Blue Origin’s heavy-lift New Glenn rocket has been grounded following a recent launch failure that prevented a satellite from reaching its intended orbit. The mission lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, marking the rocket’s third flight since its debut. During the launch, the rocket’s reusable first-stage booster performed as expected and successfully landed on an ocean-based…
Overview of the Upcoming Peak The annual Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable and energetic sky shows of the year, is reaching its peak this weekend, offering stargazers around the world an opportunity to witness dozens of bright meteors streaking across the night sky. The shower is expected to reach its maximum activity from late Saturday evening through…
New Modeling Challenges Assumptions A research team from the University of Zurich and the NCCR PlanetS has introduced a revised view of Uranus and Neptune, long known as the solar system’s ice giants. Their findings suggest that the two planets may contain far more rocky material than previously believed, challenging decades of classification and raising new questions about how these…
Multiple Early Hominins in East Africa New fossil evidence from Ethiopia is reshaping what scientists know about human origins. Researchers say they have finally solved the mystery of the Burtele foot, first discovered more than a decade ago. The unusual set of bones — including an opposable big toe — has now been linked to Australopithecus deyiremeda, a long-debated human…
What a Supermoon Is and Why It Looks Bigger As December evenings approach, skywatchers have a celestial treat: the last supermoon of the year. The phenomenon occurs because the moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical — at certain points it comes closer to our planet. When a full moon aligns with that near-Earth point, the result is a “supermoon”: a…
SpaceX is preparing for another nighttime launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County. The mission is scheduled for Monday evening and will send a Falcon 9 rocket into low Earth orbit. If conditions allow, residents across California, including San Diego, could catch a glimpse of the bright trail produced by the rocket shortly after liftoff. Space enthusiasts…
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…
