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The moss Physcomitrium patens joins tardigrades and thale-cress as a species that has survived in space

After her shocking lung cancer diagnosis, the late Susan Wojcicki dedicated herself to fighting the disease and looking for answers

A machine-learning breakthrough could lift the veil on Earth’s early history—and supercharge the search for alien life

Scientists have observed mice helping each other when they encounter difficulties during birth, prompting a rethink of caregiving among rodents and other animals 

Scientists have observed mice helping each other when they encounter difficulties during birth, prompting a rethink of caregiving among rodents and other animals 

The European Space Agency (ESA) brings public and ESA-wide recognition of the outstanding performance of European companies working in the frame of ESA programmes and projects.

Fitness influencers promote superhigh-protein diets, but studies show there’s only so much the body can use

Smile has passed its qualification and flight acceptance review, meaning that it meets all requirements for launch. The launch window has been set for 8 April to 7 May 2026.

Over the course of billions of years, the universe has steadily been evolving. Thanks to the expansion of the universe, we are able to “see” back in time to watch that evolution, almost from the beginning. But every once in a while we see something that doesn’t fit into our current understanding of how the universe should operate. That’s the case for a galaxy described in a new paper by PhD student Sijia Cai of Tsinghua University’s Department of Astronomy and their colleagues. They found a galaxy formed around 11 billion years ago that appears to be “metal-free”, indicating that it might contain a set of elusive first generation (Pop III) stars.

As AI systems exceed one benchmark after another, our standards for “humanlike intelligence” keep evolving

Orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug taken as a pill, achieved positive results in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, although it seems less effective than injectable drugs

Orforglipron, a GLP-1 drug taken as a pill, achieved positive results in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, although it seems less effective than injectable drugs

Video: 01:00:00

The press conference, at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, follows the signing of contracts between Thales Alenia Space Italy, UK and France, OHB system AG (Germany) and Nammo (UK) for the ESA’s lunar lander programme Argonaut.

The programme is a key part of ESA’s lunar strategy and will support future robotic and crewed missions, contributing to international efforts to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.

The health impacts of men losing their Y chromosome from their cells are increasingly coming to light, with the loss playing a complicated role in the most common form of lung cancer

The health impacts of men losing their Y chromosome from their cells are increasingly coming to light, with the loss playing a complicated role in the most common form of lung cancer

Florida Northern Lights

All of the proposals floating around out there for invoking dynamical dark energy are a little on the weak side. In many cases, they raise more questions than answers.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim poses for a portrait with the American flag inside the International Space Station’s “window to the world,” the cupola.NASA

In 2025, NASA and its international partners celebrate 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station. Since November 2, 2000, more than 290 people from 26 countries have lived and worked aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting thousands of experiments that have advanced science and technology on Earth and paved the way for Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars. 

Beyond its role as a science platform, the station has been a bridge—connecting cultures, sparking creativity, and inspiring generations. The memories of Johnson Space Center employees reflect how the orbiting laboratory is not only an engineering marvel but also a deeply human endeavor.  

Christopher Brown – Advancing Life Support Systems for Future Exploration 

Christopher Brown (center) receives the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement alongside NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. NASA/James Blair

As a space station Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) integrator, Christopher Brown’s role has been ensuring astronauts have clean air and water. ECLSS removes carbon dioxide from the air, supplies oxygen for breathing, and recycles wastewater—turning yesterday’s coffee into tomorrow’s coffee. Today, these systems can recover nearly 98% of the water brought to the station.  

His proudest memory was commissioning regenerative life support systems and raising a symbolic toast with the crew while on console in mission control. He also helped activate the Water Storage System, saving crew time and improving operations on station. For Brown, these milestones were vital steps toward future long-duration missions beyond Earth. 

Stephanie Sipila – The Heart of Microgravity Research  

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins works on the Cardinal Heart study, which seeks to help scientists understand the aging and weakening of heart muscles in the search for new treatments for astronauts and people on Earth. NASA/Mike Hopkins

Stephanie Sipila, now integration manager for NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, began her career as a mechanical and robotic systems instructor for the orbital outpost. Her favorite experiment, Engineered Heart Tissues, studies microgravity’s effect on the human heart to help develop new treatments for cardiovascular disease. She recalls NASA astronaut Sunita Williams running the Boston Marathon on a treadmill aboard station, becoming the first person to complete the race in space and showing how astronauts stay connected to Earth while living on orbit.  

