https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/asteroids,_comets_and_meteors/ Asteroids, Comets, Meteors and Meteorites. See amazing images and read the latest astronomy articles on the asteroid belt, comets and more. What is the risk of asteroid impact? en-us Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:45:37 EDT Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:45:37 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/asteroids,_comets_and_meteors/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260415043607.htm A new study proposes detecting life in space by spotting patterns across many planets instead of focusing on one at a time. If life spreads and changes planetary environments, it could leave behind statistical clues linking planets together. These patterns may reveal life even when traditional biosignatures are unclear or misleading. The method could help scientists prioritize which planets are most likely to host life. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:17:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260415043607.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260411022033.htm Mars may be hostile, but it might not be entirely unlivable. In lab experiments, yeast cells survived simulated Martian shock waves and toxic perchlorate salts—two major environmental threats on the Red Planet. Their secret weapon was forming protective molecular clusters that shield critical cellular functions under stress. Without these defenses, survival plummeted, pointing to a potential universal strategy life could use beyond Earth. Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:00:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260411022033.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260407193919.htm For all its ancient, familiar features, the Moon is still changing—and sometimes in dramatic ways. Scientists recently identified a fresh 22-meter-wide crater by comparing orbital images taken years apart, revealing a relatively recent impact that no one actually saw happen. The collision blasted bright material outward in striking rays, making the new crater stand out sharply against the darker lunar surface. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:43:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260407193919.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224449.htm Asteroid impacts may have helped kick-start life on Earth by creating hot, chemical-rich environments ideal for early biology. These impact-generated hydrothermal systems could have lasted thousands of years—long enough for life’s building blocks to form. Scientists now think these environments may have been common on early Earth, making them a strong candidate for where life began. The idea could also guide the search for life on other worlds. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:44:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224449.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260402004721.htm A new era of lunar exploration has begun as NASA launches four astronauts on Artemis II—the first crewed mission to fly around the Moon in over 50 years. Riding aboard the powerful SLS rocket, the Orion spacecraft is now on a 10-day journey that will test critical systems, push human spaceflight farther than it’s gone in decades, and set the stage for future Moon landings and eventual missions to Mars. Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:08:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260402004721.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260331231739.htm Scientists studying Bennu samples have discovered that its chemistry is far from uniform. Organic compounds and minerals cluster into three distinct types of regions, each shaped differently by past water activity. This uneven pattern shows that water altered the asteroid in a complex, localized way. The survival of delicate organic molecules adds an important clue to how life’s building blocks may persist in space. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:40:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260331231739.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260330001156.htm Astronomers have spotted a bizarre cosmic explosion that refuses to play by the rules—and it’s leaving scientists scrambling for answers. GRB 250702B, detected by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and a global network of observatories, lasted an astonishing seven hours—far longer than typical gamma-ray bursts, which usually fade in under a minute. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:33:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260330001156.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260330001145.htm A blazing supermassive black hole can influence far more than its own galaxy. Scientists found that quasars emit radiation strong enough to shut down star formation in nearby galaxies millions of light-years away. This could explain why some galaxies near early quasars appear faint or missing. The finding suggests galaxies grow and evolve together, not in isolation. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:23:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260330001145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260329222934.htm Making babies in space may be more complicated than expected, as new research shows sperm struggle to navigate in microgravity. Scientists found that while sperm can still swim normally, they lose their sense of direction without gravity, making it harder to reach and fertilize an egg. In lab experiments simulating space conditions, far fewer sperm successfully made it through a maze designed to mimic the reproductive tract, and fertilization rates in mice dropped by about 30%. Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:03:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260329222934.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260325005926.htm Astronomers have narrowed down the cosmic search for life, identifying fewer than 50 rocky planets among thousands of known exoplanets that may have the right conditions to support life. Using new data from ESA’s Gaia mission and NASA archives, researchers pinpointed worlds in the “habitable zone,” where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist. Some of the most intriguing targets include nearby systems like TRAPPIST-1 and Proxima Centauri, offering tantalizing possibilities just dozens of light-years away. Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:56:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260325005926.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260321012648.htm In an incredibly lucky cosmic accident, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured a comet breaking apart in real time—something astronomers have long tried and failed to observe. The comet, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), wasn’t even the original target, but when researchers pivoted to it, they unknowingly caught it mid-disintegration into multiple pieces. Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:26:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260321012648.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260319044714.htm A mysterious spike of platinum buried deep in Greenland’s ice has long fueled theories of a catastrophic comet or asteroid strike 12,800 years ago—possibly triggering a sudden return to icy conditions known as the Younger Dryas. But new research points to a far less dramatic, yet still powerful culprit: volcanic eruptions. Scientists found the platinum signal doesn’t match space debris and actually appeared decades after the cooling began, ruling out an impact as the trigger. Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:01:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260319044714.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317064440.htm A mysterious metal-rich asteroid called Psyche has been baffling scientists for over two centuries, and its true origin remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in planetary science. Is it the exposed core of a failed planet, or a chaotic mix of rock and metal forged through countless violent collisions? To find out, researchers simulated how a massive crater near Psyche’s north pole formed, revealing that the asteroid’s internal “porosity” — how much empty space it contains — may hold the key to its secrets. Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:19:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317064440.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317015938.htm The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed new details in a bizarre nebula that looks like a brain floating in space. Formed by a dying star, the “Exposed Cranium” nebula shows layered gas and a dark central divide that creates its eerie shape. Webb’s infrared view suggests powerful jets may be shaping the structure. The images capture a brief and dramatic phase in a star’s final evolution. Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:59:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260317015938.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260315004340.htm New research suggests Mars may have remained habitable much longer than scientists once thought. Ancient sand dunes in Gale Crater appear to have been soaked by underground water billions of years ago, leaving behind minerals that can preserve signs of life. Even after surface water disappeared, subsurface flows may have created protected environments for microbes. These hidden habitats could be key targets in the ongoing search for past life on Mars. Sun, 15 Mar 2026 06:45:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260315004340.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260314030452.htm Mars didn’t always look like the barren world we see today. Over billions of years, the Sun’s solar wind stripped away much of its atmosphere, helping transform it from a warmer, wetter planet into a frozen desert. NASA’s twin-spacecraft ESCAPADE mission aims to watch this process in action by measuring how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ fragile magnetic environment. The findings could reveal how Mars lost its habitability—and help prepare humans for future missions there. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 03:04:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260314030452.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260313062543.htm Scientists have uncovered evidence that our Sun may have traveled across the Milky Way as part of a massive migration of Sun-like stars billions of years ago. The journey may have carried the solar system away from the galaxy’s crowded center into a calmer region where life could eventually emerge. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:49:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260313062543.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311213429.htm Astronomers have caught what may be a rare cosmic catastrophe unfolding 11,000 light-years away. A seemingly ordinary sun-like star suddenly began flickering wildly, puzzling scientists until they realized the strange dimming was caused by vast clouds of hot dust and debris drifting across the star. The most likely explanation is a violent planetary collision—two worlds smashing together and scattering glowing material throughout the system. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:08:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311213429.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311213425.htm Astronomers have discovered a strange new signal coming from an exploding star — a “chirp” that speeds up over time, similar to the signals seen when black holes collide. The unusual pattern appeared in a superluminous supernova about a billion light-years away and revealed clues about what’s happening deep inside the blast. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:27:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311213425.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260309225236.htm Cosmic voids may seem like the emptiest places in the universe, stripped of matter, radiation, and even dark matter. But they’re far from nothing. Even in these vast empty regions, the fundamental quantum fields that fill all of space remain, carrying a small but real amount of energy known as vacuum energy, or dark energy. While this energy is overwhelmed by matter in galaxies and clusters, in the deep emptiness of cosmic voids it becomes dominant. