All's not as it appears, this tale has many twists -
but if I wasn't here documenting the story
would that mean that the plot did not exist?

— Peter Hammill

Feed aggregator

University Team Proposed Retractable, Pressurized Tunnels for Missions to Mars

Universe Today - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 7:24pm

As part of NASA's Moon to Mars eXploration Systems and Habitation (M2M X-Hab) 2026 Academic Innovation Challenge, a University of Michigan team proposed an actuated, pressurized tunnel system that would save countless hours of work and preparation by connecting the astronaut's habitat with other surface elements.

Categories: Astronomy

Too many sleepless nights may lead to weight gain

Scientific American.com - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 5:00pm

Getting as little as 90 minutes less sleep than usual may lead to gaining weight and becoming more sedentary, a new study finds

Categories: Astronomy

Bumblebee facial movements give clues to their inner lives

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 4:00pm
A series of experiments shows that bees respond differently to tastes depending on their internal states, hinting that they have something akin to our emotions
Categories: Astronomy

Bumblebee facial movements give clues to their inner lives

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 4:00pm
A series of experiments shows that bees respond differently to tastes depending on their internal states, hinting that they have something akin to our emotions
Categories: Astronomy

Artefacts hint at cultural exchange between Neanderthals and humans

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 4:00pm
A cave on the Turkish Mediterranean coast was inhabited first by Neanderthals and then Homo sapiens, but the continuity of tools and personal objects suggests there was some sharing of culture between the two species
Categories: Astronomy

Artefacts hint at cultural exchange between Neanderthals and humans

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 4:00pm
A cave on the Turkish Mediterranean coast was inhabited first by Neanderthals and then Homo sapiens, but the continuity of tools and personal objects suggests there was some sharing of culture between the two species
Categories: Astronomy

Did our modern human ancestors and Neanderthals share a common culture?

Scientific American.com - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 3:24pm

Both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens may have shared tools and behavioral practices, new research suggests

Categories: Astronomy

Andromeda's Newest Dwarf Galaxy is Extremely Dim

Universe Today - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 2:53pm

Astronomers have discovered an extremely low-mass and dim dwarf galaxy around Andromeda. Called And 35, it's an Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxy (UFDG) and so far, the researchers have detected only 46 of its stars. Lambda-CDM predicts that there should be many UFDGs around galaxies like Andromeda and the Milky Way, so finding more of them is important.

Categories: Astronomy

NASA Takes Flight For America's 250th

NASA Image of the Day - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 2:39pm
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman leads a flyover featuring his personally owned F-5 Tiger during the Great American State Fair on July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Categories: Astronomy, NASA

NASA Takes Flight For America’s 250th

NASA News - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 2:38pm
NASA/Keegan Barber

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman leads a flyover featuring his personally owned Northrop F-5 Tiger during the Great American State Fair on July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

For 250 years, America has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. From the earliest days of exploration, to the first steps on the Moon and the missions shaping our future, NASA represents the spirit of discovery that defines our nation.

As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, Freedom 250 highlights how innovation, courage, and scientific leadership have carried America forward — and how NASA continues to expand the frontier for the next generation.

Categories: NASA

NASA Takes Flight For America’s 250th

NASA - Breaking News - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 2:38pm
NASA/Keegan Barber

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman leads a flyover featuring his personally owned Northrop F-5 Tiger during the Great American State Fair on July 4, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

For 250 years, America has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible. From the earliest days of exploration, to the first steps on the Moon and the missions shaping our future, NASA represents the spirit of discovery that defines our nation.

As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, Freedom 250 highlights how innovation, courage, and scientific leadership have carried America forward — and how NASA continues to expand the frontier for the next generation.

Categories: NASA

New Horizons Watches the Solar Wind as it Slows Down

Universe Today - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 1:33pm

Where does the Solar System end and interstellar space begin? That's a question scientists have been working to answer using spacecraft traveling out beyond the Sun's influence. A team of researchers from the Southwest Research Institute led by Heather Elliott, is using the Solar Wind around Pluto instrument onboard New Horizons to track the solar wind in the outer reachers of the Solar System.

