https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/space_exploration/ Space Exploration History and Space Exploration News. See the best astronomy images and browse the latest articles on space exploration. Updated daily. en-us Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:48:03 EDT Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:48:03 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/space_exploration/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081101.htm An amateur astronomer searching satellite maps for a Quebec camping spot accidentally discovered a massive ancient impact crater. Scientists later found shatter cones that confirmed the 25-kilometer-wide structure was blasted into Earth roughly 390 million years ago. Tue, 22 Sep 2026 06:43:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260921081101.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222358.htm Scientists have found evidence that black holes of vastly different sizes may launch powerful jets according to the same universal rule. Supermassive black holes can produce jets soon after tearing apart a star, then fire up again hundreds or thousands of days later when their feeding rate drops to about 2% of the Eddington limit. That same threshold is known to trigger jets from much smaller black holes in the Milky Way. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:23:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222358.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920032049.htm A decade-long NIST experiment has produced a new measurement of the universal gravitational constant that differs unexpectedly from another leading result, deepening a 225-year-old physics puzzle. The discrepancy is tiny, but for one of nature’s most fundamental constants, it is large enough to keep scientists wondering whether hidden experimental errors or something more surprising is involved. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 06:30:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920032049.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031040.htm A massive crater on Mars’ moon Phobos may hide a dense region of compressed material that could reveal whether the moon is a captured asteroid or debris from an ancient impact on Mars. Japan’s upcoming MMX sample return mission could provide the measurements and physical evidence needed to solve the mystery. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:12:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031040.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024802.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope may now have enough fuel for at least 22 years of science, more than double its original 10 year design life. An extremely precise course correction, extra fuel at launch, and additional expected savings could keep the powerful observatory studying the universe for decades. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:31:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024802.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003725.htm A pocket-sized, roughly $100 detector can reveal the invisible stream of cosmic particles constantly passing through Earth and even through our bodies. What began as a student physics project is now being used in major experiments, balloon missions, and potentially future spacecraft. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:54:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003715.htm NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed a 728-foot-wide crater that formed on the Moon in 2024, making it the largest newly formed crater ever identified in the solar system. The impact disturbed the surface for miles around it, creating a surprisingly large cold zone and showing how dramatically a single collision can reshape the lunar landscape. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:18:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003715.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003712.htm Astronomers have confirmed a Jupiter-size planet less than a million years old, making Elias 2-24 b the youngest known planet and giving scientists a rare look at a world still being born. Its surprisingly rapid formation challenges leading theories about how giant planets come together, especially so far from their stars. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:00:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260917003712.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260916232525.htm Scientists have found the first evidence that liquid may have flowed across Pluto’s surface in the recent past. Dark features on the enormous Sputnik Planitia glacier appear consistent with liquid nitrogen rising through cracks from deep beneath the ice. Computer models show that nitrogen could melt at the glacier’s base and travel upward like fluid through small conduits. The finding reveals that Pluto may be much more geologically active than its frozen appearance suggests. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:02:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260916232525.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232132.htm A new study suggests Earth formed almost entirely from material in the inner Solar System, challenging the idea that water-rich material from beyond Jupiter played a major role. If correct, Earth’s water may have been present much closer to the young Sun than scientists previously thought. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:03:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232132.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232124.htm The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed surprising changes in the rings around Chariklo, a small object orbiting between Saturn and Uranus. Over just a few years, its inner ring became more opaque while its outer ring became less opaque. The results suggest that rings around small Solar System bodies may be much more dynamic than scientists previously believed. What is causing the changes remains a mystery. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:51:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232124.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232122.htm Venus may have once had a moon, but new research suggests the planet’s incredibly slow rotation could have doomed it. Computer simulations showed that instead of gradually drifting away like Earth’s moon, a Venusian moon would likely spiral inward until it crashed into the planet, with larger moons falling even faster. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:49:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232122.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260912220022.htm A century-old mystery in Venus’s clouds just became more intriguing, as scientists calculated how strongly the unidentified material behind its dark ultraviolet patterns must absorb light. The results sharply narrow the possibilities and could help future spacecraft determine whether the mysterious substance is organic, inorganic, or something unexpected. Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:44:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260912220022.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003854.htm Scientists have discovered that Mercury’s surface contains far less silicon dioxide than previously thought, pointing to an unexpectedly hot volcanic past. The finding suggests ancient lava may have originated from deeper, more extensively melted parts of the planet’s mantle. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:28:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003854.