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The Primordial Black Hole Saga: Part 1 - The Dark Matter Mystery
Do I really need to go over the evidence for dark matter again? Okay, fine, for those of you in the back who weren’t paying attention the first time.
Infrasound Tech Silences Wildfires before They Spread
A new sound-based system could squelch small fires before they grow into home-destroying blazes
Inspired by Schools of Fish, This Magnetic Material Swarms to Eat Carbon Dioxide
Removing, or “scrubbing”, carbon dioxide from the air of confined spaces is a critical component of any life support system on a spacecraft or submarine. However, modern day ones are energy intensive, requiring temperatures of up to 200℃ to operate. So a research lab led by Dr. Hui He at Guangxi University in China has developed what they call “micro/nano reconfigurable robots” (MNRM) to scrub CO2 from the air much more efficiently. Their work is described in a new paper in Nano-Micro Letters.
Vaccine Controversies and Measles Outbreaks, Space Pollution, Puppy Power
Vaccine controversies, space pollution, and puppy power.
Are we living in a simulation? This experiment could tell us
Are we living in a simulation? This experiment could tell us
Artemis II Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez Gets Orion Ready for “Go”
By the time the Artemis II Orion spacecraft launches to the Moon next year, its many components will already have traveled thousands of miles and moved across multiple facilities before coming together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Branelle Rodriguez, Artemis II vehicle manager for the Orion Program, has overseen many parts of that journey. Her job is to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its historic mission – carrying humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.
Branelle Rodriguez crouches inside an Orion spacecraft training unit aboard the USS San Diego in March 2024. The training unit was used during a full recovery simulation with the Artemis II crew. Image courtesy of Branelle Rodriguez
Based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Rodriguez has been involved in every stage of the spacecraft’s lifecycle – from development and production through testing and final launch readiness. Her program-level leadership focuses on ensuring the spacecraft’s hardware and subsystems are integrated and flight-ready. Most recently, she collaborated closely with Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy to oversee the spacecraft’s move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was mated with NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. “We are getting our teams trained and ready so that we are GO for the Artemis II mission,” she said.
Her 21-year NASA career spans numerous roles at Johnson. She started in the center’s Engineering Directorate, developing and building life support and habitation hardware for the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station Program. She went on to lead teams of engineers and flight controllers tasked with real-time resolution of anomalies aboard the International Space Station before transitioning to the Orion Program in 2022.
“Looking back, every role I’ve held, every team I’ve been a part of, and every milestone we’ve achieved together has been truly remarkable,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in it all.”
Rodriguez has been fascinated by space since she was a little girl. “Growing up in northern Minnesota, I was lucky to experience the beauty of clear, starlit skies on a regular basis,” she recalled. When Rodriguez was a teenager, her family encouraged her to attend Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, where she participated in mock astronaut training, flight controller simulations, and hands-on engineering projects. “It was a pivotal experience that only deepened my passion for space exploration.”
Branelle Rodriguez stands in front of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft as it completes processing in the Multi-Payload Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.Image courtesy of Branelle Rodriguez
Rodriguez applied to NASA’s internship program while studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota. She was not accepted, but she did not give up. She spent a semester interning at Dow Chemical to gain more experience while continuing to apply for internships across multiple NASA centers. “On my eighth attempt, I was accepted at Johnson,” she said. Three internships and one graduation later, Rodriguez landed a full-time position in the Engineering Directorate’s Crew and Thermal Systems Division. “It’s been an incredible journey—and a dream realized,” she said.
As a student athlete, Rodriguez knew the importance of teamwork from a young age, but said its value really became clear after joining NASA. “Some goals take time. There will be setbacks and struggles, but when you stick together, you build the kind of trust and relationships that are the foundation for long-term success,” she said. “That’s exactly what NASA represents. We take on some of the most complex and ambitious challenges imaginable—and we do it as a team.”
She added, “Especially now, it’s more important than ever to remember what we’re capable of when we work together, and to celebrate the wins—big or small—because each one brings us closer to the extraordinary.”
