Science

Aviation Scholars to Speak with NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station
on July 10, 2020 at 5:44 pm
Aviation scholars from across the nation will pose questions next week to NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
NASA Awards SETI Institute Contract for Planetary Protection Support
on July 10, 2020 at 4:04 pm
NASA has awarded the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, a contract to support all phases of current and future planetary protection missions to ensure compliance with planetary protection […]
NASA Provides Update on Commercial Crew Program, Close Call Review of Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test
on July 6, 2020 at 6:42 pm
NASA will host a media teleconference at 2:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, July 7, to discuss the outcome of its High Visibility Close Call review of the December 2019 uncrewed Orbital Flight Test of […]
Artemis Generation Students Across US to Speak with NASA Astronaut in Space
on July 6, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Students from across the nation will pose questions about NASA’s Artemis program to an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The educational event will air live at 12:15 p.m. EDT […]
NASA Awards Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 Spacecraft Contract
on July 2, 2020 at 3:59 pm
NASA has awarded the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) Spacecraft contract to General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group of San Diego, California.
NASA Names Joel Montalbano International Space Station Program Manager
on June 30, 2020 at 9:45 pm
Kathy Lueders, NASA’s associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations, has named Joel Montalbano as manager of the International Space Station Program. The appointment was […]
NASA Science Hosts Public Town Hall to Provide Updates
on June 30, 2020 at 3:40 pm
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will hold a virtual community town hall with Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen and other members of the Science leadership team at 3 p.m. […]
NASA Invests $51 Million in Innovative Ideas from US Small Businesses
on June 30, 2020 at 3:36 pm
NASA has selected 409 technology proposals for the first phase of funding from the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.
NASA Plans for More SLS Rocket Boosters to Launch Artemis Moon Missions
on June 29, 2020 at 3:25 pm
NASA has taken the next steps toward building Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket boosters to support as many as six additional flights, for a total of up to nine Artemis missions.
NASA Awards NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 Spacecraft
on June 25, 2020 at 8:04 pm
On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA has awarded a delivery order under the Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition III (Rapid III) contract to Ball Aerospace & […]
Creating Psyche: Mission to an Asteroid
on July 10, 2020 at 9:38 am
An electric Hall thruster, identical to those that will be used to propel NASA's Psyche spacecraft, undergoes testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
STS-135: Shuttle's Final Launch and the Beginning of a New Era
on July 9, 2020 at 1:08 pm
Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 mission launched from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011 and was the last space shuttle mission.
Heat Shield Milestone Complete for First Orion Mission with Crew
on July 8, 2020 at 8:22 am
Technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida recently finished meticulously applying more than 180 blocks of ablative material to the heat shield for the Orion spacecraft.
Jupiter's Magnificent Swirling Clouds
on July 7, 2020 at 1:54 pm
A multitude of magnificent, swirling clouds in Jupiter's dynamic North North Temperate Belt is captured in this image from NASA's Juno spacecraft.
Upgrading the Space Station Is All in a Day's Work
on July 6, 2020 at 12:33 pm
NASA astronaut Robert Behnken works during the Wednesday, July 1, 2020, six-hour and one-minute spacewalk to swap an aging nickel-hydrogen battery for a new lithium-ion battery on the International […]
July 4, 1997: Sojourner Arrives on the Red Planet
on July 1, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Hitching a ride on the Mars Pathfinder mission, the Sojourner rover arrived on Mars on July 4, 1997.
A Day's Work: Robert Behnken Updates Power Systems on the Station
on July 1, 2020 at 1:02 pm
On June 26, 2020, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Chris Cassidy conducted the first of two spacewalks to swap batteries and upgrade power systems on the International Space Station.
Deep Space 1 Spacecraft at 2.3 Million Miles from Earth
on June 30, 2020 at 12:53 pm
June 30 is Asteroid Day.
An Astronaut's View of Work
on June 29, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Spacewalkers Bob Behnken (left) and Chris Cassidy (right) in the Quest Airlock on June 26, 2020, before beginning a spacewalk to replace batteries on one of two power channels on the International […]
Hubble Captures Galaxy on Edge
on June 26, 2020 at 12:13 pm
We don’t see the beautiful spiral arms of galaxy NGC 5907 in this Hubble image because we are viewing it edge-on, like looking at the rim of a plate. It is for this reason that NGC 5907 is also […]
The Space Station's Solar Transit
on June 25, 2020 at 8:42 am
This composite image, made from six frames, shows the International Space Station, with a crew of five onboard, in silhouette as it transits the Sun.
