A quasar, J1601+3102, powered by a relatively small supermassive black hole (450 million solar masses), has been found emitting a massive twin-lobed jet stretching at least 200,000 light-years, double the width of the Milky Way. This discovery challenges previous assumptions, showing that powerful jets in the early universe don’t require extremely massive black holes. The jets were detected by the LOFAR telescope and studied with … Continue reading Scientists discover largest black hole jet ever seen in the early universe

SpaceX successfully launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, from Cape Canaveral on February 4. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” after an 8-minute flight, marking its 21st launch and landing. The satellites were deployed into low Earth orbit about 65 minutes after liftoff, Space.com has reported. This launch marks SpaceX’s 15th Falcon 9 … Continue reading SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida on 15th launch of 2025

NASA is seeking U.S. companies to partner in delivering the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the moon, after canceling the mission last year due to rising costs and delays. Under the new plan, NASA will provide the rover, while the selected company will be responsible for launching, landing, and operating VIPER. The mission, which aims to prospect for water ice at the lunar … Continue reading NASA requests industry proposals for VIPER lunar rover partnership

On February 4, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, deploying two Earth observation satellites for Maxar Intelligence, completing its WorldView Legion constellation. The mission enhances Maxar’s geospatial capabilities with six high-resolution satellites in dual orbits, enabling up to 15 daily passes over specific locations. The satellites capture 30-centimeter resolution images, capable of identifying objects the size of a car hood, … Continue reading SpaceX launches Maxar 3 satellite mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Florida’s Space Coast early on Feb. 4. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 5:14 a.m. EDT, carrying 13 satellites with direct-to-cell capability. The rocket’s first stage landed on the drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean eight minutes after launch. This marked the 21st launch and landing for this booster, with 16 … Continue reading SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites from Florida on 14th launch of 2025

NASA has paused several science committee activities due to recent Trump administration executive orders. Memos sent on Jan. 31 directed astrophysics and planetary science groups to halt meetings while ensuring compliance with the orders. The executive orders primarily target diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and revoke climate change-related policies. The Mercury Exploration Assessment Group (MExAG) was the first affected, canceling its Feb. 4-6 meeting, … Continue reading NASA pauses work of science groups, citing Trump executive orders

A mysterious “square structure” found on Mars has sparked new conspiracy theories online, with many speculating it could be evidence of an ancient alien civilization. The image, captured by NASA’s Mars Orbiter Camera in 2001, has resurfaced on social media, drawing attention from figures like Joe Rogan. While some are quick to label it as proof of extraterrestrial life, others argue that straight lines can … Continue reading Mysterious square structure spotted on Mars branded ‘wild’ has space fanatics completely baffled

On December 27, 2024, astronomers discovered asteroid 2024 YR4, which may collide with Earth on December 22, 2032. While this sounds alarming, there’s no immediate cause for concern, as impacts from objects of this size are rare. Asteroids like the one that caused the Tunguska event in 1908 and the Chelyabinsk explosion in 2013 remind us that smaller impacts are more common, but large-scale collisions … Continue reading AI Can Predict Incredible Solar Storms Before They Strike

On December 27, 2024, astronomers discovered asteroid 2024 YR4, which may collide with Earth on December 22, 2032. While this sounds alarming, there’s no immediate cause for concern, as impacts from objects of this size are rare. Asteroids like the one that caused the Tunguska event in 1908 and the Chelyabinsk explosion in 2013 remind us that smaller impacts are more common, but large-scale collisions … Continue reading Astrophysicist Reveals The Key Facts About The Asteroid That May Hit Earth

Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have successfully created rocket fuel and oxygen using a new “artificial photosynthesis” technology. The breakthrough, which uses basic equipment and minimal energy, converts carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and rocket fuel ingredients, such as ethylene. This technology, under development since 2015, mimics plant photosynthesis and could support China’s future moon base. It is more energy-efficient than the … Continue reading Chinese astronauts make rocket fuel and oxygen in space using 1st-of-its-kind ‘artificial photosynthesis’

Thales Alenia Space announced a nearly $900 million contract on January 30 to develop the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for the European Space Agency’s Argonaut, a cargo lander for lunar missions starting in the 2030s. The LDE will transport and land payloads on the Moon, with an adaptable interface to support various cargo. Argonaut’s first mission will deliver navigation, telecommunications, and energy systems for European … Continue reading Europe awards $900 million contract for Argonaut lunar lander development

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore completed their first spacewalk together on Thursday, almost eight months after arriving at the International Space Station. They removed a broken antenna and wiped the station’s exterior for potential microbes. After some difficulty, the antenna was removed nearly four hours later. During the spacewalk, Williams set a new record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female … Continue reading NASA’s 2 stuck astronauts take their first spacewalk together

