NPR News: As severe weather tests the grid, utilities consider burying more power lines

As severe weather tests the grid, utilities consider burying more power lines
Power outages are increasing as the grid ages and climate change drives more frequent severe weather. Burying power lines underground can be more reliable – but also much more expensive.

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NPR News: 'My body carried me,' Elizabeth Smart says. Now she's celebrating it

'My body carried me,' Elizabeth Smart says. Now she's celebrating it
Her abduction at age 14 drew international attention. After her rescue, Smart says she struggled with feeling shame around her body. Bodybuilding has helped her see herself differently.

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NPR News: California chemical tank has cracked causing state of emergency, thousands to evacuate

California chemical tank has cracked causing state of emergency, thousands to evacuate
One California town is in a state of emergency and 40,000 people are under an evacuation order as a malfunctioning chemical tank at an aerospace plant is overheating and could leak or explode.

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NPR News: California chemical tank has cracked causing state of emergency, thousands to evacuate

California chemical tank has cracked causing state of emergency, thousands to evacuate
One California town is in a state of emergency and 40,000 people are under an evacuation order as a malfunctioning chemical tank at an aerospace plant is overheating and could leak or explode.

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NPR News: Kill your lawn, plant native flowers

Kill your lawn, plant native flowers
Life Kit explains the benfits of swapping your lawn for a native plant garden

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NPR News: Millions of acres of national forests are set to open up for more logging

Millions of acres of national forests are set to open up for more logging
The Trump administration is set to repeal a decades-old conservation mandate known as the Roadless Rule, opening up millions of acres of national forests for more logging.

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NPR News: Why a decades-old forest planting practice from Japan is gaining traction in the U.S.

Why a decades-old forest planting practice from Japan is gaining traction in the U.S.
Communities across the U.S. are turning small plots of land into highly dense forests that grow quickly. Turns out these forests have roots to a decades-old planting method that originated in Japan.

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NPR News: The thorny ethical questions that emerge from covering our place in the natural world

The thorny ethical questions that emerge from covering our place in the natural world
Nate Rott's beat takes him to some really wild places, asking thorny ethical questions that emerge as he reports on the natural world and humanity's relationship to it

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NPR News: The thorny ethical questions that emerge from covering our place in the natural world

The thorny ethical questions that emerge from covering our place in the natural world
Nate Rott's beat takes him to some really wild places, asking thorny ethical questions that emerge as he reports on the natural world and humanity's relationship to it

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NPR News: SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on a test flight

SpaceX launches its biggest, most beefed-up Starship yet on a test flight
The mega rocket made its debut two days after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced he's taking the company public. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Starship is now one step closer to the moon.

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Keeping NASA Flying: Ground Crews Ensure Aircraft Readiness

From high‑speed research flights to high‑altitude science campaigns, NASA depends on aircraft that perform at their best and the ground crews who keep them mission ready. At NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, specially trained maintenance crews are essential to keeping the agency’s aircraft flying safely and reliably. This year, NASA added two […]

May 21, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA to Compete Contract for Jet Propulsion Laboratory Management

NASA announced plans Friday to compete the next contract for managing and operating the agency’s federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in Southern California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), to ensure continued accountability and strong value for U.S. taxpayers. The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has managed the laboratory since its inception in […]

May 21, 2026 at 08:00PM
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New Material Could Help NASA Melt Moon Rocks, Harness Lunar Resources

A material recently discovered and tested at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland could help astronauts pack lighter for future missions to the Moon. NASA is researching ways explorers could “live off the land” by harnessing lunar resources, including melting Moon rocks to extract metals for building infrastructure and oxygen for fuel and life support. […]

May 21, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Hubble Captures Galaxy Cluster

Look closely at this image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and you’ll see galaxies of various shapes and sizes clustered together toward the center-left of the image. A few foreground stars shine brightly and are easily distinguished by the spikes that appear to extend outward from each star. These spikes, called diffraction spikes, are the […]

May 21, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: SpaceX to launch Starship rocket Friday after delay

SpaceX to launch Starship rocket Friday after delay
SpaceX scrubbed the twelfth launch of its newly redesigned Starship moments before liftoff Thursday. The company will try again Friday and it comes at a critical time for SpaceX, which is seeking to go public.

