Space

The latest discoveries from space agencies and astronomers as they explore galaxies, black holes, exoplanets, and more. Also learn about night sky watching events right here on the home planet.

Latest in Space

"Mars spiders," formations caused by underground carbon dioxide fizzing to the surface in springtine.

Mars

Scientists brought ‘Mars spiders’ to Earth—here’s how Scientists brought ‘Mars spiders’ to Earth—here’s how

The Space Surveillance Telescope Complex

Air Force

DARPA Just Gave The Air Force A Telescope To Watch For Satellite Sabotage DARPA Just Gave The Air Force A Telescope To Watch For Satellite Sabotage

By Kelsey D. Atherton

A fissure in the Cerberus Fossae formation on Mars.

Mars

Mars may have had recent volcanic eruptions—which is great news for finding life Mars may have had recent volcanic eruptions—which is great news for finding life

By Leto Sapunar

Science

What’s Next For Astronaut Scott Kelly? What’s Next For Astronaut Scott Kelly?

Earth from space

Deep Space

NASA Is Sending Some Lucky Yeast Into Radiation-Filled Deep Space NASA Is Sending Some Lucky Yeast Into Radiation-Filled Deep Space

By Shannon Stirone

CubeSats Are Paving Mankind’s Way Back To The Moon, And Beyond

Moons

CubeSats Are Paving Mankind’s Way Back To The Moon, And Beyond CubeSats Are Paving Mankind’s Way Back To The Moon, And Beyond

By Shannon Stirone

Asteroid Bennu floating in black space.

NASA

Megapixels: Watch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft zoom in on its asteroid target Megapixels: Watch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft zoom in on its asteroid target

By Jillian Mock

The Keeper Of The Maps Of Mars

Mars

The Keeper Of The Maps Of Mars The Keeper Of The Maps Of Mars

By Shannon Stirone

Planetary Deep Drill piecing rocks

Mars

A Drill To Tunnel Miles Below The Surface Of Mars A Drill To Tunnel Miles Below The Surface Of Mars

By Shannon Stirone

Arc Jet Testing Materials

NASA

NASA’s Ames Opens Its Doors To The Public Tomorrow NASA’s Ames Opens Its Doors To The Public Tomorrow

By Shannon Stirone

Innocent Martian Rock Tweets As It’s Zapped by Curiosity

Mars

Innocent Martian Rock Tweets As It’s Zapped by Curiosity Innocent Martian Rock Tweets As It’s Zapped by Curiosity

By Dan Nosowitz

Instant Expert: Dark Flow Revealed

Science

Instant Expert: Dark Flow Revealed Instant Expert: Dark Flow Revealed

By James Owen Weatherall

Yes, giant space debris is falling to Earth right now. No, it probably won’t hit you.

Science

Yes, giant space debris is falling to Earth right now. No, it probably won’t hit you. Yes, giant space debris is falling to Earth right now. No, it probably won’t hit you.

By Claire Maldarelli

The Starburst Galaxy M82

Science

Tiny galaxies may have brought the cosmos out of the dark ages Tiny galaxies may have brought the cosmos out of the dark ages

By Charlie Wood

The planet Venus

Science

Radio signals detected on Venus weren’t sent by aliens Radio signals detected on Venus weren’t sent by aliens

A model of the next Interstellar Probe.

Deep Space

This new space probe will go farther and faster than any before, gathering data for generations This new space probe will go farther and faster than any before, gathering data for generations

By Charlie Wood

Venus Crater Farm image taken by the Magellan spacecraft for NASA

Science

The hellish Venus surface in 5 vintage photos The hellish Venus surface in 5 vintage photos

By Amy Shira Teitel

An artist's illustration depicting Voyager 1 in interstellar space

NASA

How the most distant object ever made by humans is spending its dying days How the most distant object ever made by humans is spending its dying days

The surface of Mars as photographed by NASA's Ingenuity helicopter

Mars

New NASA photos show the rusty surface of Mars in full color New NASA photos show the rusty surface of Mars in full color

astronaut on spacewalk

Ask Us Anything

Ask Us Anything: What happens to your body when you die in space? Ask Us Anything: What happens to your body when you die in space?