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:10:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260309225236.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260309225228.htm Scientists studying Mars may have uncovered a brand-new mineral hidden in the planet’s ancient sulfate deposits. By combining laboratory experiments with orbital data, researchers identified an unusual iron sulfate—ferric hydroxysulfate—forming in layered deposits near the massive Valles Marineris canyon system. The mineral likely formed when sulfate-rich deposits left behind by ancient water were later heated by volcanic or geothermal activity, transforming their chemistry. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:23:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260309225228.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201613.htm Physicists have long struggled to unite quantum mechanics—the theory governing tiny particles—with Einstein’s theory of gravity, which explains the behavior of stars, planets, and the structure of the universe. Researchers at TU Wien have now taken a new step toward that goal by rethinking one of relativity’s core ideas: the paths particles follow through curved spacetime, known as geodesics. By creating a quantum version of these paths—called the q-desic equation—the team showed that particles moving through a “quantum” spacetime may deviate slightly from the paths predicted by classical relativity. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:16:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201613.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201557.htm Astronomers have created the largest and most detailed 3D map yet of a glowing signal from the early universe, revealing hidden galaxies and gas from 9-11 billion years ago. By analyzing faint “Lyman-alpha” light emitted by energized hydrogen, scientists used an advanced technique called line intensity mapping to capture not just the brightest galaxies but also the vast cosmic structures surrounding them. Sun, 08 Mar 2026 20:15:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260308201557.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260307213238.htm When NASA’s DART spacecraft deliberately crashed into the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, it did more than change the asteroid’s local orbit — it slightly shifted the path of the entire asteroid pair around the Sun. The impact blasted debris into space, doubling the force of the spacecraft’s hit and nudging the system’s solar orbit by a tiny but measurable amount. It marks the first time humans have altered the trajectory of a celestial object around the Sun. The result strengthens the case for using spacecraft impacts as a future planetary defense strategy. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:12:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260307213238.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260307213226.htm Asteroids with tiny moons may be quietly trading material across space. Images from NASA’s DART mission revealed faint streaks on the moon Dimorphos—evidence of slow “cosmic snowballs” drifting from its parent asteroid, Didymos. The discovery provides the first direct visual proof that sunlight can spin asteroids fast enough to shed debris that lands on nearby companions. It also shows that near-Earth asteroids are much more active and constantly reshaped than scientists once believed. Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:07:30 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260307213226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260302030646.htm Icy moons circling the outer planets may be far more dynamic—and explosive—than they appear. New research suggests that when heat from tidal forces melts their ice shells from below, the sudden drop in pressure could cause hidden oceans to boil beneath the surface. On smaller moons like Enceladus, Mimas, and Miranda, this process may help explain strange features such as Enceladus’ tiger stripes and Miranda’s towering cliffs. Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:54:10 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260302030646.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260228093512.htm For the first time ever, scientists have uncovered a vast field of tektites in Brazil — mysterious glassy fragments forged when a powerful extraterrestrial object slammed into Earth about 6.3 million years ago. Named “geraisites” after Minas Gerais, where they were first found, these dark, aerodynamic droplets of natural glass stretch across more than 900 kilometers and may mark one of South America’s most significant ancient impact events. Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:29:33 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260228093512.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260227071945.htm Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, may have been born in a colossal cosmic crash. New research suggests Titan formed when two older moons slammed together hundreds of millions of years ago—an event so violent it reshaped Saturn’s entire moon system and may have indirectly sparked the formation of its iconic rings. Clues come from Titan’s unusual orbit, its surprisingly smooth surface, and the strange behavior of the tumbling moon Hyperion. Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:19:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260227071945.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260227071931.htm Astronomers have spotted what may be one of the universe’s earliest barred spiral galaxies — a striking cosmic structure forming just 2 billion years after the Big Bang. The galaxy, COSMOS-74706, dates back about 11.5 billion years and contains a stellar bar, a bright, linear band of stars and gas stretching across its center, similar to the one in our own Milky Way. Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:15:06 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260227071931.