UNBELIEVABLE: 4 - Caught on Camera

The Great Southern Comet came within 446,000 miles of the Sun — scientists explain how close an object can get and survive

Astronomical objects can approach the Sun, with some comets and asteroids traveling remarkably close and surviving. Mercury, despite being closest to the Sun, has its orbit much farther than various known comets and asteroids. The Great Southern Comet of 1887 notably survived a close encounter, coming within 446,187 miles of…

The Economic Times · Sep 27

NASA’s $1.2 billion plan to explore the history and evolution of the universe enters Phase B

NASA has progressed the PRIMA mission into Phase B, concentrating on the creation of essential technologies and designs. This innovative space telescope is intended to perform detailed far-infrared surveys of our universe. With a scheduled launch in 2033, it aims to operate for five years, allowing scientists to delve into…

The Economic Times · Sep 26

Jeff Bezos' $30B Blue Origin Bet Is Now Worth $140B as He Takes on Elon Musk's SpaceX

Jeff Bezos is opening Blue Origin to outside investors after investing $30B, as the space company projects $30B in annual revenue by 2030 and challenges SpaceX.

International Business Times UK · Sep 26

NASA is building a mysterious X plane that may fly at extreme speed

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has teased a mysterious X-plane concept resembling the legendary SR-71 Blackbird, hinting at a renewed push into extreme high-speed and high-altitude aviation. NASA has not confirmed the aircraft's identity, speed or whether it is under development, but says it plans to expand its experimental X-plane portfolio…

The Economic Times · Sep 24

In 2018, NASA satellite images of penguin guano sent researchers to Antarctica's Danger Islands, where they found more than 1.5 million Adélie penguins

In December 2015, scientists found a massive colony of over 1.5 million Adélie penguins on the Danger Islands. This discovery was made possible through analysis of satellite images showing penguin droppings as large pink stains. They verified the count by conducting on-site observations and using drones to photograph the area.…

The Economic Times · Sep 24

In 2016, 10,000 volunteers searched images of Mars for strange spider-like patterns; they found the formations in places where scientists hadn't seen them before

In 2016, nearly 10,000 volunteers worked together to analyze images of Mars, identifying intriguing spider-like formations. Collaborating with Zooniverse, NASA initiated the Planet Four project, leading to surprising discoveries of these formations in areas not previously studied. These results imply that erosion-driven processes might be widespread on Mars, highlighting the…

The Economic Times · Sep 24

A 99-year weather record just fell: Why is a rare September heat dome pushing U.S. temperatures toward 104°F? NASA maps show the unusual heat

Summer was supposed to be winding down. Instead, parts of the south-central U.S. were still dealing with temperatures close to 104°F on September 15. NASA’s map showed the heat across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee, while more than 41 million people were under extreme heat alerts.

The Economic Times · Sep 23

China to test supersonic jet, aims to cut Beijing-Shanghai travel time by 75% for 1,075-km trip

China’s TMS-10 project is moving towards a planned supersonic test as researchers work on technology for quieter passenger aircraft. The demonstrator is designed around Mach 2 flight and a low-boom aerodynamic configuration, while a future 10- to 15-seat aircraft is envisioned. NASA is pursuing a separate low-noise approach through its…

The Economic Times · Sep 23

Starship Launch: Why the stakes are so high for Elon Musk’s SpaceX

World’s biggest rocket is set for its most ambitious and dangerous mission to date

The Independent UK · Sep 23

Why AI has trouble predicting the fury of hurricane intensity

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized weather forecasting in just a few years, with global AI weather models now able to produce forecasts that rival some of the world’s best physics-based prediction systems.

The Conversation · Sep 23