A Solar Eclipse Shadows Asia
on June 24, 2020 at 12:58 pm
On June 21, 2020, as the International Space Station orbited over Kazakhstan and into China, an external high-definition camera captures this picture of the solar eclipse shadowing a portion of the […]
NGC 7027: Like a Metallic Jewel Bug in the Sky
on June 23, 2020 at 6:42 am
In this image NGC 7027 resembles a jewel bug, an insect with a brilliantly colorful metallic shell.
Astronauts Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken Work on U.S. Spacesuits
on June 22, 2020 at 1:41 pm
NASA astronauts (from top) Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken work on U.S. spacesuits.
Black Hole Bounty Captured in the Center of the Milky Way
on June 19, 2020 at 3:29 pm
Astronomers have discovered evidence for thousands of black holes located near the center of our Milky Way galaxy using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Preparing for Future Missions at the Armstrong Flight Research Center
on June 17, 2020 at 7:06 pm
Pilots Troy Asher and Wayne Ringelberg walk out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center’s (AFRC) hangar in Palmdale, California, toward the flight line.
Viewing the Red Planet
on June 17, 2020 at 1:05 pm
This artist's concept shows an astronaut on Mars, as viewed through the window of a spacecraft.
Hubble Makes a Bright Find
on June 16, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Seen here in incredible detail is the starburst galaxy formally known as PLCK G045.1+61.1. The galaxy, which appears as multiple reddish dots near the center of the image, is being gravitationally […]
Bringing Einstein's Concepts to Life Through Art
on June 15, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Launched on April 20, 2004, Gravity Probe B (GP-B) was a collaboration between Stanford University and NASA designed to test two previously untested aspects of Albert Einstein’s general theory […]
Hubble Glimpses a Galaxy Among Many
on June 12, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Looking deep into the universe, the Hubble Space Telescope catches a passing glimpse of the numerous arm-like structures that sweep around this barred spiral galaxy, known as NGC 2608. Appearing as a […]
Grand Finale: One of Cassini's Last Dives
on June 11, 2020 at 1:52 pm
This illustration imagines the view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft during one of its final dives between Saturn and its innermost rings.
The Space In-between: Aurora Australis
on June 10, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Like a wisp of green smoke, the aurora australis seemingly intersects with the Earth's airglow as the International Space Station orbited above the Indian Ocean halfway between Australia and […]
Japan's HTV-9 Cargo Craft Helps Supply the Space Station
on June 9, 2020 at 1:20 pm
Japan's resupply ship, the H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9), is pictured attached to the International Space Station's Harmony module.
The Red Planet's Holden Crater
on June 8, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Exquisite layering is revealed emerging from the sand in southern Holden Crater. Sequences like these offer a window into Mars' complicated geologic history.
Hubble Catches Cosmic Snowflakes
on June 5, 2020 at 11:30 am
The stars of the globular cluster NGC 6441 sparkle peacefully in the night sky, about 13,000 light-years from the Milky Way’s galactic center.
Space Station Instrument Helps Researchers to Understand Lightning
on June 4, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Lightning flashes from a storm cloud to strike the ground. Such bolts represent only a small part of the overall phenomenon of lightning.
Preparing the Perseverance Mars Rover to Collect Samples on the Red Planet
on June 3, 2020 at 1:17 pm
The samples Apollo 11 brought back to Earth from the Moon were humanity's first from another celestial body. The upcoming Perseverance rover mission will collect the first samples from another planet.
Ice Melt Accelerates Regional Freshwater Depletion
on June 2, 2020 at 1:14 pm
A small glacier in the Arctic region of Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, as photographed by NASA's Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX).
Demo-2: Launching Into History
on June 1, 2020 at 12:59 pm
On Saturday, May 30, 2020, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station.
Demo-2 Launch: Setting Forth on a Historic Journey
on May 30, 2020 at 11:22 pm
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched from Launch Complex 39A on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station.