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Tornado Draws a Jagged Line in Mississippi

The strongest of several twisters to touch down in the southern part of the state in early May 2026 left a visible path of damaged vegetation.

May 21, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Researchers say the Trump administration is finding new ways to punish science

Researchers say the Trump administration is finding new ways to punish science
Even with federal grants largely restored, scientists say the Trump administration is still preventing those funds from reaching them. The consequences, they say, are already becoming clear.

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Lunar Robots: NASA Spotlights Moon Base at 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition

Robotics will play a critical role in NASA’s ambitious plan to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, presenting opportunities for the next generation of engineers, technologists, and innovators to contribute to a bold vision for the future. That was the agency’s message to students, partners, and industry leaders at the 2026 FIRST Robotics World […]

May 20, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: As floods get worse, Britain tries a new solution: beavers

As floods get worse, Britain tries a new solution: beavers
About 400 years ago, beavers were hunted to extinction across Britain. Now they're being reintroduced as little climate warriors, as communities harness their dam-building skills to mitigate flooding.

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NPR News: As floods get worse, Britain tries a new solution: beavers

As floods get worse, Britain tries a new solution: beavers
About 400 years ago, beavers were hunted to extinction across Britain. Now they're being reintroduced as little climate warriors, as communities harness their dam-building skills to mitigate flooding.

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NPR News: South African court hears case over whether last elephants in zoo should be removed

South African court hears case over whether last elephants in zoo should be removed
As South Africa's last zoo elephants become the focus of a landmark court battle, activists say the animals' quiet suffering is impossible to ignore.

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New Eruption in the Bismarck Sea

Satellite imagery shows a surge of new volcanic activity in the ocean near Papua New Guinea.

May 20, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA-developed AI Could Help Track Harmful Algae

NASA scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool to take on a longstanding challenge in ocean waters. In a study recently published in AGU Earth and Space Science, researchers reported the tool was able to fuse data from multiple satellites and detect harmful algal blooms that occurred in western Florida and Southern California. Severe blooms […]

May 19, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Releases Technology Priorities to Energize Space Industry

NASA released the 2026 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking list on Wednesday, which integrates more than 400 responses from stakeholders including industry organizations, government agencies, and academia. Shortfalls refer to technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The goal of this document is to rank the space community’s most pervasive shortfalls to […]

May 19, 2026 at 08:00PM
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I Am Artemis: Tim Goddard

Listen to this audio excerpt from Tim Goddard, NASA open water lead: At the end of their mission around the Moon, NASA’s Artemis II astronauts were recovered from their Orion spacecraft by a team of U.S. Navy divers and NASA personnel. This included Tim Goddard, NASA open water lead, who helped guide the complex open […]

May 19, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Fermi Glimpses Power Source of Supercharged Supernovae

An international team studying data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope concludes the mission detected a rare, unusually luminous supernova. The researchers say it likely received its power-up from a supermagnetized neutron star born in the stellar collapse that triggered the explosion. The Fermi mission is part of NASA’s fleet of observatories monitoring the changing […]

May 19, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Bees have coexisted with us for over a millennia. Their name remains a mystery

Bees have coexisted with us for over a millennia. Their name remains a mystery
Its name is short — like its size — but bees are one of Earth's most important and busy creatures.

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Fire Chars Santa Rosa Island

The blaze spread across the southern side of the second-largest island in California’s Channel Islands National Park.

May 19, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Johnson’s Cindy Evans Prepares Artemis Teams for Lunar Science

NASA’s Artemis II crew had many technical and operational responsibilities during their historic mission to the Moon, but they also served an important role as scientific ambassadors to Earth’s nearest neighbor. On their 10-day journey, the crew flew by the far side of the Moon, analyzing and photographing geologic features such as impact craters and […]

May 18, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s New Shock Detectives Project Invites Volunteers to Help Study Solar Wind

NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission has collected more than ten years of data from this zone – more than scientists can analyze alone. As Shock Detectives, you’ll help sort the chaotic from peaceful regions of the data, giving researchers a crucial set of clues.

