All articles tagged with #space science
A UW–Madison-led study compared a E. coli–T7 phage clash on Earth and in microgravity aboard the ISS. In space, phages infect more slowly but still acquire mutations that improve their ability to bind bacterial receptors, while the bacteria develop space-specific defenses—demonstrating space-driven evolutionary paths that could inform phage-based strategies against drug‑resistant pathogens on Earth.
A 60-meter asteroid (2024 YR4) has about a 4% chance to strike the Moon on December 22, 2032. If it hits, it could form a ~1 km crater with a 100 m molten pool, trigger a magnitude-5.0 “moonquake,” vaporize rock, and loft up to 400 kg of debris that could reach Earth, potentially posing risks to satellites and even ground hazards. Yet scientists see this as a rare, invaluable chance to study lunar geology, interior structure, and crater formation in real time using telescopes and space assets, while some agencies consider deflection to prevent the impact. The piece notes Universe Today as the original source.
ESA's Solar Orbiter captured a large solar flare as a cascade of rapid reconnection events—an avalanche that builds from weak disturbances to a full eruption—producing rain-like plasma blobs and high-energy X-rays; four instruments provided a detailed, multi-instrument view, supporting avalanche models and improving understanding of energy transfer from magnetic fields to plasma and particles, with implications for space weather forecasting.
In 2026, Earth reached perihelion—its closest approach to the Sun—on Jan 3 at about 91.4 million miles (147,099,894 km). The roughly 3% distance change compared with its farthest point yields negligible shifts in global temperatures; seasons are driven primarily by the tilt of Earth's axis, not distance to the Sun. Perihelion matters more for highly elliptical orbits like comets or spacecraft such as NASA's Parker Solar Probe.
A 50-year-old scientific conclusion from the Viking Mars mission, which declared Mars lifeless due to the absence of detected organics, is now believed to be mistaken. New evidence from recent missions suggests that Mars may harbor or have harbored life, prompting a reevaluation of past assumptions and the need for dedicated future missions to search for life on Mars.
NASA's flagship science center, Goddard, faces significant cuts and closures amid a government shutdown and controversial budget implementation, risking mission safety, scientific progress, and employee morale, with allegations of illegal activity and political influence impacting the agency's operations.
Croydon High School in London is on track to become the first all-girls school to send a satellite into space, aiming to inspire more girls to pursue STEM fields by designing and building their own satellite for launch into low-Earth orbit, with a focus on climate science and atmospheric research.
Bill Nye is leading a coalition of science groups to oppose proposed 47% cuts to NASA's science budget under the Trump administration, emphasizing the importance of space exploration for scientific discovery, economic growth, and global leadership, especially as China accelerates its space missions.
An internal NASA chart indicates positive developments in budget allocations and project continuations at NASA Goddard, including restored funding for key divisions and rescinded cancellations, though final outcomes depend on future budget decisions and funding execution.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is reportedly attempting to sell off its satellites, including Earth-monitoring ones, amid budget cuts and plans to shut down certain projects, raising concerns about the future of space science and environmental monitoring. The move appears to be driven by the Trump administration's budget proposals and a broader anti-science stance, with NASA trying to offload assets to private and government buyers. The scientific community is alarmed by these developments, which threaten ongoing and future space research efforts.
The largest known Martian meteorite, NWA 16788, weighing 54 pounds and discovered in Niger, sold for $5.3 million at Sotheby's auction, highlighting its rarity and scientific significance, though some debate its sale versus donation for research and public display.
India's first astronaut in 40 years, Shubhanshu Shukla, inspires students across India through his trip to the ISS, sparking interest in space science and astronomy, especially among students from remote and low-income areas, supported by educational workshops and innovative learning tools.
All seven living former NASA science chiefs have signed a letter opposing the Trump administration's proposed 47% cut to NASA's 2026 science budget, warning that such cuts would harm current and future missions, damage the U.S. leadership in space science, and waste taxpayer investments, emphasizing the broad benefits of NASA's science programs.
The proposed 2026 US budget cuts could significantly reduce funding for NASA's Hubble and James Webb telescopes, potentially impacting their operations, scientific output, and public outreach, though they are not outright canceled. These cuts may lead to fewer missions, layoffs, and diminished support for scientific research and publicity efforts, raising concerns among scientists about the future of space astronomy in the US.
The article discusses the potential devastating impact of the Trump administration's proposed nearly 50% cuts to NASA's science programs and 24% overall budget, which threaten to cancel ongoing projects, undermine scientific progress, and jeopardize America's leadership in space exploration, all while highlighting the political and strategic implications of these cuts.