In the vast expanse of space, a black hole named RACS J0320-35 is causing quite a stir. This cosmic giant, born a mere 920 million years after the Big Bang, is growing at an astonishing rate. It's not just any growth spurt; this black hole is feasting on matter at 2. 4 times the speed that scientists thought was possible. This discovery is a big deal because it chall...
A cargo ship, meant to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), faced an unexpected hurdle. The ship, launched by Northrop Grumman, encountered engine issues shortly after takeoff. This problem stopped the ship from reaching its destination. The plan was for the ship to arrive at the ISS on Wednesday. It was carrying over 11, 000 pounds of cargo. T...
Mars, our rusty neighbor, has been hiding a secret deep inside. Recent findings from NASA's InSight mission reveal that Mars has a core similar to Earth's, with a solid center surrounded by a liquid outer layer. This discovery, published in Nature, helps us understand how Mars evolved over billions of years. Long ago, Mars might have had a thicker atmosphere, allowi...
A recent study suggests that a regular, over-the-counter allergy nasal spray might help prevent COVID-19 infections. The research, which involved 450 healthy adults, found that using the antihistamine spray azelastine three times a day reduced the number of COVID-19 cases by 67 percent compared to a placebo. However, this was a small-scale trial, so larger studies ar...
The moon is back on the agenda for both the US and China. But before astronauts can set up camp, there's a big question: how will they survive up there? Living in space is tough. You can't just pop to the shop for supplies. So, scientists are looking at ways to grow food and recycle resources using plants and special tech. NASA has been working on this for years. Th...
Sean Duffy, the acting head of NASA, recently brought some laughter to a serious topic: aliens. He joked about not yet receiving the so-called "alien briefing" but said he had asked for it. This was during a chat on Fox News, which was later shared online. Duffy, who also serves as the U. S. transportation secretary, playfully teased that he couldn't wait to share "h...
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is getting a crucial upgrade. Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have attached two large sunshields to the telescope. These shields are like a giant sunblock for the telescope's sensitive instruments. They protect the instruments from the sun's heat and light. This protection is vital for detecting faint signals from...
Right now, NASA is in a tough spot. It's losing top talent, facing budget cuts, and lacks a permanent leader. This is a big deal because NASA used to be a symbol of American ambition and innovation. Without a strong vision, the U. S. might fall behind in space exploration. A while back, Jared Isaacman, a billionaire and astronaut, was considered for a leadership rol...
Space weather is a big deal, and NASA is taking steps to understand it better. On a recent Wednesday, two satellites were sent into space from California on a SpaceX rocket. This mission, called TRACERS, is set to study the polar cusps, areas in Earth's magnetic field near the poles. These areas are key to creating the beautiful auroras we see, but they also play a r...
The X-59 is a big step forward in making supersonic travel quieter. It's designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without creating a loud sonic boom. This is a big deal because the loud noise from supersonic flights has been a major problem in the past. The X-59 is currently being built and tested. It's a long, narrow aircraft with a unique shape that helps re...