Categories: Astronomy

Wordle, but for art history—Anthropeum turns the Met Museum into an online game

Scientific American.com - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 12:30pm

Anthropeum is a daily game that uses the Met’s open-access data to showcase underrepresented art and artifacts

Categories: Astronomy

How healthy is your brain? We now know how to find out

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 12:00pm
In our efforts to keep our brains healthy, how do we know what is working? Helen Thomson explores a new generation of tests that can reveal whether our efforts are paying off
Categories: Astronomy

How healthy is your brain? We now know how to find out

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 12:00pm
In our efforts to keep our brains healthy, how do we know what is working? Helen Thomson explores a new generation of tests that can reveal whether our efforts are paying off
Categories: Astronomy

A New Net-Membrane Could Clean Up Some Tricky Space Debris

Universe Today - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 11:54am

We’ve reported on all kinds of wacky ideas for capturing and deorbiting space debris safely. From electric tethers to lasers, engineers and scientists have been trying everything they can think of to deal with the ever-increasing orbital debris problem. But one simple design keeps popping up over and over again - a net. A new paper from researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China details one of the most advanced net concepts yet - but whether we can actually build one remains to be seen.

Categories: Astronomy

NASA Seeks Industry Input on Second Phase of Commercial Space Stations

NASA News - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 11:33am
Credit: NASA

On Monday, NASA released a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking feedback from American companies on the next phase of its commercial space stations strategy, aimed at ensuring a seamless transition of activities in low Earth orbit from the International Space Station.

 “NASA’s review reflects what we’ve been hearing from industry throughout this process. Industry believes it can meet the timelines and that a viable commercial marketplace exists where NASA is one customer among many,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “We’re focused on supporting those efforts, enabling the capabilities that make this transition possible, and doing all we can to ensure the United States maintains a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit.”

The draft RFP builds on the agency’s request for information released March 25. Based on industry’s input, NASA will proceed with its original plan to procure commercial services through FAR-based contract(s) awarded via full and open competition. Industry has indicated there is significant capital investment behind this approach and expressed high confidence in their ability to attract additional capital investment and expand future market opportunities after NASA makes an award.

NASA intends to award firm-fixed-price, multi-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts supporting development, certification, and services. This approach would allow NASA to select two or more contractors through early development, followed by a competitive task order for final design, test, evaluation, as well as certification and services from one or more contractors.

Industry feedback is due Monday, July 27. NASA also will hold an informational industry briefing on Thursday, July 9, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to provide a top-level summary of the documents and expectations.

The draft RFP gives companies the opportunity to review and comment on the planned acquisition approach for future commercial space station services, helping shape the agency’s path forward as it proceeds with its original commercial strategy. This strategy will provide the government with reliable, safe, cost-effective services through commercial partners, enabling NASA to focus on the next step in humanity’s deep space exploration while also continuing to use low Earth orbit as an ideal training environment and proving ground for Artemis missions to the Moon and future human exploration of Mars.

Learn more about commercial space stations at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialspacestations

Share Details Last Updated Jul 06, 2026 Related Terms
Categories: NASA

NASA Seeks Industry Input on Second Phase of Commercial Space Stations

NASA - Breaking News - Mon, 07/06/2026 - 11:33am
Credit: NASA

On Monday, NASA released a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking feedback from American companies on the next phase of its commercial space stations strategy, aimed at ensuring a seamless transition of activities in low Earth orbit from the International Space Station.

 “NASA’s review reflects what we’ve been hearing from industry throughout this process. Industry believes it can meet the timelines and that a viable commercial marketplace exists where NASA is one customer among many,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “We’re focused on supporting those efforts, enabling the capabilities that make this transition possible, and doing all we can to ensure the United States maintains a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit.”

The draft RFP builds on the agency’s request for information released March 25. Based on industry’s input, NASA will proceed with its original plan to procure commercial services through FAR-based contract(s) awarded via full and open competition. Industry has indicated there is significant capital investment behind this approach and expressed high confidence in their ability to attract additional capital investment and expand future market opportunities after NASA makes an award.

NASA intends to award firm-fixed-price, multi-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts supporting development, certification, and services. This approach would allow NASA to select two or more contractors through early development, followed by a competitive task order for final design, test, evaluation, as well as certification and services from one or more contractors.

Industry feedback is due Monday, July 27. NASA also will hold an informational industry briefing on Thursday, July 9, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to provide a top-level summary of the documents and expectations.

The draft RFP gives companies the opportunity to review and comment on the planned acquisition approach for future commercial space station services, helping shape the agency’s path forward as it proceeds with its original commercial strategy. This strategy will provide the government with reliable, safe, cost-effective services through commercial partners, enabling NASA to focus on the next step in humanity’s deep space exploration while also continuing to use low Earth orbit as an ideal training environment and proving ground for Artemis missions to the Moon and future human exploration of Mars.

Learn more about commercial space stations at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialspacestations

Share Details Last Updated Jul 06, 2026 Related Terms
Categories: NASA