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222085206.htm Far beyond Neptune, in the frozen depths of the Kuiper Belt, many ancient objects oddly resemble giant snowmen made of ice and rock. For years, scientists wondered how these delicate two-lobed shapes could form without violent collisions tearing them apart. Now researchers at Michigan State University have recreated the process in a powerful new simulation, showing that simple gravitational collapse can naturally produce these cosmic “snowmen.” Mon, 23 Feb 2026 02:47:10 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222085206.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260221000307.htm Astronomers have uncovered one of the most mysterious galaxies ever found — a dim, ghostly object called CDG-2 that is almost entirely made of dark matter. Located 300 million light-years away in the Perseus galaxy cluster, it was discovered in an unusual way: not by its stars, but by four tightly packed globular clusters acting like cosmic breadcrumbs. Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:57:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260221000307.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260217005751.htm Scientists scanning the heart of the Milky Way have spotted a tantalizing signal: a possible ultra-fast pulsar spinning every 8.19 milliseconds near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at our galaxy’s core. Pulsars act like incredibly precise cosmic clocks, and finding one in this extreme environment could open a rare window into how space-time behaves under intense gravity. Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:15:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260217005751.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260213223855.htm A massive star 2.5 million light-years away simply vanished — and astronomers now know why. Instead of exploding in a supernova, it quietly collapsed into a black hole, shedding its outer layers in a slow-motion cosmic fade-out. The leftover debris continues to glow in infrared light, offering a long-lasting signal of the black hole’s birth. The finding reshapes our understanding of how some of the universe’s biggest stars meet their end. Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:42:40 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260213223855.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212234205.htm A dazzling new Hubble image peels back the layers of the mysterious Egg Nebula, a rare and fleeting phase in a Sun-like star’s death just 1,000 light-years away. Hidden inside a dense cocoon of dust, the dying star blasts twin beams of light through a polar opening, carving glowing lobes and delicate ripples into the surrounding cloud. These striking, symmetrical arcs hint that unseen companion stars may be shaping the spectacle from within. Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:48:37 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212234205.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025604.htm Scientists studying a rock sample collected by NASA’s Curiosity rover have uncovered something tantalizing: the largest organic molecules ever detected on Mars. The compounds — decane, undecane, and dodecane — may be fragments of fatty acids, which on Earth are most often linked to life. While non-living processes like meteorite impacts can also create such molecules, researchers found those sources couldn’t fully explain the amounts detected. Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:17:53 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025604.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212023024.htm Dust from asteroid Bennu is revealing a surprising origin story for life’s building blocks. New research suggests some amino acids formed in frozen ice exposed to radiation, not warm liquid water as scientists long believed. Isotopic clues show Bennu’s chemistry differs sharply from well-studied meteorites, pointing to multiple pathways for creating life’s ingredients. Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:31:14 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212023024.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260211073047.htm For millions of years, a frozen wanderer drifted between the stars before slipping into our solar system as 3I/ATLAS—only the third known interstellar comet ever spotted. When scientists turned NASA’s Swift Observatory toward it, they caught the first-ever hint of water from such an object, detected through a faint ultraviolet glow of hydroxyl gas. Even more surprising, the comet was blasting out water at a rate of about 40 kilograms per second while still far from the Sun—much farther than where most comets “switch on.” Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:08:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260211073047.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260211073019.htm A distant star system with four super-sized gas giants has revealed a surprise. Thanks to JWST’s powerful vision, astronomers detected sulfur in their atmospheres — a chemical clue that they formed like Jupiter, by slowly building solid cores. That’s unexpected because these planets are far bigger and orbit much farther from their star than models once allowed. Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:30:19 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260211073019.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233821.htm Baker’s yeast isn’t just useful in the kitchen — it may also be built for space. Researchers found that yeast cells can survive intense shock waves and toxic chemicals similar to those on Mars. The cells protect themselves by forming special stress-response structures that help them endure extreme conditions. This resilience could make yeast a powerful model for astrobiology and future space missions. Sun, 08 Feb 2026 23:38:21 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233821.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208011014.htm A colossal ancient impact may have reshaped the Moon far more deeply than scientists once realized. By analyzing rare lunar rocks brought back by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the Moon’s largest crater, researchers found unusual chemical fingerprints pointing to extreme heat and material loss caused by a giant impact. The collision likely stripped away volatile elements, reshaped volcanic activity, and left a lasting chemical signature deep below the surface. Sun, 08 Feb 2026 07:04:07 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208011014.