May 18, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: To revive an extinct bird, you first need an artificial egg

To revive an extinct bird, you first need an artificial egg
Colossal Biosciences, a Texas company trying to bring extinct species back to life, reports creating artificial eggs that would be necessary to revive extinct birds such as the dodo.

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NPR News: Some plants have a genetic superpower that may help them survive a cataclysm

Some plants have a genetic superpower that may help them survive a cataclysm
Get ready for a biology lesson. Certain plants have extra sets of chromosomes. And it turns out, it's a useful trait for a species facing a dramatic event like climate change.

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NPR News: Some plants have a genetic superpower that may help them survive a cataclysm

Some plants have a genetic superpower that may help them survive a cataclysm
Get ready for a biology lesson. Certain plants have extra sets of chromosomes. And it turns out, it's a useful trait for a species facing a dramatic event like climate change.

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Farming in Ancient Lake Agassiz

The glacial lake left a layer of silt and clay in southeastern Manitoba, creating fertile farmland that was divided during 19th-century land surveys and is still farmed today.

May 18, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Curiosity Blog, Sols 4893-4899: Drilling at Campo Marte and a Visit From the Psyche Spacecraft

Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, May 15, 2026 After freeing the rover’s arm from the “Atacama” block, we are ready to drill again! The new drill target will represent the same geologic stratum as Atacama, which is the layered sulfate unit above the boxwork […]

May 18, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s MAVEN Makes 1st Discovery of Atmospheric Effect at Mars

In December 2023, scientists looking at Mars data stumbled across something completely unexpected — observations of an atmospheric effect never before seen in the Red Planet’s atmosphere. Using instruments aboard NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission, scientists identified a phenomenon known to occur in Earth’s magnetosphere, where charged particles are squeezed like toothpaste […]

May 17, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Selects Next Class of Space Health Postdoctoral Fellows

The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) has selected two early‑career scientists for its next class of postdoctoral fellows. The new fellows will begin their projects in May, focusing on space food systems and astronaut eye health. The TRISH Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports independent research that advances biomedical, behavioral, and technological approaches relevant […]

May 17, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Beacon of Light

The heart of galaxy M77 shines brightly in this May 7, 2026, image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The intense glow is due to gas being pulled by the strong gravity of the central black hole into a tight and rapid orbit around it. The motion of the gas causes it to heat up, […]

May 17, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Thousands of U.S. countertop workers could have damaged lungs, safety expert says

Thousands of U.S. countertop workers could have damaged lungs, safety expert says
Over 550 men in California have fallen ill after cutting natural or factory-made stone countertops. But epidemiologists say this isn't just a California problem.

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NPR News: It takes a village – or a Phoenix suburb – to wrangle a wayward tortoise

It takes a village – or a Phoenix suburb – to wrangle a wayward tortoise
When a large tortoise named Rex got loose, a Phoenix-area neighborhood went into a tizzy. More than just a fun commotion, Rex's daring getaway shows the challenges of sulcata tortoise ownership.

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NPR News: What scientists are learning about geoengineering from satellite pollution

What scientists are learning about geoengineering from satellite pollution
Professor Eloise Marais from the University College London talks about her research on pollution from satellites and its impact on earth's climate.

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NPR News: World Health Organization declares Ebola outbreak in Congo a global health emergency

World Health Organization declares Ebola outbreak in Congo a global health emergency
Health officials are working to contain a new Ebola outbreak in the DRC of a virus strain with no known vaccine.

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NPR News: A surprising solution to cut asphalt's impact on human health

A surprising solution to cut asphalt's impact on human health
Elham Fini, professor of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University, talks about her work on the health impact of asphalt emissions and a solution that could minimize the harmful effects.

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NPR News: A new Ebola outbreak has already killed 87 people

A new Ebola outbreak has already killed 87 people
Health officials are working to contain a new Ebola outbreak in the DRC of a virus strain with no known vaccine.