Rodriguez also appreciates having a team outside of the office. One of the greatest challenges she has faced is balancing the demands of a fulfilling, high-impact career with the needs of her family. “Like many parents, there are days when everything feels in sync, and days when I know I’ve fallen short,” she said, acknowledging that she must continually adapt to shifting needs and prioritize tasks to remain focused on what matters most at any given moment. “I’m beyond grateful for my family,” she said. “They are my foundation, and they truly understand and support my passion for the work I do. Without their love, and the broader village that helps make it all possible, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Branelle Rodriguez, her husband Scott, and her children Samantha and Brooks in the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center during the Artemis I mission in 2022. The family had an opportunity to ask the Artemis I Orion spacecraft questions via the Callisto technology demonstration carried aboard the 25-day mission.Image courtesy of Branelle Rodriguez
To her children and future generations, Rodriguez hopes to pass on a desire to keep exploring. “As humans, we are naturally driven to grow, learn, and push beyond our limits,” she said. “Space exploration is still in its early stages when viewed through the lens of history, and the achievements of the next generation will be truly extraordinary. I want them to carry forward the curiosity, courage, and determination needed to reach new frontiers and unlock the unknown.”
Explore More 4 min read NASA Selects 2 Instruments for Artemis IV Lunar Surface ScienceNASA has selected two science instruments designed for astronauts to deploy on the surface of…
Article 5 days ago 5 min read Student Art Murals at Johnson Celebrate 25 Years of Humanity in Space Article 6 days ago 8 min read Sugars, ‘Gum,’ Stardust Found in NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Samples Article 1 week agoArtemis II Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez Gets Orion Ready for “Go”
By the time the Artemis II Orion spacecraft launches to the Moon next year, its many components will already have traveled thousands of miles and moved across multiple facilities before coming together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Branelle Rodriguez, Artemis II vehicle manager for the Orion Program, has overseen many parts of that journey. Her job is to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its historic mission – carrying humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.
Branelle Rodriguez crouches inside an Orion spacecraft training unit aboard the USS San Diego in March 2024. The training unit was used during a full recovery simulation with the Artemis II crew. Image courtesy of Branelle RodriguezBased at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Rodriguez has been involved in every stage of the spacecraft’s lifecycle – from development and production through testing and final launch readiness. Her program-level leadership focuses on ensuring the spacecraft’s hardware and subsystems are integrated and flight-ready. Most recently, she collaborated closely with Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy to oversee the spacecraft’s move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was mated with NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. “We are getting our teams trained and ready so that we are GO for the Artemis II mission,” she said.
Her 21-year NASA career spans numerous roles at Johnson. She started in the center’s Engineering Directorate, developing and building life support and habitation hardware for the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station Program. She went on to lead teams of engineers and flight controllers tasked with real-time resolution of anomalies aboard the International Space Station before transitioning to the Orion Program in 2022.
“Looking back, every role I’ve held, every team I’ve been a part of, and every milestone we’ve achieved together has been truly remarkable,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in it all.”
Rodriguez has been fascinated by space since she was a little girl. “Growing up in northern Minnesota, I was lucky to experience the beauty of clear, starlit skies on a regular basis,” she recalled. When Rodriguez was a teenager, her family encouraged her to attend Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, where she participated in mock astronaut training, flight controller simulations, and hands-on engineering projects. “It was a pivotal experience that only deepened my passion for space exploration.”
Branelle Rodriguez stands in front of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft as it completes processing in the Multi-Payload Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.Image courtesy of Branelle RodriguezRodriguez applied to NASA’s internship program while studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota. She was not accepted, but she did not give up. She spent a semester interning at Dow Chemical to gain more experience while continuing to apply for internships across multiple NASA centers. “On my eighth attempt, I was accepted at Johnson,” she said. Three internships and one graduation later, Rodriguez landed a full-time position in the Engineering Directorate’s Crew and Thermal Systems Division. “It’s been an incredible journey—and a dream realized,” she said.
As a student athlete, Rodriguez knew the importance of teamwork from a young age, but said its value really became clear after joining NASA. “Some goals take time. There will be setbacks and struggles, but when you stick together, you build the kind of trust and relationships that are the foundation for long-term success,” she said. “That’s exactly what NASA represents. We take on some of the most complex and ambitious challenges imaginable—and we do it as a team.”
