The Strongest Solar Storm in 20 Years Did Little Damage, but Worse Space Weather Is Coming
Years of careful planning helped safeguard against last weekend’s severe space weather, but we still don’t know how we’d cope with a monster event
Don’t Panic—At Least, Not about a Nearby Supernova
An exploding star is a catastrophe on a cosmic scale, but here on Earth we’re safe from such astral disasters—for now
The Strangest Alien Worlds Are beyond Astronomers’ Wildest Dreams
Alien worlds that glow like lightbulbs or harbor molten-rock rain are revealing planets’ profound cosmic diversity—and pointing the way toward finding those that truly resemble our own familiar Earth
NASA’s Plans for Next-Generation Mars Helicopters Are Up in the Air
After the spectacular success of the first-ever “Marscopter,” mission planners have soaring ambitions for follow-up flying machines
Has the Last Great Space Observatory Already Launched?
Astronomy’s future may be slipping away—one climate disaster at a time
Where Is the Edge of the Solar System?
The solar system’s outer limits aren’t as clear-cut as you might think
Meteorites in Antarctica Are Getting Harder to Find because of Climate Change
As climate change warms the poles, precious Antarctic meteorites will melt their way down out of scientists’ reach
China’s Moon Atlas Is the Most Detailed Ever Made
The Geologic Atlas of the Lunar Globe doubles the resolution of Apollo-era maps and will support the space ambitions of China and other countries
The Threat of a Solar Superstorm Is Growing—And We’re Not Ready
Someday an unlucky outburst from our sun could strike Earth and fry most of our electronics—and we’ve already had some too-close-for-comfort near misses
How to See the Lunar Far Side Right Here on Earth
Perspective and subtle motion allows us to peek over the moon’s edge and into its far side
SpaceX’s Starship Could Save NASA’s Beleaguered Mars Sample Return Mission
Facing budgetary pressure for its Mars Sample Return program, NASA has turned to private industry for ideas—perhaps with one specific company in mind
NASA’s Artemis Astronauts Will Help Grow Crops on the Moon—And Much More
When astronauts return to the moon later this decade, they’ll bring along science experiments to study moonquakes, lunar water ice and extraterrestrial agriculture