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NASA Science, Cargo Launch on 34th SpaceX Resupply Mission to Station

The 34th SpaceX commercial resupply mission under contract with NASA is headed to the International Space Station with new scientific experiments after lifting off at 6:05 p.m. EDT Friday on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The SpaceX spacecraft, loaded with nearly 6,500 pounds […]

May 14, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Curiosity Shakes Loose a Pesky Rock

After NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover drilled a sample from this rock on April 25, 2026, it withdrew its robotic arm and pulled the entire rock off the surface with it. Engineers spent several days repositioning the arm and vibrating the drill to try and get the rock loose. When it finally detached on May 1, […]

May 14, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Some plants have unusual genetics, which can help them weather cataclysmic events

Some plants have unusual genetics, which can help them weather cataclysmic events
Unlike humans, many plants have more than two sets of chromosomes. This trait may help them adapt to environmental upheaval, such as climate change.

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NASA Draws on Industry for Mars Telecommunications Network

On Thursday, NASA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), seeking industry collaboration for the Mars Telecommunications Network. Reliable, high bandwidth communications is necessary to relay science data, high-definition imagery, and critical information during Mars missions. The network will use high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiters at the Red Planet to support future surface, orbital, and human exploration. […]

May 13, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA, Industry Prepare Cryogenic Fuel Technology Demo

NASA is collaborating with Eta Space of Rockledge, Florida, on an in‑orbit technology demonstration to advance a key capability for future deep space missions. The Liquid Oxygen Flight Demonstration, or LOXSAT, will test cryogenic fluid management technologies necessary for creating in-space propellant depots, essentially gas stations in space, that could support long-term exploration. During a […]

May 13, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Researchers unearth Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur

Researchers unearth Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur
They're calling it the "last titan" of Thailand. The sauropod — an herbivore with a long neck and tail — comes from the late Early Cretaceous period, some 100 to 120 million years ago.

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NPR News: Researchers unearth Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur

Researchers unearth Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur
They're calling it the "last titan" of Thailand. The sauropod — an herbivore with a long neck and tail — comes from the late Early Cretaceous period, some 100 to 120 million years ago.

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Fresh Food Delivery for Space Station

NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway (bottom left), Jessica Meir (middle left), and Chris Williams (bottom right), and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot (top right) have some fun with food and microgravity in this April 19, 2026, photo. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft delivered a shipment of fresh food, including oranges, apples, onions, and […]

May 13, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA-Supported Space Tech Advances Earthly Construction

An innovative 3D printing process that advanced NASA’s approach to outfitting a lunar habitat is making buildings on Earth beautiful, efficient, and strong.  Instead of building structures layer by layer, Branch Technology Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee, has developed a process the company calls Freeform 3D Printing, which creates shapes with lightweight lattice structures that can be filled or covered. The company uses the technique to manufacture […]

May 12, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Rise Goes to Washington

“Rise,” the Artemis II zero gravity indicator, is seen sitting on the dais as NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen speak with congressional staff, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Washington. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a nearly 10-day […]

May 12, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Neanderthals may have drilled out a cavity 59,000 years ago

Neanderthals may have drilled out a cavity 59,000 years ago
Scientists dug up a Paleolithic tooth that shows signs that these hominins may have been capable of executing a precise dental procedure.

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NASA Outlines Preliminary Artemis III Mission Plans

NASA is moving quickly to define next year’s Artemis III mission in Earth orbit, a crewed flight that will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between the agency’s Orion spacecraft and commercial landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. Since a February announcement adding an Artemis mission ahead of crewed landing missions to the Moon’s South Pole region, […]

May 12, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Planet-Hunting TESS Reveals Dazzling Night Sky

NASA’s TESS has released its most complete view of the starry sky to date

May 12, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Studying Pneumonia in Space for Heart Health on Earth

Expedition 74 astronauts aboard the International Space Station are uncovering how bacteria that causes pneumonia can lead to long-term damage in the heart. Researchers are leveraging the space environment to observe how stem cell derived heart tissues respond to bacterial infections, to discover new methods to manage cardiovascular health and infectious diseases. In space, bacteria […]

May 12, 2026 at 08:00PM
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America’s Emerald Isle

Beaver Island is one in a string of verdant and scenic jewels in a northern Lake Michigan archipelago.

