PLANETARY SCIENCE

May 20 2026SCIENCE

NASA Wants More Small, Cheap Space Trips

NASA’s budget for science is about the same as it was two decades ago, even after a government push to cut spending. The agency’s new administrator focuses on human missions to the Moon and plans to replace a planned lunar space station with a surface base. He also wants a nuclear‑powered probe for

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Jan 02 2026SCIENCE

Space's Big Steps and Hidden Gems in 2026

Space is becoming a bigger part of our daily lives. Rockets are being reused more often, and satellites are now fully operational. People can connect directly to devices from space, and regular folks are going to space, not just government astronauts. Governments are also planning big space projects

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Dec 26 2025SCIENCE

A Strange Planet and Its Tiny Star: A Cosmic Oddity

In the vast cosmos, a peculiar planet has caught the eye of scientists. This world, dubbed PSR J2322-2650b, is as big as Jupiter but has a unique lemon-like shape. What makes it even stranger is its atmosphere, which is a mix of helium and molecular carbon, something never seen before. This planet

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Dec 12 2025SCIENCE

Mars Mission on a Budget: The Highs and Lows of ESCAPADE

Mars has always been a tricky destination. Now, NASA is trying a new approach with the ESCAPADE mission. This isn't your typical big-budget space adventure. It's a cost-effective, high-risk project aiming to study Mars' magnetic field and atmosphere. Launched in late 2025, ESCAPADE is part of NASA's

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Dec 10 2025SCIENCE

What Lies Beneath: Rethinking Uranus and Neptune

Uranus and Neptune may not be the icy worlds we once thought. Recent research from the University of Zurich suggests these planets might be more rocky than previously believed. This challenges the traditional classification of planets in our solar system. Typically, planets are grouped into three t

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Nov 26 2025SCIENCE

Mars: Tiny Lightning Strikes Detected by Perseverance Rover

Mars is full of surprises. The Perseverance rover, which has been exploring the red planet since 2021, recently made an unexpected discovery. Its microphone picked up signs of small lightning strikes caused by dust devils. These tiny electrical arcs, just a few centimeters long, were accompanied by

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Jun 11 2025POLITICS

NASA's Advisory Groups: A Shifting Landscape

In the current political climate, NASA's advisory committees are facing significant changes. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Committee, mandated by Congress, has continued its work. However, the NASA Advisory Council and its various subcommittees have been on hold since the start of the second Trump a

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Jun 06 2025SCIENCE

Space Funding Shifts and Conference Cancellations

The International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development Conference has been scrapped. This news came from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). The decision was made due to current regulatory and budgetary constraints. NASA's reduced support was the main reason behind th

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Feb 19 2025SCIENCE

Exoplanets: Hot Jupiters and Their Crazy Weather

Imagine planets so hot that they make Earth seem like a cold winter day. These are the ultra-hot Jupiters, a special group of exoplanets that have scientists buzzing with excitement. Why? Because they offer a unique glimpse into the wild weather patterns that can happen in space. Over 5, 800 exopla

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Jan 13 2025SCIENCE

NASA's Science Division Gets New Temporary Leaders

Recently, some big shakeups have happened in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Mark Clampin, the head of NASA's astrophysics division, is now filling in as the temporary second-in-command for the entire science division. This is because Sandra Connelly, who used to have that job, is retiring. Mark

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