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012217.htm Voyager 2’s flyby of Uranus in 1986 recorded radiation levels so extreme they baffled scientists for nearly 40 years. New research suggests the spacecraft caught Uranus during a rare solar wind event that flooded the planet’s radiation belts with extra energy. Similar storms have been seen near Earth, where they dramatically boost radiation levels. The discovery reshapes how scientists think about Uranus—and why it deserves another visit. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:41:34 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012217.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012206.htm Astronomers propose that an ultra-dense clump of exotic dark matter could be masquerading as the powerful object thought to anchor our galaxy, explaining both the blistering speeds of stars near the center and the slower, graceful rotation of material far beyond. This dark matter structure would have a compact core that pulls on nearby stars like a black hole, surrounded by a broad halo shaping the galaxy’s outer motion. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:26:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012206.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260204121552.htm Scientists have found that ancient Martian lakes could have survived for decades despite freezing air temperatures. Using a newly adapted climate model, researchers showed that thin, seasonal ice could trap heat and protect liquid water beneath. These lakes may have gently melted and refrozen each year without ever freezing solid. The idea helps solve a long-standing mystery about how Mars shows so much evidence of water without signs of a warm climate. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:21:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260204121552.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231259.htm Hidden lava tunnels on the Moon and Mars could one day shelter human explorers, offering natural protection from radiation and space debris. A European research team has unveiled a bold new mission concept that uses three different robots working together to explore these extreme underground environments autonomously. Recently tested in the volcanic caves of Lanzarote, the system maps cave entrances, deploys sensors, lowers a scout rover, and creates detailed 3D maps of the interior. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 03:43:49 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231259.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231213.htm NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 team has entered a carefully controlled two-week quarantine as the countdown begins for their journey to the International Space Station. The four astronauts—representing NASA, the European Space Agency, and Roscosmos—are isolating at Johnson Space Center before heading to Florida for final launch preparations. The mission could lift off as early as February 11, with multiple backup launch windows lined up. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:48:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260128075355.htm JWST has revealed a strange early universe filled with ultra-bright “blue monster” galaxies, mysterious “little red dots,” and black holes that seem far too massive for their age. A new study proposes that dark stars—hypothetical stars powered by dark matter—could tie all these surprises together. These exotic objects may have grown huge very quickly, lighting up the early cosmos and planting the seeds of supermassive black holes. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:05:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260128075355.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010142.htm Bright white rocks spotted by NASA’s Perseverance rover are rewriting what we thought we knew about ancient Mars. These aluminum-rich clays, called kaolinite, usually form on Earth only after millions of years of heavy rainfall in warm, humid environments—conditions similar to tropical rainforests. Their presence on today’s cold, dry Mars suggests the planet once had abundant rain, flowing water, and possibly lush oases long ago. Even more puzzling, the rocks are scattered across the landscape with no obvious source nearby, hinting at dramatic ancient events like floods, river transport, or asteroid impacts. Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:34:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260126075846.htm Webb’s latest image of the Helix Nebula reveals a dramatic close-up of a dying star shedding its outer layers. The detailed view highlights glowing knots of gas shaped by fast-moving stellar winds colliding with older material. Changes in color trace a shift from scorching hot gas near the center to cooler regions farther out. The scene captures how stellar death helps supply the building blocks for future worlds. Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:32:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260126075846.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124234535.htm NASA is moving into a new phase of space exploration, with major progress across human spaceflight, science missions, and advanced technology. In just one year, the agency has launched multiple crewed and science missions, test-flown new aircraft, and pushed forward plans for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. With Artemis II set to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, NASA is laying the groundwork not just for a return to the lunar surface, but for a sustained human presence in deep space. Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:25:37 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124234535.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124003816.htm Astronomers have spotted a rare, rule-breaking quasar in the early Universe that appears to be growing its central black hole at an astonishing pace. Observations show the black hole is devouring matter far faster than theory says it should—about 13 times the usual “speed limit”—while simultaneously blasting out bright X-rays and launching a powerful radio jet. This surprising combination wasn’t supposed to happen, according to many models, and suggests scientists may be catching the black hole during a brief, unstable growth spurt. Sat, 24 Jan 2026 03:27:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124003816.