Science

Two men wearing black jumpsuits and virtual-reality headsets sit facing each other while holding controllers inside a training facility.

Space

Practice Mission

October 29, 2026

Do you have what it takes to go to Mars? Or to pretend to go to Mars, at least? NASA is seeking four participants. They’re needed for a yearlong simulated mission to space. It’s called the Moon and Mars Exploration…

Audio
A large rocket stands on a launchpad as flames and thick clouds of smoke rise from its base.

Space

Starship in Orbit

October 27, 2026

SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time on September 28, marking a milestone for the rocket. While in orbit, it released 26 Starlink satellites, which provide Internet service. An engine problem prompted leaders to end the planned 10-hour mission…

Audio
An illustration shows a green dinosaur holding prey in its mouth near a pond, with other dinosaurs and prehistoric plants in the background.

Animals

Old Bones

October 27, 2026

A newly discovered dinosaur called Invictibellatrix amberina feasts in this illustration, based on a fossil. The dino was introduced in an October 14 study. It …

Audio
A crater surrounded by bright streaks marks the gray surface of the moon.

Space

Lunar Crater Found

September 29, 2026

On September 16, scientists announced the discovery of a new moon crater. “This event constitutes a statistically rare, effectively once-in-a-lifetime observation,” the study authors wrote in the journal Science Advances. The crater is extremely large: It measures more than 700…

Audio
A rocket lifts into the sky above a cloud of smoke.

Space

Telescope Takes Off

September 15, 2026

On August 30, NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center, in Florida. The space telescope can see an area of sky 100 times larger than the Hubble or the James Webb can. For three months,…

Audio
A round, tan-colored planet against a background of stars.

Space

Out in the Cold

September 1, 2026

Twenty years ago, Pluto’s status changed. On August 24, 2006, the icy world was reclassified from a major planet to a dwarf planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) made the decision. Per the IAU, a planet must have enough gravitational…

Audio
A satellite with large solar panels orbits above Earth.

Space

Saving Swift

August 20, 2026

Update: On August 19, NASA announced a change to this mission. Due to an ongoing issue, the LINK spacecraft will not be able to capture and boost Swift. Instead, LINK will attempt to connect with Swift for data collection. “This…

Audio
A black-and-white dog wearing a yellow covering lies inside a large medical scanner.

Animals

Canine Intuition

August 18, 2026

Have you ever felt that your dog can read your mind? Many pet owners feel this way. But it’s not mind reading: It’s face reading. That’s according to a study published August 10 in the journal iScience. Researchers found that…

Audio
Bright streaks of meteors cross a dark night sky filled with stars above a tree line.

Space

Lights in the Sky

April 22, 2026

You don’t have to wait until Independence Day for a light show in the sky. A natural fireworks show is happening this week: the Lyrids meteor shower, which experts say will probably continue through April 30. Meteor showers are a…

Audio
A raccoon hangs from a bird feeder and reaches for food with one paw.

Animals

Puzzling Raccoons

April 16, 2026

Raccoons are clever. Studies have shown their ability to solve puzzles to get food. A study published this year in Animal Behaviour shows that their puzzling may not always be for a reward: Sometimes, they’re just learning. Researchers gave raccoons…

Audio