By Shannon Stirone

Shuttle flying through a warp hole in a drawing

Physics

Warp speed space travel just got a tiny bit more realistic Warp speed space travel just got a tiny bit more realistic

By Mario Borunda/The Conversation

The FAST radio telescope in the Guizhou province of China

NASA

The world’s biggest radio telescope is finally open to international scientists The world’s biggest radio telescope is finally open to international scientists

By Sarah Scoles/Undark

An illustration of the Mars Perseverance rover in the background and the Ingenuity helicopter in flight in the foreground.

Aviation

Ingenuity flew on Mars. Now NASA will push it to the brink of destruction. Ingenuity flew on Mars. Now NASA will push it to the brink of destruction.

By Charlie Wood

A man walks beneath a shooting star.

Science

5,000 tons of ancient ‘extraterrestrial dust’ fall on Earth each year 5,000 tons of ancient ‘extraterrestrial dust’ fall on Earth each year

By Leto Sapunar

Oblique view of the Earth from space, showing its atmosphere

Deep Space

Astronomers cooked up alien atmospheres in an oven Astronomers cooked up alien atmospheres in an oven

By Charlie Wood

Simulation of a black hole.

Black Holes

Astronomers may have found the surprisingly elusive medium-sized black hole Astronomers may have found the surprisingly elusive medium-sized black hole

By Charlie Wood

exploring moon caves

Moons

We could live in caves on the moon. What would that be like? We could live in caves on the moon. What would that be like?

Artist's impression of the DAEDALUS robot on the moon

Science

Real-life BB-8 ‘hamster ball’ robot may one day map moon caves Real-life BB-8 ‘hamster ball’ robot may one day map moon caves

By Leto Sapunar

Shadow of a black hole

Black Holes

Something sent one of the universe’s heaviest black holes flying Something sent one of the universe’s heaviest black holes flying

By Charlie Wood

The first-ever image of the magnetic fields of a black hole.

Black Holes

Astronomers used telescopic ‘sunglasses’ to photograph a black hole’s magnetic field Astronomers used telescopic ‘sunglasses’ to photograph a black hole’s magnetic field

By Charlie Wood

Astronaut Scott Kelly taking a selfie in space

Fitness & Exercise

Spending time in space could shrink your heart Spending time in space could shrink your heart

Ask Us Anything

Ask Us Anything: What would happen if you fell into a black hole? Ask Us Anything: What would happen if you fell into a black hole?

By Claire Maldarelli, Jessica Boddy

The METL bike tire on a bike with the sky in the background

Engineering

These airless bike tires rely on a metal alloy designed for NASA rovers These airless bike tires rely on a metal alloy designed for NASA rovers

By Stan Horaczek

If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive?

Ask Us Anything

If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive? If The Sun Went Out, How Long Would Life On Earth Survive?

By Holly Otterbein

America's UFO highway

Science

UFO sightings say more about us than about aliens UFO sightings say more about us than about aliens

By Matthew Phelan

httpspush.popsci.comsitespopsci.comfilesimages201908pph-hubble-pillars-creation.jpg

Deep Space

How scientists colorize Hubble’s deep space photographs How scientists colorize Hubble’s deep space photographs

By Jeanette D. Moses

How scientists saw the ‘invisible’—and captured the first image of a black hole

Science

How scientists saw the ‘invisible’—and captured the first image of a black hole How scientists saw the ‘invisible’—and captured the first image of a black hole

By Neel V. Patel

Trump’s Space Force could be one giant leap into a tricky situation

Military

Trump’s Space Force could be one giant leap into a tricky situation Trump’s Space Force could be one giant leap into a tricky situation

By Mary Beth Griggs

total solar eclipse

Moons

How did people first figure out when a solar eclipse would occur? How did people first figure out when a solar eclipse would occur?

By Mary Beth Griggs

A brief history of spacewalks

NASA

A brief history of spacewalks A brief history of spacewalks

By Jason Lederman

NASA Is Trying To Figure Out What A Mysterious Object Near Pluto Is

Pluto

NASA Is Trying To Figure Out What A Mysterious Object Near Pluto Is NASA Is Trying To Figure Out What A Mysterious Object Near Pluto Is

By Christine Jun

MIT has just revealed it's SpaceX Hyperloop commuter pod.

