What is direct heating and how does it impact our future? With some simple calculations, two scientists estimate that Earth will be unlivable by 2370 due to direct heating, which, despite how it sounds, is not related to climate change.

January 7, 2021 by Ryn Orr Read More

How does the human body react to being in space? A study of twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly suggest long duration spaceflight alters genes, body functions, and mental well-being in astronauts.

December 21, 2020 by Jovel Varghese Jose Read More

Mysterious gas found near Milky Way’s center A cold, dense, and high-velocity gas has been detected near the center of our galaxy. Scientists are puzzled by its presence as neither Sagittarius A* is currently active nor a star is under formation.

December 14, 2020 by Shireen Malthur Read More

What 600 days in space does to living cells The BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment (BIOMEX) project used Chroococcidiopsis sp., a rock-inhabiting microorganism found in sandstone from the Negev Desert, to study how life might survive on the Moon. Find out why.

December 10, 2020 by Ruth Estefany Quispe Pilco Read More

What underwater volcanoes can teach us about Saturn’s moon Studying underwater volcanoes called "hydrothermal vents" at the bottom of the ocean taught us that the hydrogen down there probably isn't a primary food source for life in this extreme environment.

December 3, 2020 by Serhat Sevgen Read More

Is humanity ready to live in space? To live in space, we will need inter-generational cooperation to pull it off, and perhaps a sense of altruism for the future. We may be up to the technical challenge, but what about the sociopolitical challenges?

December 1, 2020 by Andrew Bieler Read More

Astronauts suffer permanent brain changes after long flights Long-duration spaceflight was associated with increased brain sizes. These effects lasted up to 1 year into recovery, suggesting permanent alteration.

November 26, 2020 by Lozano Garcia Eduardo Alejandro Read More

Students inspired to study science by participating in real NASA missions In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a group of scientists and teachers came together to create an exciting new educational resource, named Ad Astra Academy. The goal? To develop brief, intense programs to help encourage academically at-risk students to develop critical thinking skills.

November 16, 2020 by Sarah Treadwell Read More

Bread yeast can help humans explore space! Studying the effects of radiation on yeast cells can help us understand how astronauts’ bodies may be affected during long term space travel. This paper describes an experiment that will be conducted on board the satellite BioSentinel.

November 9, 2020 by Anurup Mohanty Read More

Chemicals on mineral surfaces may have jumpstarted life Researchers observed selected biological molecules multiplying and fueling their own chemistry across mineral surfaces, resembling the patterns of a living metabolism.

November 5, 2020 by Emily Felder Read More