She added, “Especially now, it’s more important than ever to remember what we’re capable of when we work together, and to celebrate the wins—big or small—because each one brings us closer to the extraordinary.”
Rodriguez also appreciates having a team outside of the office. One of the greatest challenges she has faced is balancing the demands of a fulfilling, high-impact career with the needs of her family. “Like many parents, there are days when everything feels in sync, and days when I know I’ve fallen short,” she said, acknowledging that she must continually adapt to shifting needs and prioritize tasks to remain focused on what matters most at any given moment. “I’m beyond grateful for my family,” she said. “They are my foundation, and they truly understand and support my passion for the work I do. Without their love, and the broader village that helps make it all possible, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Branelle Rodriguez, her husband Scott, and her children Samantha and Brooks in the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center during the Artemis I mission in 2022. The family had an opportunity to ask the Artemis I Orion spacecraft questions via the Callisto technology demonstration carried aboard the 25-day mission.Image courtesy of Branelle RodriguezTo her children and future generations, Rodriguez hopes to pass on a desire to keep exploring. “As humans, we are naturally driven to grow, learn, and push beyond our limits,” she said. “Space exploration is still in its early stages when viewed through the lens of history, and the achievements of the next generation will be truly extraordinary. I want them to carry forward the curiosity, courage, and determination needed to reach new frontiers and unlock the unknown.”
Explore More 4 min read NASA Selects 2 Instruments for Artemis IV Lunar Surface ScienceNASA has selected two science instruments designed for astronauts to deploy on the surface of…
Article 4 days ago 5 min read Student Art Murals at Johnson Celebrate 25 Years of Humanity in Space Article 6 days ago 8 min read Sugars, ‘Gum,’ Stardust Found in NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Samples Article 7 days agoGeminid Meteor Shower Peaks December 13-14
Great news! We'll have dark skies for the year's richest meteor shower.
The post Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks December 13-14 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Researchers at SwRI May Have Solved the Mystery of Uranus' Radiation Belts
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists believe they may have resolved a 39-year-old mystery about the radiation belts around Uranus.
Death by Fermented Food
Some fermenting foods can carry the risk of a bacterium that produces an extremely strong toxin called bongkrekic acid
Russia Loses Launch Capability After Accident at Baikonur Cosmodrome
A severe accident at the Baikonur Cosmodrome involving a wrecked maintenance cabin has indefinitely delayed Russia's ability to launch crewed missions and payloads to the International Space Station (ISS).
Why Are ADHD Rates On the Rise?
More than 1 in 10 children in the U.S. have ADHD, fueling debate over the condition and how to treat it
How Close Are Today’s AI Models to AGI—And to Self-Improving into Superintelligence?
Today’s leading AI models can already write and refine their own software. The question is whether that self-improvement can ever snowball into true superintelligence
Did Asteroids Invent Gum Billions of Years Ago?
What is “gum”? Most people have probably never considered this question, and might answer something like a chewy material you can put in your mouth. But, to a scientist they might answer something like “nitrogen-rich polymeric sheets”, because precisely defining the chemistry of a material is important to them. Or at least, that’s what they called a type of organic material found in the sample collected of the asteroid Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. But more informally, scientists have taken to calling it “space gum”, and the process it formed under is making some of them question current models of asteroid formation.
Invention Challenge Brings Student Engineers to NASA JPL
Now in its 26th year, the event brings teams of middle and high school students to the lab to compete with home-built contraptions.
Teenagers wielding power tools and plywood demonstrated their engineering prowess at the annual Invention Challenge at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California on Friday. Also in evidence: lots of small motors, 3D-printed gears, PVC pipe, and duct tape.
First held at JPL in 1998, the event pits middle and high school teams against each other as they try to get handmade devices to accomplish a task that changes annually. For this year’s challenge, dubbed the “Bucket Brigade Contest,” teams needed to create devices capable of moving about 2 gallons (8 liters) of water from a holding reservoir into a bucket about 16 feet (5 meters) away in 60 seconds while satisfying a long list of rules.