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231729.htm Scientists have discovered that the Moon-forming collision may have depended heavily on how hot and physically strong early Earth and Theia were. New simulations found that some impacts create the familiar disk of debris that later becomes the Moon, while others can produce an intact Moon in only about five hours. The results challenge the long-standing assumption that the enormous collision could be modeled as if both worlds behaved mostly like fluids. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:17:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231729.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005212.htm Two major alien-life announcements in 2025 generated enormous excitement, but most astrobiologists remained unconvinced. Only 6.6% of surveyed experts thought possible biological molecules on K2-18b probably represented extraterrestrial life, while 15.1% said the same about intriguing mineral patterns in a Martian rock. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:13:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005212.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201556.htm Astronomers have detected an exceptionally faint hydrogen radio signal from billions of light-years away using South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope. Instead of finding galaxies one at a time, the technique measures their combined hydrogen glow across enormous stretches of space. The successful detection shows that astronomers may soon be able to create much larger 3D maps of the Universe. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 23:06:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201556.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064229.htm A huge 10-sided atmospheric pattern has appeared around Saturn’s south pole, giving the planet a surprising counterpart to its famous northern hexagon. Hubble data suggest the strange decagon only began emerging in the past few years and is still growing stronger. Researchers hope continued observations will reveal why it suddenly formed and whether it could persist for decades. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:41:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064229.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234500.htm September’s sky features brilliant Venus, the Milky Way’s hazy center, and the seasonal turning point of the equinox. The month ends with a glowing Harvest Moon rising near Saturn and faint Neptune. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 02:25:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234500.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234442.htm Star formation across the universe has fallen dramatically over the past 4.5 billion years, but astronomers have uncovered a surprising twist: the supply of neutral hydrogen, a key ingredient for making stars, has barely declined. Using China’s FAST radio telescope and data from roughly 2.5 million galaxies observed by DESI, researchers found that star formation was about 2.5 times higher 4.5 billion years ago, while neutral hydrogen levels were only about 1.4 times higher. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 03:48:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234442.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010705.htm NASA and SpaceX have delayed Crew-13 after finding an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system during prelaunch preparations. Engineers are investigating the problem before the four-person crew can begin its journey to the International Space Station. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:33:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010705.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010702.htm NASA has brought two of Swift’s telescopes back online after technical problems derailed a commercial mission intended to rescue the aging observatory by raising its orbit. With atmospheric drag pulling the spacecraft downward faster than expected, scientists may have only another month or two before Swift falls below a critical operating altitude. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:43:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010702.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010656.htm Astronomers have identified a surprisingly young population of fading radio galaxies whose supermassive black holes have already switched off their powerful jets. The confirmed remnants range from about 8 to 42 million years old, suggesting many may disappear from view much faster than previously recognized. More distant remnants also seem to fade especially quickly, helping explain why they have been so difficult to detect. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:07:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010656.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831035213.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has launched on a million mile journey to L2, where it will scan huge portions of the cosmos for clues about dark matter, dark energy, and distant worlds. With survey speeds roughly 1,000 times faster than Hubble and a torrent of 1.4 terabytes of data per day, Roman could uncover cosmic surprises astronomers have never seen before. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:23:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831035213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082336.htm Mars has a hidden temperature divide, with its southern interior potentially hundreds of degrees hotter than the north and partially molten. The discovery could help explain several long-standing Martian mysteries, including unusual magnetism, seismic behavior, and clues to the planet’s ancient water history. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 08:27:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082336.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082333.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope will combine Hubble-like detail with a field of view 100 times larger, giving astronomers a sweeping new way to explore the cosmos. Its observations could uncover hidden planets, map billions of cosmic objects, and help scientists unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:54:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082333.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010514.htm Astronomers have captured their clearest image yet of Betelgeuse’s long-suspected companion, potentially ending a search that lasted about 100 years. The surprisingly massive hidden star could help explain Betelgeuse’s changing brightness and may influence its future supernova. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:43:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010514.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010457.htm Today’s mysterious gravitational-wave background may preserve clues about how the Universe’s first supermassive black holes formed. Descendants of hypothetical Dark Stars could be responsible for a major portion of the signal, offering a surprising new way to investigate cosmic dawn and dark matter. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:26:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055450.htm NASA has successfully tested a system that allows satellites to navigate without GPS by using other spacecraft and debris as landmarks in orbit. In just three days, FALCON also improved the known orbits of more than 200 space objects completely autonomously. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:27:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055448.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope is now enclosed inside its Falcon Heavy fairing and nearly ready for launch. Its mission could uncover thousands of exoplanets while helping scientists investigate dark matter, dark energy, and the accelerating expansion of the universe. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:29:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055448.