May 12, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Langley Engineer Attends FAA Training

At a busy airport, every aircraft in the area shares just a handful of radio frequencies. Spectrum and time are constrained and if multiple people speak at once, both messages can get lost. Communications like “clearance delivery,” which require long transmissions and readbacks, are challenging in high-traffic areas, particularly when weather or other factors require […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Perseverance Stuns in New Selfie

NASA’s Perseverance rover recently took a self-portrait against a sweeping backdrop of ancient Martian terrain at a location the science team calls “Lac de Charmes.” Assembled from 61 individual images, the selfie shows Perseverance training its mast on a rocky outcrop in the foreground after creating a circular abrasion patch, with the western rim of […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Perseverance Rover Snaps Selfie in Mars’ Western Frontier

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover recently took a self-portrait against a sweeping backdrop of ancient Martian terrain at a location the science team calls “Lac de Charmes.” Assembled from 61 individual images, the selfie shows Perseverance training its mast on a rocky outcrop on which it had just made a circular abrasion patch, with the western […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Perseverance Captures Panorama at ‘Arbot’

Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture this panorama of an area nicknamed “Arbot” on April 5, 2026, the 1,882nd Martian day, or sol, of the mission, during the rover’s deepest push west beyond Jezero Crater. Made of 46 images, the panorama offers one of the richest geological vistas of the […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Perseverance Rover Snaps Westernmost Selfie

Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie on March 11, 2026, the 1,797th Martian day, or sol, of the mission, during the rover’s deepest push west beyond Jezero Crater. Assembled from 61 individual images, the selfie shows Perseverance training its mast on the “Arethusa” rocky outcrop after creating a whitish circular abrasion patch. The […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Hello Universe: NASA’s Next-Gen Space Processor Undergoes Testing

NASA’s High Performance Spaceflight Computing project aims to dramatically improve the computing power of spacecraft. Missions need processors that can withstand the harsh space environment, so they use chips developed years ago that are hardy and reliable. But upgraded chips are needed to enable the development of autonomous spacecraft, accelerate the rate of scientific discovery […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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New Ultra-Black Coating Could Enable the Search for Life on Exoplanets

A recently developed ultra-black coating not only efficiently absorbs light, but is also extremely thin and durable, enabling its potential use on starshades that could someday support the imaging of exoplanets and potentially facilitate the detection of life beyond our solar system. 

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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I Am Artemis: Kathleen Harmon

Listen to this audio excerpt from Kathleen Harmon, the Artemis II Mission Interface Manager for NASA’s Deep Space Network: Captivated by Apollo launches on her television as a child, Kathleen Harmon now plays a key role in NASA’s Artemis program. Harmon serves as the Artemis II mission interface manager for NASA’s Deep Space Network, an […]

May 11, 2026 at 08:00PM
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May 2026 Satellite Puzzler

Your challenge is to tell us the location of the satellite image and why it is interesting.

May 10, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Nicholas Houghton: Engineering Crew Safety for NASA’s Artemis Missions

Nicholas Houghton always dreamed of working at NASA and one day becoming an astronaut. Today, he helps design systems that keep crews safe during missions aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft, including the successful Artemis II mission around the Moon. After joining NASA as a Pathways intern, Houghton later became a full-time engineer on the Orion Crew Survival Systems (OCSS) […]

May 10, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: How Arizona could benefit from a proposal to stabilize the Colorado River

How Arizona could benefit from a proposal to stabilize the Colorado River
Arizona farmers would be among the first affected by a new proposal to reduce water delivers from the Colorado River. They hope it leads to longer term stability.

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NPR News: How Arizona could benefit from a proposal to stabilize the Colorado River

How Arizona could benefit from a proposal to stabilize the Colorado River
Arizona farmers would be among the first affected by a new proposal to reduce water delivers from the Colorado River. They hope it leads to longer term stability.

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Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework – Optical Guidelines Documents Released

The Optical Guidelines document provides standardized, transparent, and repeatable process for assessing the quality of optical data from commercial Earth Observation missions.

