#space

The surge in rocket launches is releasing pollutants like black carbon directly into the upper atmosphere, causing a disproportionate warming effect that could accelerate climate change. Scientists warn that without regulation, the environmental toll of the expanding space industry may have severe long-term consequences.

Spending time in microgravity causes significant changes to the human brain, including fluid shifts that can alter its shape and position within the skull. These changes may persist for months after returning to Earth, affecting vision, motor skills, and cognitive function. Scientists are studying these effects to better prepare astronauts for long-duration space missions.

An interactive visualization examines the increasing density of satellites in Earth's orbit, illustrating how the night sky is becoming more crowded with human-made objects.

A NASA inspector general report indicates Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will be approximately a decade late, further delaying its operational crewed missions beyond original timelines.

A new report warns that plans for tens of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites could pose an "existential threat" to optical astronomy, as satellite trails and reflected light increasingly interfere with scientific observations, potentially hampering research into dark energy, exoplanets, and other cosmic phenomena.

An 1884 essay explores the concept of a fourth spatial dimension using analogies like Flatland to explain how a higher-dimensional being might interact with our three-dimensional world.

Raymond N. Mackenzie reviews a new translation of Jules Verne's "Journey to the Moon," examining the novel's scientific influences, literary techniques, and the cultural context of Verne's speculative space travel narrative.

A new technique using high-resolution imaging has allowed scientists to directly observe and study the event horizons of black holes for the first time, offering unprecedented insights into the behavior of matter and gravity at the edge of these cosmic objects.

Ars Technica reports on the aftermath of the catastrophic failure of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, examining the investigation into the cause of the anomaly, the impact on the company's launch schedule and contracts, and the broader implications for the commercial space industry.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope website allows users to see what astronomical image was captured on their birthday by entering the month and date. The tool randomly matches a Hubble observation from any year to the user's birthday, providing a fun way to explore Hubble's discoveries.

An astrophotographer used a Game Boy Camera to capture images of Jupiter, demonstrating how the retro device can still function as a planetary imaging tool with technical modifications.

Prosperous Universe is a browser-based economic simulation game set in space, where players manage resources, trade, and build industries in a player-driven economy with no combat or direct player conflict.

This simulation video shows how the Sun would appear from various locations across the universe, including other planets, distant stars, and galaxies, illustrating changes in size, brightness, and color based on distance and perspective.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun its decade-long Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), using the world's largest digital camera to repeatedly image the southern sky. This project will create an unprecedented time-lapse cosmic movie to study dark matter, dark energy, and the solar system.

Chinese scientists are exploring an electromagnetic rocket launch pad on the Tibetan Plateau that would use electric acceleration instead of chemical fuel. The concept could make launches cheaper and more efficient, but remains in early research.

Chinese rocket developers LandSpace and CASC are both targeting July 2025 for first booster recovery attempts. LandSpace's Zhuque-3 will aim for a sea platform landing, while CASC's Long March 10B will attempt a ground landing, marking the first Chinese booster recovery trials.

The article proposes a "Dual World Theory" suggesting that humans encode time into spatial structures (like writing, digital storage) to overcome biological memory limits, but this externalization introduces complexity and new constraints, creating a fundamental trade-off between temporal preservation and systemic simplicity.

The article analyzes whether the financial returns of space exploration can justify the massive investments required, finding that current economic models often rely more on faith than solid math.

A paper airplane thrown in space would not fly like on Earth due to the lack of atmosphere to generate lift. Without air resistance, it would travel in a straight line at constant velocity indefinitely until acted upon by another force, such as gravity pulling it into an orbit or causing it to burn up upon re-entry.

Rocket Lab has acquired Iridium Communications in a bold move that significantly expands its satellite communications capabilities. The deal combines Rocket Lab's launch and spacecraft manufacturing expertise with Iridium's established global satellite network and services.

Rocket Lab has agreed to acquire satellite communications company Iridium in an $8 billion deal, marking a major expansion beyond its core launch business. The acquisition is expected to close in 2026 and will give Rocket Lab control of Iridium's operational satellite network.

Rocket Lab has announced a $3.3 billion deal to acquire Iridium, combining Rocket Lab's satellite and launch capabilities with Iridium's satellite communications network. The acquisition is expected to strengthen both companies' positions, creating a fully integrated space communications and infrastructure provider.

NASA is racing to save its Swift telescope, which is drifting uncontrollably in orbit after a systems failure. Engineers must restore navigation and stabilize its orbit before the spacecraft decays and burns up in the atmosphere.

Astronomers found that some supermassive black holes emit bright radio flares years after consuming a star, a delayed effect likened to "burping." Using the Very Large Array, they observed that these flares happen when the black hole's jets later interact with surrounding gas, changing our understanding of tidal disruption events.

The article discusses the growing militarization of space, examining how nations are developing space-based weapons and satellite defense systems. It highlights the shift from space as a peaceful domain to a potential battlefield, driven by geopolitical tensions and strategic competition among major powers.

NASA is working on a daring rescue mission to save its Swift telescope, which is at risk of falling back to Earth due to orbital decay. The telescope, launched in 2004, has been crucial for studying gamma-ray bursts. Engineers are exploring ways to boost its orbit to extend its operational life.

The Kalyazin RT-64 radio telescope in Russia plays a key role in deep space communication and tracking, supporting missions to the Moon and beyond as part of Russia's space infrastructure.

This video explores the concept of placing datacenters in space, examining the potential benefits like reduced latency for global communications and access to abundant solar energy, while also addressing significant challenges such as high launch costs, cooling difficulties in a vacuum, and the harsh radiation environment.

The website GPS Satellites Tracker provides real-time tracking of GPS satellites orbiting Earth, displaying their positions, orbits, and status. It offers live data and visualizations for monitoring the Global Positioning System satellite constellation.

Astronomers have detected the 'fingerprints' of a black hole's event horizon for the first time, using a new technique that identifies characteristic signatures in the light emitted by matter just before it crosses the point of no return. The finding provides direct observational evidence of the event horizon's existence and properties.