Space & Astronomy News

NASA grantees attending the 2026 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference can exceed GSA lodging limits. A waiver permits reimbursement for actual lodging costs up to $276 per night, plus taxes and fees. This allowance covers the expected higher rates at the conference hotel, but institutional travel policies remain in effect if more restrictive.

Researchers simulated interstellar conditions, finding that space dust can form peptides and water from amino acids. This discovery suggests that the building blocks of life could be abundant in cosmic dust clouds. These molecules may then seed newly forming rocky planets, increasing the probability of life originating elsewhere in the universe.

Genetic analysis of a Neanderthal individual named Thorin reveals a previously unknown population that remained genetically and socially isolated for 50,000 years. This discovery suggests Neanderthals were more fragmented than previously believed, with distinct groups coexisting but not interacting. This isolation may have contributed to their extinction.

Simulations suggest spraying sea salt particles could brighten Arctic clouds, cooling the region and potentially restoring sea ice. This approach, under a moderate emissions scenario, aims to maintain Arctic temperatures with minimal impacts beyond the region, though Arctic ecosystem effects were not simulated.

Researchers have developed a carbon-conversion technology that simplifies recycling carbon dioxide from industrial emissions. This integrated system reduces energy use and complexity, converting CO2 into building blocks for jet fuel and other products. The technology aims to complement existing fuels and assist aviation's decarbonization efforts by providing a pathway for sustainable aviation fuel production.

Researchers have developed a new carbon-conversion technology that integrates CO2 removal and conversion into a single, energy-efficient process. This system transforms industrial emissions into chemical building blocks usable for low-emissions jet fuel and other products. The technology simplifies previous methods and operates without requiring highly purified CO2, making it practical for industrial settings. Development is underway for larger-scale prototypes with industry partners.

Biofilm streamers, thread-like bacterial structures in flowing fluids, harden and stiffen due to mechanical stress from currents. This passive physical hardening, driven by extracellular DNA, makes them more resilient and difficult to remove, posing challenges for treating infections. Researchers aim to exploit this understanding to weaken biofilms and enhance treatment effectiveness.

Walking sharks can reproduce and lay eggs without increasing their energy use, challenging scientific assumptions about the cost of reproduction in marine species. A study on epaulette sharks revealed stable metabolic rates and hormone levels during egg production. This suggests efficient physiological processes allowing continued reproduction even under challenging conditions.

A new study suggests a "feeding frenzy" of early black holes could explain their rapid growth in the young universe, a puzzle posed by James Webb Space Telescope observations. Computer simulations indicate turbulent conditions allowed these black holes to exceed normal growth limits, devouring surrounding matter. This mechanism provides a potential link between smaller black holes and the supermassive ones observed early in cosmic history.

Researchers developed a cellulose-based composite sheet from paper pulp, starch, polyaniline, Prussian blue, and alginic acid. Using a papermaking technique, they created a layered material capable of simultaneously adsorbing and immobilizing radioactive elements like cesium, iodine, and strontium. This innovation shows promise for environmental contamination control.

Hubble observations reveal blue straggler stars, which appear younger than their age, thrive in low-density star clusters. These stars likely form through binary star system interactions, where one star siphons material from or merges with its partner. Dense environments disrupt these binary systems, thus reducing the number of blue stragglers.

Researchers have developed a novel non-commutative Schwarzschild black hole model, estimating particle creation rates for bosons and fermions using the quantum tunneling method. This framework, addressing divergent integrals, allows for the consistent calculation of black hole evaporation lifetimes. The study refines previous formulations and infers constraints on the non-commutative parameter from solar system tests, advancing understanding of quantum gravity and black hole thermodynamics.

NASA's Artemis 2 mission will carry historical artifacts around the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. The flight kit includes fabric from the Wright Flyer, flags from shuttle missions and a canceled Apollo mission, and a photo negative from the Ranger 7 mission. This mission serves as a critical step towards future lunar landings.

Research indicates that solar panel tilt angles and incident radiation significantly impact the performance of solar cooling systems. Optimizing these factors, along with considering factors like urban geometry and soiling, is crucial for maximizing energy absorption and improving the efficiency of solar-powered air conditioning in hot climates.

Researchers developed a new simulation framework that couples atom-scale dynamics with macroscopic physics. This approach bridges the gap between microscopic material behavior and large-scale conditions, enabling more accurate modeling of phenomena like inertial confinement fusion. The framework, designed for supercomputers, offers broad applications in science, from planetary studies to astrophysical events.

Mars experiences lightning and thunder, generated by static electricity from colliding dust particles in massive dust storms. Unlike Earth's water-based thunderstorms, Mars' storms lack rain and are characterized by dust clouds. Scientists have detected radio waves associated with Martian lightning, providing insights into the planet's geology and potential for past life.

Physicists have developed a new optical centrifuge to control molecular rotation within superfluid helium nano-droplets. This breakthrough allows direct manipulation of molecular spin frequency, crucial for studying interactions within quantum environments. The technique, detailed in Physical Review Letters, offers a novel way to probe the mysteries of frictionless superfluids by observing how dissolved molecules behave as superfluidity breaks down at critical frequencies.

Researchers used EcoFAB growth chambers to achieve reproducible plant-microbe experiments across three continents. This breakthrough addresses a major hurdle in microbiome research, enabling consistent data collection vital for AI development and agricultural applications. The standardized system allows for reliable comparison of findings, accelerating discoveries in plant health and soil improvement.

Melanin inhibits polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by binding to DNA polymerase. Researchers have developed NanoPCR, a method utilizing nanoparticles to mitigate this inhibition. This advancement offers a potential solution for improving PCR efficiency in samples containing melanin, which is crucial for applications like forensic DNA analysis.

Researchers used the South Pole Telescope to detect energetic stellar flares from accreting white dwarfs near the Milky Way's center. These powerful, short-lived millimeter-wavelength bursts are the first of their kind discovered in a wide-field, time-domain survey. This opens a new observational window into the dynamic astrophysics of the inner galaxy, suggesting millimeter astronomy can reveal fast, rare transient events.