Science
When will SpaceX and Blue Origin fly to the moon? NASA reveals lunar lander timelines (and an Artemis III update)
NASA has updated the timeline for its Artemis III mission and mapped out the expected progress for SpaceX and Blue Origin's respective moon landers.
Genomes of 20 eastern Finnish species provide unique insights into species' adaptations to local conditions
In recent years, researchers at the University of Eastern Finland have been both leading and contributing to collaborative genome projects. These efforts have produced reference-q…
NASA’s CASALS Instrument Bridges Gaps in 3D Maps of Earth’s Surface
From orbit, today’s space-based laser instruments measure Earth’s forests and terrain one narrow line at a time. Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acr…
Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight: Here's the best time to spot shooting stars
The Orionid meteor shower peaks tonight (Oct. 21-22) in the light of a waxing moon. Here's what to expect from one of Autumn's greatest natural light shows.
Atomic memory keeps distant ions entangled for about 10 seconds
Quantum networks, systems that connect devices and allow them to exchange information encoded in the quantum states of particles, could enable more secure communications. To build…
US extreme weather survivors are a growing group – now they want to be a political force
At a gathering in Texas, near where floods killed 136 people last year, survivors are united on the need for urgent actionIt may be a club none of its members actually want to be …
Russian satellite plays 'cat-and-mouse' with a commercial US spacecraft likely used by Ukraine. But why the risky close encounter?
A Russian satellite just conducted a startlingly close approach of a private American Earth-observing satellite. What was the goal of the controversial maneuver?
South Korea launches new bid to guide crowd-pulling shark to sea
South Korean authorities began a new attempt Wednesday to coax a shark-turned-viral sensation back to sea, with falling temperatures in the Busan canal where it is stranded raisin…
Prized wild pepper at risk in Madagascar's shrinking forests
A rare wild pepper endemic to Madagascar and prized by international chefs is facing an uncertain future, a victim of its own success and the destruction of its forest habitat.
More current with less calcium: Computational models help solve longstanding ion channel evolution mystery
In the early 1980s, scientists observed an anomaly. Embedded within cell membranes, they identified ion channels with extraordinarily high conductance. These so-called "BK" (Big K…
Transparent minispheres reveal that some look-alike cancer drugs part ways in 3D
Researchers at Uppsala University have adapted Cell Painting, a widely used imaging method in drug discovery, to look at individual cells inside small 3D clusters of cancer cells.…
Britain Rethinks Its Nature Protections to Unlock Nuclear Development
Over the past year, boats have plied the waters around Hinkley Point C, a nuclear power plant under construction along England’s Somerset coast, laying and testing a network of ul…
The Okefenokee’s Next Chapter
FOLKSTON, Ga.—This quiet town of about 4,800 people has a humble Southern charm. Its low-slung storefronts, historic buildings and broad, quiet streets give it the feel of a place…
SpaceX turns a profit after a string of losses as its satellite and computer leasing businesses soar
SpaceX reported a bigger quarterly profit than expected Tuesday as its satellite communications operations and its business of leasing computing power to other companies boomed.
Climate campaigners condemn ‘maddening’ decision to approve Jackdaw gasfield
Critics say move will jeopardise climate targets, fail to cut cost of living and distract from need to decarbonise energyUK politics live – latest updatesClimate campaigners and g…
Targeting a particular gene may improve tea plants' flavor and cold tolerance
Research in New Phytologist reveals a gene that regulates tea plants' flavor and cold tolerance, providing insights on how to expand the potential for better-tasting tea to be gro…
Wednesday briefing: Why has Jackdaw been approved in the middle of a climate crisis?
In today’s newsletter: The government has approved drilling in the Jackdaw gas field despite fierce opposition and evidence against itGood morning. After weeks of speculation, the…
This Norwegian village is one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. How can its people save it?
As glaciers melt and permafrost thaws, Longyearbyen, on the remote Arctic islands of Svalbard, faces climate-induced problems from tap water to housebuilding to landslides• Heavy …
The humble one-celled alga that helped scientists win the Nobel prize
Chlamydomonas and its light-sensing protein help show how memories, feelings and behaviour form in our brainsA tiny alga has helped show how memories, feelings and behaviour form …
World must cut emissions by 18% in four years ‘to find our way back’, UN says
Action needed to avoid disastrous overshoot of climate targets, according to organisation’s environment bodyThe world needs to cut carbon emissions by nearly a fifth in the next f…
Mystery of Roman sarcophagus unearthed at Westminster Abbey solved at last, expert says
Archaeologist says skeleton inside coffin inscribed to Valerius Amandinus is likely to be remains of 11th-century abbotIt has all the ingredients of a chilling mystery: the skelet…
APOD: 2026 October 21 – New Ghosts Revealed in Cassiopeia
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 21 – New… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the …
Extratropical Cyclone Whips Past Iceland
The powerful low-pressure system formed over the North Atlantic out of the remnants of Hurricane Isaias.
Firefighters voice growing concerns over water supplies to tackle UK wildfires
During a summer fire that destroyed homes in Stourbridge, low pressure meant filling a water carrier took 40 minutesConcerns have been raised about how drought affects the UK’s ab…