issue onboard. The four astronauts rode SpaceX’s Dragon back to Earth, splashing down safely off the California coast more than a month ahead of schedule.

To truly understand the processes behind climate change, it isn’t enough to monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide levels—we must also recognize that these levels fluctuate seasonally and vary across different locations.

A twin study suggests that people with tattoos may face a higher risk of skin cancer and lymphoma than those without tattoos.

NASA’s new chief promises to land humans on the Moon within three years; mice that returned from space have produced healthy offspring; European Space Agency’s computer systems have been breached; and rare documentation of planet formation. Space Highlights.

A closer look at the egg’s outer layer reveals how it toughens after fertilization to keep other sperm out—and why this built-in “lock” could one day inspire hormone-free contraception.

The small-bodied ancient humans nicknamed “hobbits” lived on the island of Flores until they disappeared around 50,000 years ago. A new study points to a possible cause of their extinction: climate change that reduced rainfall and dried up freshwater sources

A private astronaut has been appointed to lead the U.S. space agency, an interstellar comet is making a close pass, a Mars orbiter is in trouble, and astronomers may have spotted a new kind of cosmic event. This Week in Space

Impressive achievements for SpacePharma, a long-term agreement with NASA, astronauts returning safely, and the search for an atmosphere in a nearby solar system. This Week in Space

COP30 in Brazil ended with a troubling rollback of earlier commitments to phase out fossil fuels, alongside pledges of massive aid for countries hit hardest by climate change — but only starting a decade from now

The Israeli startup accelerator in Mitzpe Ramon launches its third cohort; the ISS faces new concerns after damage at a Russian launch pad, yet all docking ports are fully occupied; and China moves closer to reusable-rocket success. This Week in Space.

A new crew arrived at the International Space Station, China restores its escape-capable spacecraft, a Starship test ends in an accident, South Korea achieves a milestone launch and moss biology delivers surprising results in space. This Week in Space

Igneous rocks allow researchers to uncover the secrets of Earth’s core, and the findings are intriguing: it turns out that gold and other heavy metals can rise from deep within the planet all the way to the surface.

NASA releases new images of a comet from beyond the solar system, new research questions the New Space revolution, and rescue missions target Chinese astronauts and an American space telescope. This Week in Space.

An analysis of data from the Great Famine of the 1930s shows that children whose mothers experienced malnutrition during early pregnancy were more likely to develop diabetes later in life

Record-breaking temperatures were observed in 2023 and 2024. Does this reflect an acceleration in the rate of Earth’s warming?

Blue Origin successfully launched a mission to Mars — despite solar storms that lit up the aurora as far south as the U.S. Deep South. China sets new launch records, and astronomers uncover unusual planets in a distant star system. This Week in Space