Liftoff! Demo-2 Heads to the Space Station
on May 30, 2020 at 7:58 pm
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Saturday, May 30, […]
SpaceX Demo-2: A New Era in Human Spaceflight
on May 30, 2020 at 1:12 pm
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen illuminated on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission, […]
Hubble Sees Brilliant Tapestry of Stars
on May 29, 2020 at 1:46 pm
The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resembles a glittering fireworks display in this Hubble Space Telescope image.
Imagining Another Earth
on May 28, 2020 at 2:27 pm
This artist's concept shows exoplanet Kepler-1649c orbiting around its host red dwarf star.
Sunrise from Launch Complex 39A
on May 27, 2020 at 12:05 pm
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen on the launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at sunrise as preparations continue for the Demo-2 mission, Wednesday, May […]
Leroy Chiao Makes a Bubble in Space
on May 26, 2020 at 7:20 am
In this iconic image, Staion Commander Leroy Chiao of NASA watches a water bubble float between him and the camera.
SpaceX Demo-2 Rollout
on May 22, 2020 at 12:50 pm
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out of the horizontal integration facility at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the […]
SpaceX Demo-2 Crew Arrives at Kennedy Space Center
on May 21, 2020 at 1:01 pm
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley listen as NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gives remarks after the crew arrived at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center.
Annie and John Glenn Arrive for the Gemini IV Flight
on May 20, 2020 at 11:31 am
Annie and John Glenn arrive at the Mission Control Center for the Gemini IV launch on June 4, 1965. John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth.
Chemist Audrey Miyamoto Prepares Apollo 11 Sample for Analysis
on May 19, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Chemist Audrey Miyamoto preparing an Apollo lunar sample to analyze for amino acids at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Station Crew Sees Typhoon from Space
on May 18, 2020 at 1:27 pm
The crew of the International Space Station snapped this image of this typhoon in the South Pacific Ocean on May 13, 2020.
Nancy Grace Roman: The Mother of Hubble
on May 15, 2020 at 1:48 pm
Nancy Grace Roman (1925-2018), NASA's first chief astronomer, is known as the 'Mother of Hubble.'
High-Altitude Hazes on Jupiter
on May 14, 2020 at 1:21 pm
NASA's Juno mission captured this look at Jupiter's tumultuous northern regions during the spacecraft's close approach to the planet on Feb. 17, 2020.
Cygnus Says Farewell to the Space Station
on May 13, 2020 at 12:53 pm
Northrup Grumman's Cygnus resupply ship is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm moments before its release ending its 83-day stay at the International Space Station on May 11, 2020.
Iowa Native and Astronaut Raja Chari
on May 12, 2020 at 7:26 am
Iowa native astronaut Raja Chari was selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class.
Abell 2384: Bending the Bridge Between Two Galaxy Clusters
on May 11, 2020 at 2:23 pm
Several hundred million years ago, two galaxy clusters collided and then passed through each other.
Ricky Arnold: Teacher and Astronaut
on May 8, 2020 at 1:07 pm
NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold takes an out of this world "space-selfie" while conducting a spacewalk on March 29, 2018.
Spring Has Sprung at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center
on May 7, 2020 at 8:50 am
Blooming roses at the Armstrong Flight Research Center highlighting the Bell X-IE aircraft.
Life Detection Systems Branch Chief Vance Oyama Examines Apollo 11 Samples
on May 6, 2020 at 6:54 pm
Life Detection Systems branch chief Vance Oyama operates a specially designed soil distribution system, used for dispersing the lunar soil in equal amounts to thousands of petri dishes.
The Crab Nebula: Observations Through Time
on May 5, 2020 at 11:57 pm
This composite of the Crab Nebula was made with data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (blue and white), Hubble Space Telescope (purple), and Spitzer Space Telescope (pink).
Joe Acaba Goes from Teacher to Astronaut
on May 4, 2020 at 1:59 pm
It's Teacher Appreciation Week and teachers and space travel go hand-in-hand.
Sang Choi Earns a Place in NASA's Inventors Hall of Fame
on May 1, 2020 at 11:52 am
Sang Choi has worked for NASA for nearly 40 years. Since beginning work at the Langley Research Center in October 1980, Choi has received 71 awards from the agency.
Shining a Light on Dark Matter
on April 30, 2020 at 10:48 am
Dark matter, although invisible, makes up most of the universe’s mass and creates its underlying structure.