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055445.htm A magnetar with an astonishingly powerful magnetic field may have revealed a quantum effect predicted by Werner Heisenberg nearly 90 years ago. Its light shows signs that supposedly empty space is altering how the light travels, potentially providing the first evidence of vacuum birefringence. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:52:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065516.htm A single asteroid impact may explain two of Deimos’s most puzzling features: its huge southern depression and unusually smooth, dusty surface. Simulations suggest a roughly 320-meter asteroid struck the Martian moon at an angle, throwing debris around the entire world without breaking it apart. New observations from ESA’s Hera spacecraft support the scenario and indicate that Deimos is surprisingly porous and fragile. Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:05:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065516.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823094142.htm NASA scientists found that microbes brought by astronauts could survive in cold, shadowed niches around the Moon’s South Pole, potentially complicating future searches for pristine lunar chemistry. Some refuges may be no larger than a footprint, while one hardy fungus could even withstand limited exposure to sunlight. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 02:30:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823094142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823094140.htm NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has been cleared for final launch preparations ahead of a targeted August 30 liftoff aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. The powerful new observatory will probe cosmic expansion, the history of the universe, and distant exoplanets. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:45:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823094140.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015019.htm A massive test of gravity across the cosmos found that it behaves almost exactly as Newton and Einstein predicted, even across galaxy clusters hundreds of millions of light-years apart. The result weakens some modified-gravity explanations and strengthens the case that dark matter is behind the universe’s mysterious missing mass. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:49:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015019.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015000.htm A faint ribbon of stars around a distant galaxy has become the first globular cluster stellar stream ever identified beyond the Milky Way. Because the stars trace the galaxy’s gravity, researchers used the stream to estimate how much invisible dark matter surrounds it and how that matter is distributed. The breakthrough offers astronomers a promising new way to investigate one of the universe’s greatest mysteries. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:19:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015000.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202849.htm For decades, scientists have puzzled over why certain atomic nuclei unexpectedly produce large numbers of low-energy gamma rays. A new experiment traced the effect to magnetic changes inside the nucleus, where protons and neutrons effectively flip their tiny internal magnets. The discovery could sharpen models of everything from nuclear reactions on Earth to the creation of heavy elements in stars and neutron star mergers. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:21:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002429.htm A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 stage crashed into the Moon on Aug. 5, leaving behind a newly formed crater about 60 feet wide. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured detailed images showing bright and dark streaks of debris blasted across the surrounding surface. The impact even exposed fresh material buried beneath the Moon’s weathered exterior. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 03:10:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002429.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815065007.htm A magnetar’s colossal magnetic field may have revealed a quantum effect predicted by Werner Heisenberg nearly 90 years ago, in which seemingly empty space alters the behavior of light. If confirmed, the discovery could offer the first direct evidence of vacuum birefringence and open a new window into the strange physics of the quantum vacuum. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:08:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815065007.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064808.htm Astronomers may finally have a clue to what happens to the mysterious “little red dots” that crowded the early universe. By studying a spiral galaxy nicknamed the “Saguaro,” researchers found a compact, bright red center that closely resembles these distant objects—but with something Webb usually can’t see around them: a full galaxy. When the team simulated what the Saguaro would look like much farther away, its spiral structure essentially vanished, leaving only the bright red core. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:56:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064808.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235849.htm Astronomers have witnessed a black hole violently shredding a massive star, creating one of the most energetic stellar explosions ever observed. The event, nicknamed “the Whippet,” briefly released about 400 billion times the Sun’s energy and sent a shock wave racing outward at one-fifth the speed of light. Months later, scientists spotted unexpectedly fast-moving helium, suggesting that some structure may have survived the destruction. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 23:46:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045545.htm JWST has uncovered surprising clues that Neptune’s strange inner moons may be the wreckage of an ancient cosmic catastrophe. Researchers detected clay-like minerals on Larissa, Galatea, and Neptune’s rings that form in the presence of liquid water—yet the moons themselves show no obvious water ice. The material likely came from deep inside much larger icy moons that were shattered when Triton was captured by Neptune, destroying much of the planet’s original satellite system. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:35:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045545.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045541.htm Astronomers have released more than three million new spectra in a sweeping expansion that, for the first time, brings SDSS-V optical observations to the Southern Hemisphere. The data reveal everything from rare stars and glowing nebulae to hundreds of thousands of X-ray sources and supermassive black holes changing over time. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:21:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045541.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260812015203.htm NASA’s Perseverance rover caught a striking first from Mars: Earth disappearing behind the tiny moon Phobos. Seen from nearly 195 million miles away, our planet was reduced to a single point of light before briefly vanishing behind Phobos. The rare alignment created an unusual cosmic portrait of Earth as seen from another planet. Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:20:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260812015203.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015709.htm A total solar eclipse will plunge parts of Europe into darkness on August 12, 2026, with Spain offering some of the best views. ESA will livestream the spectacle from the Javalambre Observatory, combining telescope feeds, drone footage, and expert commentary. At 20:31 CEST, the observatory will experience 1 minute and 21 seconds of totality, revealing the Sun’s normally hidden outer atmosphere. