Astronomy

Play this crossword inspired by the January 2026 issue of Scientific American

Science in meter and verse

Psychological data and brain scans show how sleep can improve our lives, our bodies and our relationships

Killer bees; Mars volcanoes

Celestial transients shine furiously and briefly. Astronomers are just beginning to understand them

The rings of Saturn are normally thought to be flat, but measurements by the Cassini spacecraft show that some of their particles fly hundreds of thousands of kilometres above and below the thin main discs

The rings of Saturn are normally thought to be flat, but measurements by the Cassini spacecraft show that some of their particles fly hundreds of thousands of kilometres above and below the thin main discs

Professional footballer players who became injured while on their period took longer to recover than when injuries occurred at other times of their menstrual cycle

Professional footballer players who became injured while on their period took longer to recover than when injuries occurred at other times of their menstrual cycle

The Shenzhou-21 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed its first extravehicular activities on Tuesday, Dec. 9th, during which they validated the new EVA spacesuits.

A team of researchers from the University of Zurich and the NCCR PlanetS is challenging our understanding of the interior of the Solar System's planets. The composition of Uranus and Neptune, the two outermost planets, might be more rocky and less icy than previously thought.

New experiments show how RNA might form not just on Earth but on other rocky planets, too

For roughly two billion years of Earth’s early history, the atmosphere contained no oxygen, the essential ingredient required for complex life. Oxygen began building up in the atmosphere during the period known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), but it had to enter the oceans first. When and how it first entered the oceans has remained uncertain.

NASA is working to restore communications with its MAVEN Mars Orbiter mission.

The post Mars MAVEN Mission May Be Lost in Space appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The Bassac River surrounds Cù Lao Dung, a river islet district in southern Vietnam, before emptying into the South China Sea.

Under current climate policies, 79 per cent of the world’s glaciers will disappear by 2100, endangering the water supply for 2 billion people and raising sea levels dramatically

Under current climate policies, 79 per cent of the world’s glaciers will disappear by 2100, endangering the water supply for 2 billion people and raising sea levels dramatically

Pregnant people who receive a COVID vaccine are 60 percent less likely to experience severe disease and around 30 percent less likely to give birth prematurely, according to new research

Video: 00:07:26

2025 was a landmark year for Europe in space. From celebrating 50 years of ESA to new missions, scientific breakthroughs, the year reaffirmed Europe’s leadership in science, exploration, climate action and innovation.

A recent analysis showed the rate of uninsured children in the U.S. grew from 2022 to 2024. Experts say this could lead to more pediatric cancer deaths