Nuclear rockets could travel to Mars in half the time − but designing the reactors that would power them isn’t easy

Sending a nuclear fission reactor into space means lots of technical questions. One research group is coming up with models that could improve how a nuclear rocket starts up and powers down.

Dan Kotlyar, Associate Professor of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
today • ~9 min

Nasa’s Europa Clipper spacecraft will investigate whether an icy moon of Jupiter can support alien life

The mission will investigate the potential for life at the icy moon of Jupiter.

James O'Donoghue, Research Associate Professor in Planetary Astronomy, Meteorology, University of Reading • conversation
today • ~7 min

The earliest galaxies formed amazingly fast after the Big Bang. Do they break the universe or change its age?

Some of the earliest galaxies found with JWST are also the brightest. That’s a problem for our ideas about the universe.

Sandro Tacchella, Assistant Professor in Astrophysics, Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge • conversation
yesterday • ~16 min

There were more black holes in the early universe than we thought – new research

New research can help us understand how supermassive black holes formed – and why many of them appear to be more massive than expected.

Matthew J. Hayes, Associate Professor of Astrophysics, Stockholm University • conversation
Oct. 2, 2024 • ~7 min

A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse is taking place in South America and the Pacific. Here’s how eclipses happen

Argentina and Chile will see the ‘ring’, but other regions will see a partial eclipse.

Oisin Creaner, Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University • conversation
Oct. 2, 2024 • ~5 min

Boeing can recover from its Starliner troubles, but it can’t afford any other misfires

The company can recover from its problems, but will need to deliver on promises to get its house in order.

Loizos Heracleous, Professor of Strategy, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick • conversation
Oct. 1, 2024 • ~8 min

A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse is set to thrill skywatchers over South America and the Pacific

Parts of South America, the Pacific and Antarctica are under the path of an annular eclipse.

Tamsin Mynett, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment, Kingston University • conversation
Oct. 1, 2024 • ~6 min

CubeSats, the tiniest of satellites, are changing the way we explore the solar system

CubeSats have already visited the Moon and Mars and are key components of upcoming deep space missions.

Mustafa Aksoy, Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York • conversation
Sept. 27, 2024 • ~7 min

Mars’ missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight

A new study shows Mars’ early thick atmosphere could be locked up in the planet’s clay surface.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
Sept. 25, 2024 • ~8 min

Black Women Mathematicians Receive Congressional Medals for Space Program Work
VOA Learning English • voa
Sept. 19, 2024 • ~4 min

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