May 10, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir

NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir sits for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Sept. 23, 2025. This photo was chosen as one of the 2025 NASA Photographer of the Year finalists. Meir launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station in February 2026 with fellow NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, […]

May 10, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: 'We're dry:' The new U.S. Wildland Fire Service prepares for extreme fire season

'We're dry:' The new U.S. Wildland Fire Service prepares for extreme fire season
Brian Fennessy, new head of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, says his agency is 'trying to bring on additional aircraft and bring them on early,' and dismisses criticism of prevention methods.

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NPR News: 'We're dry:' The new U.S. Wildland Fire Service prepares for extreme fire season

'We're dry:' The new U.S. Wildland Fire Service prepares for extreme fire season
Brian Fennessy, new head of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, says his agency is 'trying to bring on additional aircraft and bring them on early,' and dismisses criticism of prevention methods.

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NASA’s Psyche Mission Captures Mars During Gravity Assist Approach

Description This colorized image of Mars was captured by NASA’s Psyche mission on May 3, 2026, about 3 million miles (4.8 million kilometers) from the planet. The spacecraft is approaching the planet for a gravity assist on May 15 that will give it a boost in speed and adjust its trajectory toward asteroid Psyche for […]

May 7, 2026 at 08:00PM
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I Am Artemis: Anton Kiriwas

Listen to this audio excerpt from Anton Kiriwas, senior technical integration manager for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program: When Anton Kiriwas first spotted an image of the Moon and Mars hanging over a job fair booth while in college, it captured his imagination, yet felt like a dream too distant to chase. He had no […]

May 7, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA, Industry Advance High Performance Spaceflight Computing

For decades, NASA has advanced on-board spacecraft computer processors that coordinate and execute the functions needed to support mission success. Space computing originated in the 1960s with the Apollo Guidance Computers, which were pivotal for guidance, navigation, and control computations during NASA’s first Moon missions. For decades, radiation-hardened processors have been the backbone of the […]

May 7, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Glowing Views from the Space Station

NASA astronaut Chris Williams captured the Milky Way rising above Earth’s atmospheric glow on April 13, 2026, while aboard a SpaceX Dragon docked to the International Space Station. This atmospheric glow is also called airglow. It occurs when atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, excited by sunlight, emit light to shed their excess energy. […]

May 7, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Rooted in nature, 'Silent Friend' will change the way you see the trees

Rooted in nature, 'Silent Friend' will change the way you see the trees
A new art-house drama tells three stories that span the century — and connect to one tree. Silent Friend will open your eyes to the beauty of the natural world.

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NPR News: Rooted in nature, 'Silent Friend' will change the way you see the trees

Rooted in nature, 'Silent Friend' will change the way you see the trees
A new art-house drama tells three stories that span the century — and connect to one tree. Silent Friend will open your eyes to the beauty of the natural world.

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Meet the Fleet: NASA Armstrong Continues Legacy of Flight Research

NASA’s home for experimental flight is welcoming more flyers to its already high-performing fleet as it continues to support science and aeronautics test missions – continuing the legacy of pioneers like Neil Armstrong. NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, added multiple aircraft this year: two F-15s supersonic jets, a Pilatus PC-12 utility plane, […]

May 6, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Welcomes Paraguay as 67th Artemis Accords Signatory

The Republic of Paraguay signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday during a ceremony in Asunción, becoming the latest nation to commit to the shared principles guiding civil space exploration. “Today, I am proud to welcome Paraguay as the 67th signatory to the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “They join an ever-growing coalition of […]

May 6, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotors Are Moving Fast

Description Engineer Jaakko Karras inspects a next-generation Mars helicopter rotor blade prior to supersonic speed testing in the 25-Foot Space Simulator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California in November 2025. The three-bladed rotor hanging horizontally in the foreground is the next-gen rotor being tested. The vertically aligned two-bladed rotor provided a “headwind,” enabling […]

May 6, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Industry Moon Lander Training Cabin Lands at NASA for Artemis

A full-scale mock-up of a crew cabin for a future industry lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program now is operational for training and testing. The agency and its industry partners will use Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew cabin for mission simulations as the agency prepares to dock with landers in Earth orbit in […]

May 6, 2026 at 08:00PM
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A Light in the Dark

A thin sliver of Earth’s edge is brightly illuminated against the vast darkness of space in this April 3, 2026, image taken during the Artemis II mission. Artemis II was the first crewed flight in a series of missions to test NASA’s human deep space capabilities, paving the way for future lunar surface missions. See […]

May 6, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Prithvi Becomes First AI Geospatial Foundation Model In Orbit

A team of researchers demonstrated NASA and IBM’s open-source Prithvi Geospatial artificial intelligence foundation model aboard two in-orbit platforms.

