Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people

— Carl Sagan

Astronomy

New Scientist recommends 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week
Categories: Astronomy

A new 'brief history' of the universe paints a wide picture

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
Nearly 40 years after Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, Sarah Alam Malik's epic exploration of the cosmos reflects a changed landscape around science in the 21st century, finds Alison Flood
Categories: Astronomy

Why Elon Musk has misunderstood the point of Star Trek

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
As Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth talk about wanting to make Star Trek real, long-time fan Chanda Prescod-Weinstein says they've misconstrued the heart of the story
Categories: Astronomy

Why Elon Musk has misunderstood the point of Star Trek

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
As Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth talk about wanting to make Star Trek real, long-time fan Chanda Prescod-Weinstein says they've misconstrued the heart of the story
Categories: Astronomy

Unexpectedly moving book makes the case for the Arctic

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
In his lyrical book Frostlines, Neil Shea argues that we are more connected to the Arctic than we might think, says Elle Hunt
Categories: Astronomy

Holy prosociality! Batman makes people stand for pregnant passengers

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
Feedback is delighted by an experiment on the Milan metro system, which involved a prosthetic bump, a Batman costume and some unexpected displays of public decency
Categories: Astronomy

Unexpectedly moving book makes the case for the Arctic

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
In his lyrical book Frostlines, Neil Shea argues that we are more connected to the Arctic than we might think, says Elle Hunt
Categories: Astronomy

Holy prosociality! Batman makes people stand for pregnant passengers

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
Feedback is delighted by an experiment on the Milan metro system, which involved a prosthetic bump, a Batman costume and some unexpected displays of public decency
Categories: Astronomy

Psychedelic causes similar brain state to meditation

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:08pm
The psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT seemed to induce similar patterns of brain activity in a lama - a revered spiritual teacher in Tibetan Buddhism - as meditation, advancing our understanding of the drug's neurological effects
Categories: Astronomy

Psychedelic causes similar brain state to meditation

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:08pm
The psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT seemed to induce similar patterns of brain activity in a lama - a revered spiritual teacher in Tibetan Buddhism - as meditation, advancing our understanding of the drug's neurological effects
Categories: Astronomy

Psychedelic causes similar brain state in spiritual lama as meditation

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:08pm
The psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT seemed to induce similar patterns of brain activity in a lama - a revered spiritual teacher in Tibetan Buddhism - as meditation, advancing our understanding of the drug's neurological effects
Categories: Astronomy

Psychedelic causes similar brain state in spiritual lama as meditation

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:08pm
The psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT seemed to induce similar patterns of brain activity in a lama - a revered spiritual teacher in Tibetan Buddhism - as meditation, advancing our understanding of the drug's neurological effects
Categories: Astronomy

A 200-foot asteroid has a 4 percent chance of hitting the moon in 2032—and we could see it

Scientific American.com - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:05pm

If an incoming asteroid hits the moon, it will be visible from Earth, according to a new study

Categories: Astronomy

NASA targets new Artemis II moon mission launch dates for March

Scientific American.com - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:00pm

NASA’s updated potential launch windows for its delayed moon mission are now between March 6 and 11

Categories: Astronomy

New Kreutz Comet C/2026 A1 May Dazzle

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:53am

A distant Kreutz comet heading our way may grow a glorious tail in April.

The post New Kreutz Comet C/2026 A1 May Dazzle appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

NASA Heat Shield Tech Contributes to America’s Space Industry

NASA Image of the Day - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:31am
The Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule returned to Earth in Koonibba in South Australia on Jan. 29, 2026, with the protection of a heat shield made of C-PICA, a cutting-edge material licensed from NASA and manufactured by Varda. The capsule’s successful return marks the first time a capsule protected entirely by Varda-made C-PICA has come back to Earth.
Categories: Astronomy, NASA

Why is childbirth so hard for humans – and is it getting even harder?

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:00am
Some think the rise of C-sections means that one day all births will require serious medical intervention. But a surprising new understanding of the pelvis suggests a different story
Categories: Astronomy

Why is childbirth so hard for humans – and is it getting even harder?

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:00am
Some think the rise of C-sections means that one day all births will require serious medical intervention. But a surprising new understanding of the pelvis suggests a different story
Categories: Astronomy

Record-breaking quantum simulator could unlock new materials

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:00am
An array of 15,000 qubits made from phosphorus and silicon offers an unprecedentedly large platform for simulating quantum materials such as perfect conductors of electricity
Categories: Astronomy

Record-breaking quantum simulator could unlock new materials

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 02/04/2026 - 11:00am
An array of 15,000 qubits made from phosphorus and silicon offers an unprecedentedly large platform for simulating quantum materials such as perfect conductors of electricity
Categories: Astronomy