Mars Helicopter to Fly on NASA's Next Red Planet Rover Mission
on April 29, 2020 at 2:00 pm
The Mars Helicopter, a small, autonomous rotorcraft, will travel with NASA's Mars Perseverance rover, currently scheduled to launch in July 2020.
30 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope
on April 28, 2020 at 1:02 pm
On April 25, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed from the cargo bay of space shuttle Discovery.
NASA Joins the Fight Against COVID-19
on April 27, 2020 at 2:13 pm
On Friday, April 24, 2020, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine visited the White House to brief President Trump on NASA's fight to alleviate COVID-19.
Space Station Crew Snaps an Image of the Susquehanna River
on April 24, 2020 at 6:45 am
The Susquehanna River cuts through the folds of the Valley-and-Ridge province of the Appalachian Mountains in this photograph taken by the crew of the International Space Station.
An Otherworldly-Looking Bombetoka Bay, Madagascar
on April 23, 2020 at 6:38 am
On the northwestern coast of Madagascar, the salty waters of the Mozambique Channel penetrate inland to join with the freshwater outflow of the Betsiboka River, forming Bombetoka Bay.
The Black Marble: Our Planet in Brilliant Darkness
on April 22, 2020 at 11:06 am
This image is one of several global images of the Earth at night released in 2017.
The Gulf Stream in Infrared
on April 21, 2020 at 11:21 am
This image shows a small portion of the Gulf Stream off of South Carolina as it appeared in infrared data collected by the Landsat 8 satellite in April 2013.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Florida Tops U.S. Record With Over 15,000 New Cases
on July 12, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos pushes for U.S. schools to reopen. Trump wears a mask publicly for the first time. And India’s latest surge includes a top Bollywood star.
Man, 30, Dies After Attending a ‘Covid Party,’ Texas Hospital Says
by Bryan Pietsch on July 12, 2020 at 7:05 pm
“I thought this was a hoax,” the man told his nurse, a hospital official said.
Louisiana Orders Bars Closed and Masks for Most
on July 12, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Trump wears a mask publicly for the first time. Disney World reopened, despite a surge in Florida. Thousands of Israelis protested the government’s handling of the economy.
Grizzly Bears Around Yellowstone Can Stay on Endangered Species List, Court Rules
by Marie Fazio on July 11, 2020 at 5:17 pm
The decision by a federal appeals court protects about 700 bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from being hunted.
New Coronavirus Cases in U.S. Soar Past 68,000, Shattering Record
on July 11, 2020 at 12:02 pm
The number of daily global cases also broke a record, with the United States as the biggest source of new infections. The U.S. death toll is also on the rise.
Scientists Say You Can Cancel the Noise but Keep Your Window Open
by David Waldstein on July 11, 2020 at 9:00 am
Researchers in Singapore developed a system that’s sort of like noise-canceling headphones for your whole apartment.
She’s an Authority on Earth’s Past. Now, Her Focus Is the Planet’s Future.
by John Schwartz on July 10, 2020 at 10:06 pm
The climate scientist Maureen Raymo is leading the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia. She has big plans for science, and diversity, too.
Britain Gambles on a Bankrupt Satellite Operator, OneWeb
by Stanley Reed on July 10, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Pushed by Brexit, the U.K. government will have a platform to expand into the space business.
A Rescue Plan for the Planet? Watch Our Debate Here.
by The New York Times on July 10, 2020 at 7:32 pm
A virtual event with eight speakers and one question: Has Covid-19 created a blueprint for combating climate change?
Northern Right Whales Are on the Brink, and Trump Could Be Their Last Hope
by Lisa Friedman on July 10, 2020 at 7:31 pm
The species was declared critically endangered on Thursday, with fewer than 450 left.
Beyond the Milky Way, a Galactic Wall
by Dennis Overbye on July 10, 2020 at 6:35 pm
Astronomers have discovered a vast assemblage of galaxies hidden behind our own, in the “zone of avoidance.”
What Happens When You’re Disabled but Nobody Can Tell
by Andrew Solomon on July 10, 2020 at 6:02 pm
The author and clinical psychologist Andrew Solomon examines the disabilities that ramps and reserved parking spots don’t address.
Why We Still Don’t Know Enough About Covid-19 and Pregnancy
by Christina Caron on July 10, 2020 at 5:49 pm
More than six months into the pandemic there’s still a lot we don’t know about how the coronavirus affects pregnant women and babies.