Private Space Flight

MIT Team’s SpaceX Hyperloop Transit Pod Is Finally Revealed MIT Team’s SpaceX Hyperloop Transit Pod Is Finally Revealed

By Christine Jun

The Best Images of Pluto from New Horizons

Pluto

The Best Images of Pluto from New Horizons The Best Images of Pluto from New Horizons

Here’s What Cities Look Like at Night from the Space Station

International Space Station

Here’s What Cities Look Like at Night from the Space Station Here’s What Cities Look Like at Night from the Space Station

By

How Do Plants Grow In Zero Gravity?

International Space Station

How Do Plants Grow In Zero Gravity? How Do Plants Grow In Zero Gravity?

By Anna-Lisa Paul, University of Florida, Robert Ferl

Russia Now: Object 2014-28E, Soviet Anti Satellite weapon concept art

Military

What Would Happen If China Destroyed A U.S. Military Satellite? What Would Happen If China Destroyed A U.S. Military Satellite?

Stratospheric Balloon

Private Space Flight

A New Way To Get To Space A New Way To Get To Space

By Kalee Thompson

An Inflatable Tent For Camping On The Moon

Gear

An Inflatable Tent For Camping On The Moon An Inflatable Tent For Camping On The Moon

By Charles Q. Choi

This view of Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere from NASA’s Juno spacecraft includes several of the planet’s southern jet streams.

Science

Researchers just measured Jupiter’s stratospheric winds for the first time—and they’re a doozy Researchers just measured Jupiter’s stratospheric winds for the first time—and they’re a doozy

By Leto Sapunar

The NASA STS-39 shuttle crew in orange astronaut suits on a space backdrop

Air Force

What did ’90s NASA astronauts pack for space? What did ’90s NASA astronauts pack for space?

By Scott Murdock/Task & Purpose

Perseverance rover SHERLOC

Mars

Was there ever life on Mars? Perseverance’s SHERLOC laser sniffs for microscopic clues Was there ever life on Mars? Perseverance’s SHERLOC laser sniffs for microscopic clues

By Charlie Wood

The sun over Maunakea volcano and research observatories in Hawaii

Science

In Hawaii, an ancient observatory offers lessons for modern stargazers In Hawaii, an ancient observatory offers lessons for modern stargazers

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

PXLR, Perseverance Mars rover camera instrument

Biology

Perseverance’s giant ‘hand lens’ will scour Mars for signs of ancient life Perseverance’s giant ‘hand lens’ will scour Mars for signs of ancient life

By Charlie Wood

A SpaceX Starship rocket falls through the air horizontally during a test.

Mars

SpaceX Starships keep exploding, but it’s all part of Elon Musk’s plan SpaceX Starships keep exploding, but it’s all part of Elon Musk’s plan

The MOXIE instrument before it was lowered into NASA's Perseverance Rover, which is currently settled on the surface of Mars.

Biology

With MOXIE, Perseverance will try to make oxygen on Mars With MOXIE, Perseverance will try to make oxygen on Mars

By Charlie Wood

Map of 25,000 supermassive black holes

Black Holes

Check out the most extensive map of black holes ever Check out the most extensive map of black holes ever

By Erin Fennessy

microbes being sent into Earth's atmosphere.

Biology

Some of Earth’s tiniest living things could survive on Mars Some of Earth’s tiniest living things could survive on Mars

By Ellie Shechet

Mars' surface, in high-resolution and color, as captured by the Hazcams on NASA's Perseverance rover.

Biology

See Mars through Perseverance’s eyes See Mars through Perseverance’s eyes

Mars

11 eye-opening images from NASA’s Mars missions 11 eye-opening images from NASA’s Mars missions

An artist's interpretation of Perseverance, NASA's newest Mars rover, parachuting down from orbit.

Biology

Watch the Perseverance rover complete its dramatic landing on Mars Watch the Perseverance rover complete its dramatic landing on Mars

By Charlie Wood

Night sky photography

DIY

Cold weather is the best time to look at—and photograph—the night sky Cold weather is the best time to look at—and photograph—the night sky

By Stan Horaczek

The Jezero Crater as captured from orbit.

Biology

Your ancestors might have been Martians Your ancestors might have been Martians

By Charlie Wood

A close-up shot of Mars taken in black-and-white by the Chinese Tianwen-1 probe.

Mars

Check out the first images of Mars from China’s Tianwen-1 probe Check out the first images of Mars from China’s Tianwen-1 probe

By Erin Fennessy

Masha Krasnova-Shavaeva illustration

Mars

Can we brew our own beer on Mars? Can we brew our own beer on Mars?

By Sandra Gutierrez G.