Today’s Solutions: May 17, 2024

Space

Learn about the latest astronomy news and discoveries around humanity’s endeavor beyond the final frontier.

An artist's depiction of a red supergiant star before it explodes.

Scientists record events before a supernova for first time

Before now, researchers have never been able to watch a supernova (a massive explosion of a dying star) as it plays out. Although, as the chaotic aftermath is widely available in the universe to observe, scientists could take a pretty good guess at what actually occurs during the deadly Read More...

An asteroid in front of a starry sky.

AI simulation can model potential asteroid collisions

Asteroid impact Asteroids have hit the Earth before and it is possible they could again. Although, preparation and small interventions could make the difference for humans to avoid total annihilation. A research team from the National Institute of Natural Hazards in China has recently constructed Read More...

The red giant Mars.

Who made it to Mars in 2021?

The red giant Mars has fascinated humans for many years, due to its intriguing habitable climate, the possibility for ancient life, and interesting findings of water and methane. The planet only aligns with Earth well enough for interplanetary launch once every 26 months. Therefore, space agencies Read More...

James Webb Space Telescope in outer space

James Webb Space Telescope officially launches into space

As most of us were celebrating Christmas morning in December 2021, NASA was celebrating a different event: the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. The launch marks the beginning of a highly-anticipated NASA mission that aims to transform how we study deep space. First conceived Read More...

Magic mushrooms containing psilocybin on pink bright background.

The scientific case for magic mushrooms in space

During the health crisis, most of the residents on planet Earth have finally had a taste of what it’s like to be an astronaut in space. No, not because we’ve all had the chance to launch ourselves into “the last frontier,” but because we’ve grappled with loneliness, isolation, and Read More...

International Space Station above earth

New study helps rocket us towards inclusive space travel

The AstroAccess project has taken flight, set up to understand what more inclusive space travel looks like. 26 percent of the American population have a disability according to the CDC, though 8.4 percent of the country’s employed scientists and engineers are disabled. The point of this project Read More...

Atacama desert in the Andes, Chile.

Ancient comet solves puzzle of scattered glass in Chilean desert

Across a 75 kilometer stretch of the Atacama Desert in Chile, huge rocks of black and green glass can be found lying around. Researchers picked up on this unusual phenomenon around a decade ago, but they were stumped by this mystery with no reasonable explanation to be found, until now. A team Read More...

Sun in the sky with clouds

NASA officially touches the sun for the first time

NASA’s Perseverance rover isn’t the only mission making headlines this week. According to scientists, the Parker Solar Probe has officially touched the sun for the first time. The solar probe has come close to the sun several times over the past few months, but had yet to be successful. Read More...

Mars Perseverance Rover

Perseverance rover uncovers something “completely unexpected”

The Perseverance rover landed on Mars at the start of 2021. That December, researchers announced that the craft has discovered something “completely unexpected” on the red planet. At the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, mission scientists announced that rocks which were previously Read More...

Astronaut in outer space

A simple sleeping bag could solve one of the biggest health risks of space travel

Astronauts who spend extended periods of time in space are at high risk for a vision issue called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). When we sleep on earth, the blood and spinal fluid that flows to our head while we’re sleeping naturally drains away when we get up in the Read More...