From Earthquakes to Orbital Debris Instruments built to detect earthquakes are now helping scientists solve a growing problem far above Earth. Seismometers, normally used to pinpoint tremors deep underground, are being repurposed to track pieces of human made objects that fall from orbit back to the planet. These objects range from small fragments to large spacecraft components, some of which…
Martian Rover Detects Unusual Electrical Signals A major breakthrough in planetary science may have just occurred on Mars. Researchers analyzing data from NASA’s Perseverance rover say they have detected electrical discharges in the planet’s atmosphere, pointing to the possibility that Mars is capable of producing lightning. These signals, informally described as “mini lightning”, were captured by the rover’s audio system…
Fresh Radar Observations Renew Debate Over a Subsurface Discovery NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has delivered new data that questions one of the most exciting planetary science interpretations of recent years. The feature once believed to be a buried lake beneath thick ice at the Martian south pole appears more likely to be a layer of rock or dust. This conclusion…
A Nighttime Illusion for Stargazers Skywatchers scanning the southeastern sky will notice something unusual about Saturn. The planet will appear without its famous rings when viewed through a telescope, creating the illusion that they have vanished. The effect occurs when the ring system aligns edge-on with our viewpoint, causing the thin structure to visually collapse into an almost invisible line.…
Astronomers may be closer than ever to identifying the universe’s very first stars thanks to new observations made with the James Webb Space Telescope. These early stellar giants, known as Population III stars, have long been theorized but never directly seen due to their extreme distance and short lifespans. Recent data from a remote galaxy has provided the strongest indicators…
The National Institutes of Health has halted funding for hundreds of clinical studies, affecting more than 74,000 people enrolled in experiments across the country. A new report shows how deeply the cuts disrupted medical research, delaying treatments, stopping trials and creating uncertainty for patients who rely on new scientific progress. A Major Setback Across the Research Landscape Between the end…
Rare Cosmic Event Follows Close Encounter With the Sun Astronomers have recorded spectacular footage of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) disintegrating in space after a close pass by the sun earlier this year. The breakup, observed on the nights of November 11–12, marks a dramatic end to one of 2025’s most closely watched celestial visitors. First discovered in May 2025, the…
