Osaka,Japan (SPX) May 22, 2025
Lightning has long captivated scientists, but a new study from The University of Osaka has shed unprecedented light on the high-energy physics behind it. Researchers have captured the first-ever detailed observation of a terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF) occurring precisely in sync with a lightning discharge. TGFs are extremely brief but intense bursts of gamma rays, lasting mere microseco

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 22, 2025
A newly identified planetary system, labeled 2M1510, may be home to one of the most unusual planetary orbits ever observed. A candidate planet appears to loop above and below the poles of a pair of brown dwarfs-celestial bodies too massive to be planets yet too light to ignite like stars. These two brown dwarfs orbit each other closely, while a third brown dwarf circles them at a much greater di

University Park PA (SPX) May 22, 2025
The fundamental building blocks for planet formation can exist even in environments with extreme ultraviolet radiation, according to a new study by an international collaboration led by Penn State astronomers. The study leveraged the unparalleled capabilities of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and sophisticated thermochemical modeling to investigate a protoplanetary disk - the dust and

Pasadena CA (JPL) May 22, 2025
Understanding Jupiter's early evolution helps illuminate the broader story of how our solar system developed its distinct structure. Jupiter's gravity, often called the "architect" of our solar system, played a critical role in shaping the orbital paths of other planets and sculpting the disk of gas and dust from which they formed. In a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy,

Pasadena CA (JPL) May 22, 2025
A swirling Martian dust devil made a surprise appearance in a selfie captured by NASA's Perseverance rover on May 10, commemorating its 1,500th sol on Mars. The photo was taken while the rover was paused at "Witch Hazel Hill," located along the rim of Jezero Crater, where it has been conducting scientific investigations for five months. According to Justin Maki, imaging lead at NASA's Jet

Paris, France (SPX) May 22, 2025
A newly released image from the European Space Agency's Mars Express mission reveals a crater layered with geological history and sculpted by ancient martian forces. Captured in October 2024 by the orbiter's High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC), the scene features Deuteronilus Cavus, a 120-kilometer-wide depression in Mars's mid-latitudes where planetary highlands meet lowlands. This nearl

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 22, 2025
China is encouraging international researchers to join its Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission by proposing scientific payloads for inclusion on the spacecraft. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has issued a global call for proposals, welcoming submissions from institutions abroad, including those in Hong Kong and Macao, for the development of instruments to be used on the up

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 22, 2025
CAS Space, a commercial aerospace firm under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, launched its Kinetica 1-Y7 solid-propellant rocket on Wednesday, successfully deploying six satellites into space. The rocket lifted off at 12:05 pm local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. Onboard were three remote-sensing satellites, one radar satellite, a mini weather satellite,

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 22, 2025
NASA is advancing innovative microgravity fluid management technologies that pave the way for efficient plant watering in space-without the need for moving parts. Feeding astronauts on deep space missions with fresh produce will require robust plant cultivation methods. However, watering plants in microgravity presents unique problems. Without gravity, bubbles don't rise and droplets don't

Washington DC (UPI) May 21, 2025
SpaceX successfully launched 23 Starlink satellites from Florida in the first launch of its new Falcon 9 booster. SpaceX confirmed early Wednesday that the satellites were deployed into low-Earth orbit before the booster landed on a SpaceX drone ship positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. The mission was slated for Monday, but the rocket auto-aborted two minutes and 28 seconds before