Arcadia High School’s Team Still Water won first place among student teams in the 2025 Invention Challenge at JPL.NASA/JPL-Caltech
In all, 18 teams of students from middle and high schools across Los Angeles and Orange counties competed. First place went to Arcadia High School’s Team Still Water, which completed the task in just 6.45 seconds. Mission Viejo High’s Team Senior Citizens was close behind, finishing in 6.71 seconds. The Samo Seals of Santa Monica High came in third, at 9.18 seconds.
Five teams from outside the area — four from schools in Colorado and Massachusetts and one involving professional engineers — were invited to compete as well. Of those, the team led by retired JPL engineer Alan DeVault’s Team “Trial and Error Engineering” came in first (a repeat from last year). And “Team 6” from Pioneer Charter School of Science in the Boston area took second place (also a repeat performance from 2024). No team qualified for third place.
Some of the devices in the 2025 Invention Challenge at NASA JPL made a big splash.NASA/JPL-Caltech
Judges named Team Clankers from Mission Viejo High most artistic, Team 6 from Pioneer Charter School of Science most unusual, and Team Winning Engineering Team (WET) from Temple City High most creative.
The event was supported by dozens of volunteers from JPL staff. JPL Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide, familiar with a bucket brigade, was a guest judge.
News Media ContactMelissa Pamer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
626-314-4928
melissa.pamer@jpl.nasa.gov
2025-135
Share Details Last Updated Dec 05, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 6 min read NASA Data Powers New Tool to Protect Water Supply After FiresWhen wildfires scorch a landscape, the flames are just the beginning. NASA is helping U.S.…
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Invention Challenge Brings Student Engineers to NASA JPL
Now in its 26th year, the event brings teams of middle and high school students to the lab to compete with home-built contraptions.
Teenagers wielding power tools and plywood demonstrated their engineering prowess at the annual Invention Challenge at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California on Friday. Also in evidence: lots of small motors, 3D-printed gears, PVC pipe, and duct tape.
First held at JPL in 1998, the event pits middle and high school teams against each other as they try to get handmade devices to accomplish a task that changes annually. For this year’s challenge, dubbed the “Bucket Brigade Contest,” teams needed to create devices capable of moving about 2 gallons (8 liters) of water from a holding reservoir into a bucket about 16 feet (5 meters) away in 60 seconds while satisfying a long list of rules.
Arcadia High School’s Team Still Water won first place among student teams in the 2025 Invention Challenge at JPL.NASA/JPL-CaltechIn all, 18 teams of students from middle and high schools across Los Angeles and Orange counties competed. First place went to Arcadia High School’s Team Still Water, which completed the task in just 6.45 seconds. Mission Viejo High’s Team Senior Citizens was close behind, finishing in 6.71 seconds. The Samo Seals of Santa Monica High came in third, at 9.18 seconds.
Five teams from outside the area — four from schools in Colorado and Massachusetts and one involving professional engineers — were invited to compete as well. Of those, the team led by retired JPL engineer Alan DeVault’s Team “Trial and Error Engineering” came in first (a repeat from last year). And “Team 6” from Pioneer Charter School of Science in the Boston area took second place (also a repeat performance from 2024). No team qualified for third place.
Some of the devices in the 2025 Invention Challenge at NASA JPL made a big splash.NASA/JPL-CaltechJudges named Team Clankers from Mission Viejo High most artistic, Team 6 from Pioneer Charter School of Science most unusual, and Team Winning Engineering Team (WET) from Temple City High most creative.
The event was supported by dozens of volunteers from JPL staff. JPL Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide, familiar with a bucket brigade, was a guest judge.
News Media ContactMelissa Pamer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
626-314-4928
melissa.pamer@jpl.nasa.gov
2025-135
Share Details Last Updated Dec 05, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 5 min read New NASA Sensor Goes Hunting for Critical Minerals Article 7 hours ago 6 min read NASA Data Powers New Tool to Protect Water Supply After FiresWhen wildfires scorch a landscape, the flames are just the beginning. NASA is helping U.S.…
Article 3 months ago 5 min read NASA’s Deep Space Communications Demo Exceeds Project Expectations Article 3 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAMissions
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System