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124003813.htm A distant Sun-like star suddenly went dark for months, stunning astronomers who quickly realized something massive was passing in front of it. Observations revealed a gigantic disk of gas and dust filled with vaporized metals, swirling around an unseen companion object. For the first time, scientists directly measured the motion of these metallic winds inside such a disk. The findings suggest that even ancient star systems can still experience catastrophic planetary smashups. Sat, 24 Jan 2026 22:45:03 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124003813.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124003808.htm Falling space junk is becoming a real-world hazard, and scientists have found a clever new way to track it using instruments already listening to the Earth itself. By tapping into networks of earthquake sensors, researchers can follow the sonic booms created when space debris tears through the atmosphere, revealing where it traveled, broke apart, and possibly hit the ground. Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:11:43 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260124003808.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122073620.htm Europa’s subsurface ocean might be getting fed after all. Scientists found that salty, nutrient-rich surface ice can become heavy enough to break free and sink through Europa’s icy shell, delivering essential ingredients to the ocean below. The process is fast, repeatable, and works under many conditions. It offers a promising new explanation for how Europa could support life. Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:14:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122073620.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122032004.htm NASA astronaut Suni Williams has retired after 27 years of service and a career defined by endurance, leadership, and firsts in space. She spent 608 days in orbit, completed nine spacewalks, and twice commanded the International Space Station. Williams flew on everything from the space shuttle to Boeing’s Starliner, playing a key role in shaping modern human spaceflight. Her legacy will influence future missions to the Moon and beyond. Thu, 22 Jan 2026 04:11:44 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122032004.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260121034125.htm New experiments reveal that protein precursors can form naturally in deep space under extreme cold and radiation. Scientists found that simple amino acids bond into peptides on interstellar dust, long before stars and planets exist. This challenges the idea that complex life chemistry only happens on planets. It also boosts the odds that life-friendly ingredients are widespread across the universe. Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:18:29 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260121034125.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118064637.htm When scientists sent bacteria-infecting viruses to the International Space Station, the microbes did not behave the same way they do on Earth. In microgravity, infections still occurred, but both viruses and bacteria evolved differently over time. Genetic changes emerged that altered how viruses attach to bacteria and how bacteria defend themselves. The findings could help improve phage therapies against drug-resistant infections. Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:54:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118064637.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260116045344.htm SpaceX Crew-11 splashed down safely in the Pacific after more than five months in orbit aboard the International Space Station. The four astronauts completed over 140 experiments and traveled nearly 71 million miles around Earth. NASA brought the crew home earlier than planned due to a medical concern, with officials confirming the affected crew member is stable. The mission underscores how quickly today’s space programs can adapt while keeping astronauts safe. Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:53:44 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260116045344.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260115022801.htm For years, strange red dots in James Webb images left scientists puzzled. New research shows they are young black holes hidden inside dense clouds of gas, glowing as they devour their surroundings. These black holes are smaller than expected but grow rapidly, shedding light on how supermassive black holes appeared so early in cosmic history. The finding reveals a violent and messy phase of the universe’s youth. Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:13:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260115022801.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260112214310.htm Scientists have pulled back the curtain on one of the most extreme solar regions seen in decades, tracking it almost nonstop for three months as it unleashed powerful space weather. By combining views from two spacecraft—one near Earth and one orbiting the Sun—researchers followed a massive active region as it grew, twisted, and ultimately triggered the strongest geomagnetic storms since 2003. Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:44:15 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260112214310.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260110211158.htm Scientists have discovered an enormous stream of super-hot gas erupting from a nearby galaxy, driven by a powerful black hole at its center. The jets stretch farther than the galaxy itself and spiral outward in a rare, never-before-seen pattern. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope pierced through thick dust to reveal this violent outflow. The process is so intense it’s robbing the galaxy of star-forming gas at a staggering rate. Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:02:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260110211158.htm