Fish and chips on Mars: our research shows how colonists could produce their own food

Aquaponics could help feed Martian colonies in the future and offer a sustainable food system on Earth.

Benz Kotzen, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Nature Based Solutions, University of Greenwich • conversation
June 11, 2024 ~6 min

NASA’s asteroid sample mission gave scientists around the world the rare opportunity to study an artificial meteor

Scientists don’t often have the time to get all their equipment set up to study incoming meteors from space. Instead, they can study capsules from space missions as ‘artificial meteors.’

Elizabeth A. Silber, Senior R&D Scientist, Physics, Sandia National Laboratories • conversation
June 10, 2024 ~9 min


Scientists call the region of space influenced by the Sun the heliosphere – but without an interstellar probe, they don’t know much about its shape

An interstellar probe could help scientists answer fundamental questions about how the Sun influences Earth, space and other planets in the solar system.

Sarah A. Spitzer, Research Fellow in Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan • conversation
June 7, 2024 ~9 min

The Sun is reaching the peak of its activity – here’s how that could cause more auroras and solar storms

Here’s what’s going on to cause more widespread northern and southern lights.

Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
June 6, 2024 ~7 min

Why do astronomers look for signs of life on other planets based on what life is like on Earth?

It’s hard to look for something you’ve never seen before – and that might not even exist. But you have to start somewhere.

Cole Mathis, Assistant Professor of Complex Adaptive Systems, Arizona State University • conversation
June 3, 2024 ~9 min

The universe’s biggest explosions made some of the elements we are composed of. But there’s another mystery source out there

Analysis of two major cosmic blasts deepens the mystery of where the universe’s ‘heavy’ elements come from.

Robert Brose, Assistant Professor at the School of Physical Sciences at Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin City University • conversation
May 30, 2024 ~6 min

The rush to return humans to the Moon and build lunar bases could threaten opportunities for astronomy

The best spots on the Moon for lunar bases are the same spots where scientists want to build telescopes − can these two interests coexist?

Martin Elvis, Senior Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
May 30, 2024 ~7 min

I’m an astrophysicist mapping the universe with data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory − clear, sharp photos help me study energetic black holes

2024 marks 25 years since NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory started detecting X-rays from energetic astronomical events.

Giuseppina Fabbiano, Senior Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
May 29, 2024 ~9 min


US participation in space has benefits at home and abroad − reaping them all will require collaboration

You have the US space program to thank for some of the technology in your phone and laptop.

Cheyenne Black, Graduate Research Assistant in the Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, University of Oklahoma • conversation
May 22, 2024 ~7 min

Black holes are mysterious, yet also deceptively simple − a new space mission may help physicists answer hairy questions about these astronomical objects

Studying theoretical, fast-spinning black holes is helping physicists understand more about the elusive black holes out in the universe.

Gaurav Khanna, Professor of Physics, University of Rhode Island • conversation
May 15, 2024 ~7 min

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