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 06:55:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015709.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015706.htm NASA is assembling the foundations of a future Moon Base through a wave of robotic missions and powerful new commercial landers. More than 20 landings are planned through 2029, testing everything from precision landings and lunar communications to rovers, power systems, and technology that can survive the Moon’s extreme conditions. Upcoming missions could also make history by exploring the Moon’s far side and a mysterious magnetic lunar swirl. Each landing brings NASA closer to a sustained human presence on the lunar surface. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:22:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015706.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015703.htm NASA engineers have found a clever way to squeeze more life out of Voyager 2, nearly half a century after it left Earth. In an operation nicknamed the “Big Bang,” the team simultaneously shut down certain power-hungry hardware and switched to lower-power alternatives while keeping the spacecraft warm enough to survive. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:45:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015703.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035153.htm Cassini data has revealed a surprising twist in Saturn’s magnetic shield: the planet’s rapid rotation appears to drag a key opening in its magnetosphere far toward the afternoon side instead of keeping it near noon, as happens on Earth. The finding confirms that giant planets like Saturn operate under a fundamentally different magnetic regime, where fast spin and charged material from moons such as Enceladus can overpower the Sun’s influence. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:56:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035153.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035142.htm Scientists have discovered incredibly tiny plasma whirlpools swirling across the Sun’s surface, some just 20 kilometers wide. These previously invisible vortices may twist magnetic fields and help build up the energy released in small solar eruptions called nanoflares. They may also help magnetic fields spread through the Sun’s atmosphere far faster than current models can explain. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:03:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260806050722.htm A ten-month Antarctic experiment found that astronauts may struggle not only with loneliness but also with spending too much time around the same people. Frequent contact was linked to greater tension and mistrust, while the crew increasingly divided into cultural and language-based groups. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:18:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260806050722.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082504.htm Metal-rich asteroids could one day become hardware stores for Mars, supplying the materials needed to build and repair a growing colony. A new analysis shows that carefully selected asteroids may be reachable with current spacecraft technology. Some could even provide the ingredients for making rocket fuel in space, dramatically reducing the burden of hauling supplies from Earth. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 01:29:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082504.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082457.htm A supermassive black hole has been found lurking about 30,000 light-years from the center of its galaxy—the first dormant black hole detected so far from a galactic core. It revealed itself only after shredding a passing star and producing a brief, brilliant flare. Astronomers think it may be the remnant of a devoured galaxy or a black hole flung outward during a chaotic cosmic encounter. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:16:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034628.htm August brings four major celestial events, including a solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Dark New Moon skies could make the Perseids especially impressive, while Venus will blaze in the west after sunset. A deep partial lunar eclipse closes the month, darkening most of the Moon. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:13:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034628.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223420.htm Hidden moon ice may reveal itself through the way it bends and reflects vibrations from moonquakes. The technique could help astronauts locate vital water supplies and uncover clues about the origins of Earth’s oceans. Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:32:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260802223420.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801042816.htm The solar wind may be stripping away Mars’ atmosphere by creating giant rolling waves along its outer edge. Data from MAVEN and Tianwen-1 show that these waves form plasma clouds that carry atmospheric particles into space. The process is concentrated on one side of Mars and may have played a major role in drying out the once potentially habitable planet. Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:07:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801042816.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034150.htm Scientists have identified LHAASO J1912+1014u as a cosmic accelerator that can push protons beyond one quadrillion electron volts. The finding may help reveal where the Milky Way’s most energetic cosmic rays come from and how they influence the galaxy. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 22:59:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034150.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034142.htm NASA’s Curiosity rover has entered a Martian valley covered by an astonishing “sea” of tiny polygon-shaped fractures. The honeycomb patterns, each only a few inches wide, stretch across the landscape and even wrap around a nearby 20-foot-tall butte. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:47:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034131.htm Scientists have built the first all-optical photonic time crystal, allowing them to reshape the behavior of terahertz light at extraordinary speeds. The breakthrough could open the door to ultrafast computing, smarter communication systems, advanced imaging, and a new generation of highly tunable lasers. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 05:13:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034131.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214623.htm Scientists traced a mysterious surge of low-energy gamma rays from zinc-70 to magnetic changes occurring inside its nucleus. The breakthrough could improve models of how stars, supernovae, and neutron star mergers create heavy elements. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 01:15:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214623.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214612.htm NASA’s Psyche spacecraft aced its Mars flyby, using the planet’s gravity to speed toward its 2029 encounter with a metal-rich asteroid. The spacecraft tested its cameras, magnetometer, and particle-detecting instruments, capturing unusual views of Mars and measuring its magnetic environment. It also detected neutrons from the planet and spotted the tiny moons Phobos and Deimos. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:21:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214612.htm