Lockdowns Spared Millions of Animals From Becoming Roadkill, Researchers Say
by Bryan Pietsch on July 10, 2020 at 5:21 pm
The number of wild animals killed by vehicle traffic was down as much as 45 percent in Maine and 21 percent in California, according to a U.C. Davis report.
New Red Algae Are Threatening Hawaii’s Coral Reefs, Scientists Say
by Marie Fazio on July 10, 2020 at 2:55 pm
The recently discovered species covers coral in a thick layer and suffocates it. Scientists don’t know where it came from.
Sutter Health’s Request to Delay $575 Million Settlement Is Denied
by Reed Abelson on July 10, 2020 at 2:23 pm
The large California hospital system wanted to postpone an agreement reached in a state antitrust case, as coronavirus cases rise.
U.S. Hits Another Record for New Coronavirus Cases
on July 10, 2020 at 9:35 am
U.S. officials reported more than 59,880 cases on Thursday. Bolivia’s leader became Latin America’s third to be infected. The Malaysian police questioned Al Jazeera journalists over a […]
Who Gets a Vaccine First? U.S. Considers Race in Coronavirus Plans
by Megan Twohey on July 10, 2020 at 5:21 am
When a vaccine hits the market, it will be a key tool in putting an end to the pandemic. A federal committee is debating giving early access to groups that face a high risk.
NOAA Officials Feared Firings After Trump’s Hurricane Claims, Inspector General Says
by Christopher Flavelle and Lisa Friedman on July 10, 2020 at 1:02 am
The report found White House pressure led to NOAA’s rebuke of forecasters who contradicted Mr. Trump’s inaccurate claim that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama.
The Coronavirus Can Be Airborne Indoors, W.H.O. Says
by Apoorva Mandavilli on July 10, 2020 at 12:47 am
The agency also explained more directly that people without symptoms may spread the virus. The acknowledgments should have come sooner, some experts said.
Japan’s Deadly Combination: Climate Change and an Aging Society
by Motoko Rich, Makiko Inoue and Hisako Ueno on July 9, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Record-breaking rains this week in the country’s southernmost main island, which have killed 62, have shown the vulnerability of people living in nursing homes.
Airborne Coronavirus: What You Should Do Now
by Apoorva Mandavilli on July 9, 2020 at 7:48 pm
How to protect yourself from a virus that may be floating indoors? Better ventilation, for starters. And keep wearing those masks.
W.H.O. to Review Evidence of Airborne Transmission of Coronavirus
by Apoorva Mandavilli on July 9, 2020 at 7:43 pm
The World Health Organization plans to update its advice after hundreds of experts urged the agency to reconsider the risk of aerosol transmission.
This Ancient Sea Creature Builds Its Body With a Whisper, Not a Scream
by Katherine J. Wu on July 9, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Unlike vertebrate embryo cells, which signal to each other over long distances, sea squirt embryo cells talk only to those they’re closest to.
Study of 17 Million Identifies Crucial Risk Factors for Coronavirus Deaths
by Katherine J. Wu on July 9, 2020 at 2:32 pm
The largest study yet confirms that race, ethnicity, age and sex can raise a person’s chances of dying from Covid-19.
At Least 5 States Set Single-Day Coronavirus Case Records
on July 9, 2020 at 11:18 am
Tulsa’s top health official said the Trump rally last month may have contributed to a local surge in cases. A study in England provided more evidence of crucial risk factors for Covid-19 deaths.
A Missed Warning About Silent Coronavirus Infections
on July 9, 2020 at 10:01 am
Why an early scientific report of symptom-free cases went unheeded.
How a Saber-Tooth Marsupial Blinded Us With Its Bite
by Matt Kaplan on July 9, 2020 at 9:00 am
The extinct South American animal made us believe it was as fierce as a saber-tooth cat, but a new study suggests it was a mere scavenger.
Some Polynesians Carry Native American DNA, Study Finds
by Carl Zimmer on July 9, 2020 at 12:04 am
A new genetic study suggests that Polynesians made an epic voyage to South America 800 years ago.
In Parched Southwest, Warm Spring Renews Threat of ‘Megadrought’
by Henry Fountain on July 8, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Rapid melting this year showed that good snowpack doesn’t necessarily translate into full reservoirs.

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