Interactive map shows how every state is important to NASA
NASA does most of its business in space, and it can sometimes feel like there’s a bit of a disconnect between the space agency and …
Articles by Mike Wehner
Scientists try to explain why everyone loves the ‘Avengers’ movies
The Marvel movies are some of the most successful Hollywood blockbusters of all time. Sure, Avengers: Endgame can’t seem to beat Avatar for the all-time crown, …
Virgin Atlantic flight forced to land after passenger’s backup battery burst into flames
There are few things in this world more panic-inducing than realizing your smartphone battery is about to die in the middle of a long flight. …
Here’s how astronauts aboard the ISS celebrated the 4th of July
Donning a NASA patch and flying to the International Space Station is an incredible honor, but with it comes many sacrifices. Not only do astronauts …
Riders want autonomous cars that drive like humans, not machines
Autonomous cars may very well be our future, but we’re not there yet. Not only is the technology lacking, but many would-be passengers just don’t …
This video of a SpaceX rocket fairing returning to Earth is mesmerizing
It took SpaceX several tries to catch one of its rocket nosecones during an actual mission, but it finally accomplished that feat late last month …
NASA takes a nostalgic look back at its very first Mars rover
Today, NASA’s Curiosity rover spends its days exploring the Martian landscape and eagerly awaiting the arrival of its newest sibling, the Mars 2020 rover, which …
Watch the total solar eclipse streak across Earth in this gorgeous satellite shot
Earlier this week, a total solar eclipse gave skywatchers in South America a very good reason to gaze at the heavens. Only a very small …
Scientists built a new type of artificial gravity that could help keep astronauts healthy
Heading into space means leaving Earth’s gravity behind. Astronauts floating around on the International Space Station might look like they’re having fun in the weightless …
NASA just strapped a frickin’ laser beam to its Mars 2020 rover
We’re still about a year away from the launch of the Mars 2020 mission, but NASA’s shiny new rover is rapidly taking shape already. The …
Miss the eclipse? Don’t worry, NASA stuffed the whole thing into a 5-minute video
A total solar eclipse graces a small section of planet Earth yesterday afternoon. Not many people got to see it in person, but thanks to …
A fireball lit up the sky over Florida, and this time it wasn’t a meteor
A massive fireball appeared in the skies above South Florida last night, giving residents plenty of reason to gaze skyward and capture footage with their …
Hubble captures interstellar ‘fireworks’ just in time for July 4th
With Independence Day rapidly approaching, people across the United States are stocking up on low-grade explosives, just as they do every year. But while your …
Successful Orion abort test is good news for NASA astronauts
NASA is slowly but surely inching its way towards its ultimate goal of being able to launch astronauts from U.S. soil. The agency has contracts …
NASA will use an infrared camera to map the Moon in incredible detail
As Earth’s only natural satellite — and the only other world that mankind has ever explored in person — the Moon is one of the …
NASA is streaming today’s total solar eclipse, and you can watch it here
Being able to fully enjoy a total solar eclipse means being in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately for most skywatchers, today’s total …
NASA initiates plan to rescue its robot that’s stuck on Mars
NASA’s newest Mars robot has a serious problem. The InSight lander is a relative newcomer to the Red Planet, having safely arrived at its chosen …
Poop parasite outbreaks linked to water parks and pools, just in time for summer
Summer is finally here, and that means lots and lots of hot, sunny days and plenty of trips to the local pool or nearby water …
Scientists still have no idea what that mysterious ‘alien probe’ actually was
The bizarre, twisted saga of Oumuamua — the strange object that whizzed through our solar system so fast it wasn’t even spotted until it was …
NASA accidentally sold original Moon landing tapes to an intern, and now they’re up for auction
The 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 11 Moon landing is right around the corner, and it’s a pretty big deal. As you might expect, NASA …
Gene Kranz, NASA legend, brings Apollo Mission Control back to life
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing is rapidly approaching, and NASA is going all out to celebrate. We knew we’d get some …
South Korea scrambles fighter jets to engage UFO… which turns out to be a bunch of birds
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several decades you know that tensions have been high on the Korean peninsula. The standoff …
Gangs of wild chickens are terrorizing residents of an island in the UK
If you’re worried about running into angry wildlife while on a nice jog, chances are you’re afraid of stumbling across a bear or mountain lion …
Booze bottles might be more dangerous than the alcohol inside them
Alcoholic beverages are carefully controlled and their distribution is strictly regulated. Unfortunately, the typically fancy bottles that various spirits, beer, and wine come in might …
Astronomers detect radio signal coming from massive galaxy far, far away
Oftentimes astronomers focus on distant galaxies in an effort to better understand the layout of the universe, and perhaps even tell us something about how …
NASA is sending a drone helicopter to Saturn’s Titan in search of life
If there’s one thing you can definitely say about NASA, it’s that they sure do like to plan ahead. Despite more pressing ambitions like returning …
Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke says he almost died on the Moon while fooling around
Being an astronaut is a dangerous profession by default. Groups like NASA always put safety at the forefront of their various off-world missions, but accidents …
1,000-pound birds once roamed Europe, researchers say
If you’re going to pick a fight with a bird, the common ostrich should probably be near the bottom of your list. They’re tall, powerful, …
Some ancient crocodiles preferred salad over steak
Modern crocodiles have a reputation as ravenous beasts that crave flesh. While it’s certainly true that crocodiles today are more than happy to feast on …
Scientists built a fast, accurate, AI-powered universe simulation, but they don’t know how
Everyone’s had a moment or two in their lives where they pull off an incredible feat but can’t explain how they did it. Perhaps it …