May 6, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Wallops to Host Public Information Session May 13

To facilitate discussion and information sharing on activities at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, a public information session is being held 4–6 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at the NASA Wallops Visitor Center.  During the event, NASA will have information booths on the status on the causeway bridge construction, updates on beach replenishment, and a representative from the GLOBE program. Federal and state health experts will […]

May 5, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income

Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income
Pollinators have economic and health benefits, but those benefits have been difficult to quantify. A new study puts some numbers to how important pollinators are for both nutrition and income.

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NPR News: Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income

Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income
Pollinators have economic and health benefits, but those benefits have been difficult to quantify. A new study puts some numbers to how important pollinators are for both nutrition and income.

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NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 34th Station Resupply Launch, Arrival

NASA and SpaceX are targeting 7:16 p.m. EDT Tuesday, May 12, for the next launch to deliver science, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. This will be the 34th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbital outpost for NASA. Carrying about 6,500 pounds of cargo, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will lift off […]

May 5, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Unlocking the Mystery of X-ray Dots

A new “X-ray dot” found by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory – which could look like this artist’s illustration released on April 28, 2026 – could explain what the hundreds or potentially thousands of these objects are. Shortly after NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope started its science observations, reports of a new class of mysterious objects […]

May 5, 2026 at 08:00PM
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New NASA Technology Mimics Extreme Cold of the Lunar Night

As NASA looks to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, researchers must develop materials capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures found in space and on other planets and their moons. In frigid conditions, rubber can shatter like glass, circuit boards may fail, and electrical connections can freeze and fracture.  Gaining a deeper understanding of how […]

May 5, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Curiosity Blog, Sols 4879-4885: Struggle at Atacama

Written by William Farrand, Senior Research Scientist, Space Science Institute Earth planning date: Friday, May 1, 2026 Chile’s Atacama desert is the driest mid-latitude desert in the world, receiving only 15 millimeters (0.59 inches) of precipitation per year. Only the dry valleys of Antarctica receive less precipitation. These environmental conditions have made the Atacama a […]

May 4, 2026 at 08:00PM
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650 NASA Volunteers Have Co-Authored Scientific Papers

After a recent count, NASA Citizen Science is proud to report that more than 650 people who have volunteered to participate in NASA citizen science projects have co-authored peer-reviewed research papers with scientists on those project teams. These volunteers made incredible contributions like: And all of them saw their passion and dedication translated into lasting […]

May 4, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s Curiosity Rover Frees Its Drill From a Rock

Description This series of images shows NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover as it got a rock stuck to the drill on the end of its robotic arm and, after waving the arm and running the drill a few times, finally detached the rock. The imagery showing the entire process was captured by the black-and-white hazard cameras […]

May 4, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Research Shows Early Life Relied on Rare Metal

NASA-funded scientists have discovered that life on Earth over 3 billion years ago relied on the metal molybdenum, which was incredibly scarce in the environment at the time. The study, published in Nature Communications on Tuesday, is the first to show that molybdenum was used by ancient life this far back in our planet’s history. […]

May 4, 2026 at 08:00PM
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New NASA HEAT Coloring Book Blends Art, Science, and Cultural Perspectives

A new Sun-centered and science-focused coloring book produced by NASA in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is now available for people to learn while showing their artistic side.

May 4, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Volunteers Double Known Population of Brown Dwarfs

A new paper from NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project announces that volunteers have essentially doubled the number of known brown dwarfs, with over 3,000 new discoveries made over the past 10 years since the project began. Brown dwarfs are balls of gas the size of Jupiter, less massive than stars. There’s one for every three or four stars near the Sun. 