SpaceX successfully launched the SpainSat Next Generation 1 (SpainSat NG-1) communications satellite on January 29, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit, marking the 13th launch for SpaceX in 2025. This mission also marked the final flight of Falcon 9 booster B1073, which had previously completed 21 missions. The SpainSat NG-1 satellite, developed by … Continue reading SpaceX Falcon 9 launches next-gen SpainSat NG-1 satellite into orbit

NASA has detected an asteroid named 2024 YR4, which has a 1-in-83 chance of hitting Earth in 2032. At 180 feet (55 meters) across, it’s too small to cause a global catastrophe but could destroy a major city, releasing 8 megatons of energy—over 500 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. While the asteroid is currently moving away, it will have several close passes with … Continue reading ‘City-killer’ asteroid has a 1-in-83 chance of smashing into Earth in 2032, NASA says

Scientists have discovered 14 amino acids on the asteroid Bennu, millions of miles from Earth, as part of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. The mission successfully collected asteroid samples and brought them back to Earth in 2023 for analysis. While previous findings suggested Bennu contained water and carbon, the discovery of amino acids, ammonia, and nucleobases adds exciting new questions, Space.com has reported. These findings suggest that … Continue reading NASA finds key molecules for life in OSIRIS-REx asteroid samples

A massive coronal hole, nearly 500,000 miles wide, has opened in the sun’s atmosphere, releasing fast solar wind toward Earth. This solar wind, moving at speeds over 310 miles per second, is expected to reach Earth by January 31, potentially triggering a minor (G1) geomagnetic storm. While not severe, G1 storms can enhance aurora displays, especially in higher latitudes. The solar wind causes auroras when … Continue reading Gigantic 500,000-mile ‘hole’ in the sun’s atmosphere aims solar wind at Earth

During a flyby of Jupiter’s moon Io on December 27, 2024, NASA’s Juno spacecraft discovered a massive volcanic hotspot in Io’s southern hemisphere. This hotspot, larger than Earth’s Lake Superior, emits eruptions with six times the energy of all the world’s power plants. Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system, experiences intense activity due to Jupiter’s gravitational pull. Juno’s infrared instrument, JIRAM, captured … Continue reading Juno spots most extreme volcanic activity on Io to date

The U.S. Space Force plans 11 national security launches in 2025 using United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket, pending final certification. The schedule also includes seven missions aboard SpaceX’s Falcon rockets. This comes as the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program aims to recover after completing only five missions in 2024. Vulcan, part of the NSSL Phase 2 program, is under review following a successful … Continue reading Space Force projects ULA to outpace SpaceX in 2025 national security missions

UK researchers have confirmed the discovery of a “super-Earth” exoplanet, HD 20794 d, located 20 light-years away, which may offer clues about extraterrestrial life. The planet, six times the size of Earth, orbits a star similar to the Sun in a habitable zone that could support water. Although its eccentric orbit causes its distance from the star to fluctuate, potentially freezing or melting water, its … Continue reading Scientists discover nearby ‘super-Earth’ that could sustain life: ‘There is hope for the future’

SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral on January 27, including 13 with direct-to-cellphone capability. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage successfully returned to Earth, landing on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” after eight minutes. The upper stage continued to orbit with the satellites, which will be deployed about 65 minutes later, Space.com has reported. This marks SpaceX’s 12th Falcon 9 mission … Continue reading SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida

Blue Origin’s upcoming New Shepard flight, scheduled for January 28, will demonstrate the vehicle’s ability to generate lunar gravity, a first for the suborbital spacecraft. Unlike previous flights that experienced microgravity, the New Shepard crew capsule will be spun using thrusters to simulate lunar gravity. This will provide over two minutes of lunar gravity for 29 payloads, including 17 from NASA, in contrast to the … Continue reading New Shepard flight to demonstrate lunar gravity

NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered evidence of ancient, hospitable environments on Mars, including dried-up lake beds and ripple formations on ancient shorelines. These ripples, formed around 3.7 billion years ago, were likely created by small waves on open-air lakes, suggesting Mars was once warm, wet, and capable of supporting life. The findings extend the timeline for potential microbial habitability, showing that shallow lakes existed in … Continue reading NASA rover spots proof that Mars hosted more than just lakes

SpaceX successfully launched its Starlink 11-6 mission from California on Friday morning. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:07 a.m. PST, carrying a batch of Starlink satellites. The launch used booster B1063, which made its 23rd flight, Spaceflight Now has reported. About eight minutes after liftoff, the booster landed on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You,’ marking SpaceX’s 118th landing on that ship … Continue reading SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California

Astronomers have detected fast-repeating radio bursts (FRBs) from a distant “dead” galaxy, which should not have the energy to produce these signals. Traditionally, FRBs are linked to young, magnetized neutron stars in active star-forming regions, but the galaxy in question contains only old stars. The bursts, named FRB 20240209A, were detected using the CHIME telescope and pinpointed using the Gemini North telescope. The source is … Continue reading Astronomers discover repeating radio bursts from distant ‘dead’ galaxy