May 4, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Welcomes Malta as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory

The Republic of Malta became the 65th signatory to the Artemis Accords on Monday during a ceremony in the town of Kalkara with NASA and U.S. Department of State officials present. “Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome the Republic of Malta to the Artemis Accords community,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in recorded remarks. “By […]

May 3, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Breaking Barriers at 3rd Annual Findings from the Field Symposium

This year’s Findings from the Field Student Research Symposium welcomed 106 students, grades four through eight, 29 educators, and 15 Subject Matter Experts, and it featured 68 research posters, 14 lightning talks, and 5 discussion sessions. 

May 3, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Blue Origin Moon Lander Completes Testing at NASA Vacuum Chamber

Also known as Endurance, MK1 is an uncrewed cargo lander funded by Blue Origin as a commercial demonstration mission to advance Human Landing System capabilities in support of NASA’s Artemis program. The tests in in Chamber A represent a public-private partnership model, with Blue Origin conducting work through a reimbursable Space Act Agreement. Endurance will […]

May 3, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Hubble Spots a Starry Spiral

In this new picture from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, a spiral galaxy glittering with star clusters is the center of attention. NGC 3137 is located 53 million light-years away in the constellation Antlia (the Air Pump). As a nearby spiral galaxy, this target offers astronomers an excellent opportunity to study the cycle of stellar birth and death, as […]

May 3, 2026 at 08:00PM
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Record-Setting Retreat of Hektoria Glacier

Scientists relied on satellite data to understand how the Antarctic glacier lost so much ice so rapidly.

May 3, 2026 at 08:00PM
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LAGEOS: An Earth Science Mission Built for Enduring Precision

On May 4, 1976, a spacecraft resembling a disco ball entered orbit almost 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) above Earth. This shiny, two‑foot‑wide (60‑centimeter) sphere called the Laser Geodynamics Satellite, or LAGEOS, is covered with 426 retroreflectors—small mirrored prisms designed to bounce laser light directly back to where it came from. Beneath its aluminum exterior sits […]

May 3, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NPR News: Augmented reality tool lets farmers walk in their livestock's hooves

Augmented reality tool lets farmers walk in their livestock's hooves
In order to reduce the stress on animals for better qualities of milk and meat, some farmers and producers are using an Augmented reality tool to help them see what cows actually see.

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NPR News: Why this tribe is buying up hundreds of acres of farmland — and flooding it

Why this tribe is buying up hundreds of acres of farmland — and flooding it
The Stillaguamish Tribe in Washington state has been buying land in its traditional territory and removing levees. The goal is to turn farmland into wetlands with the hopes of restoring Chinook salmon.

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NPR News: Timmy the stranded whale rescued after weekslong effort

Timmy the stranded whale rescued after weekslong effort
Timmy captured the hearts of whale lovers across the globe who rooted for a happy ending for the humpback.

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NPR News: Why PEPFAR's top scientist stepped down

Why PEPFAR's top scientist stepped down
NPR's Juana Summers talk with Mike Reid, the former chief science officer of PEPFAR, about why he resigned over concerns about America's global health strategy.

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NASA Kennedy Center Director Announces Plans to Retire

NASA announced Friday Janet Petro, center director for the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is retiring. Prior to joining NASA, Petro worked in a variety of military and industry positions, ultimately beginning her career at the agency in 2007 and working her way up to center director, as well as serving as acting administrator […]

April 30, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA Artemis II Crew Rings Nasdaq Closing Bell

Nasdaq Chair and Chief Executive Officer Adena T. Friedman, left, and NASA’s Artemis II crewmembers CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, right, ring the closing bell of the Nasdaq market session, Thursday, April 30, 2026. NASA’s Artemis II mission took Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and […]

April 30, 2026 at 08:00PM
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NASA’s STORIE Mission to Tell Tale of Earth’s Ring Current

Earth’s magnetic field is like a powerful trap. It lures electrically charged particles in space, near our planet, and snares them in an invisible, doughnut-shaped pen around Earth known as the ring current. This captive swarm of charged particles plays an important role in how Earth reacts to changing conditions in space, called space weather, which […]

April 30, 2026 at 08:00PM
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