Sipila also highlights the Spacesuit Art Project, an initiative that turned artwork from children with cancer into spacesuits flown to and worn aboard the orbital outpost during live downlinks, connecting science, art, and hope — and raising awareness of cancer research conducted aboard the orbital outpost.  

Liz Warren – Where Exploration Meets Humanity 

NASA astronaut Jack Fischer wearing the Unity spacesuit painted by patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. NASA/Randy Bresnik

Space station Associate Chief Scientist Liz Warren has seen firsthand how the Spacesuit Art Project uplifted children on Earth. During Expedition 52, she watched astronaut Jack Fischer wear a suit covered in artwork created by young cancer patients, including his own daughter, a survivor. “It was incredibly touching to note the power of art and inspiration. Human spaceflight requires fortitude, resilience, and teamwork—so does fighting childhood cancer,” Warren said. 

Her memories also extend to her time as an operations lead for NASA’s Human Research Program, which uses research to develop methods to protect the health and performance of astronauts in space to prepare for long-duration missions. While out for a weekend run, Warren received a call from the Payload Operations and Integration Center in Huntsville, Alabama. An astronaut on station, following a prescribed diet for a research study, wanted to swap out a food item. Warren coordinated with her support team and relayed the decision back to orbit—all while continuing her run. The moment, she recalls, underscored the constant, real-time connection between astronauts in space and teams on the ground. 

Adam Baker – Checkmate: Space Debris Cleanup 

Flight Director Chris Edelen, left, and capsule communicator Jay Marschke discuss their next chess move during a match with NASA astronaut Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17 flight engineer aboard the space station.NASA/Robert Markowitz

As an aerospace engineer, Adam Baker helped track experiments and spacecraft operations from mission control. Baker remembers when mission control played a live chess match with astronaut Greg Chamitoff during Expedition 17, a moment that showed the unique ways the station connects crews in orbit with people on Earth. His favorite technical project, though, was the RemoveDebris small satellite, deployed from the station in 2018 to test technologies for cleaning up space junk. “Knowing these experiments could one day help keep the orbital environment safe made it even more meaningful,” he said.   

Michael McFarlane – Training for Success 

Engineers run simulations inside Johnson’s Systems Engineering Simulator during a shuttle-to-station docking simulation.Smiley Pool/Houston Chronicle

As chief of the Simulation and Graphics Branch, Michael McFarlane prepared astronauts for space station assembly missions using high-fidelity simulators. “My greatest memory is seeing the station grow as we successfully executed assembly missions that looked very much like what we analyzed and trained for in our ground-based simulations,” he said. 

A Legacy of Ingenuity and Community 

Date: 10-31-2023 Location: Bldg 30 MCC, ISS MER Subject: Mission Evaluation Room (MER) Halloween Celebration “MERloween” Photographer: James BlairNASA/James Blair

In the Mission Evaluation Room, engineers not only troubleshoot in real time but also celebrate milestones with traditions like “MERloween,” where controllers dress in space-themed costumes to honor the year’s lessons learned. 

NASA’s SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of America, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, returning Crew-9 to Earth on March 18, 2025. NASA/Keegan Barber

For social media consultant Mark Garcia, sharing the station story with the public has been the highlight of his career. His favorite moment was watching NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 splash down in 2025, greeted by dolphins in the Gulf of America. “I love writing about the science aboard the station that benefits people on Earth,” he said. 

For 25 years, the International Space Station has shown what humanity can accomplish together. The lessons learned aboard will guide Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars—ensuring the next 25 years are built on innovation, resilience, and the human spirit. 

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim poses for a portrait with the American flag inside the International Space Station’s “window to the world,” the cupola.NASA

In 2025, NASA and its international partners celebrate 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station. Since November 2, 2000, more than 290 people from 26 countries have lived and worked aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting thousands of experiments that have advanced science and technology on Earth and paved the way for Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars. 

Beyond its role as a science platform, the station has been a bridge—connecting cultures, sparking creativity, and inspiring generations. The memories of Johnson Space Center employees reflect how the orbiting laboratory is not only an engineering marvel but also a deeply human endeavor.  

Christopher Brown – Advancing Life Support Systems for Future Exploration 

Christopher Brown (center) receives the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement alongside NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. NASA/James Blair

As a space station Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) integrator, Christopher Brown’s role has been ensuring astronauts have clean air and water. ECLSS removes carbon dioxide from the air, supplies oxygen for breathing, and recycles wastewater—turning yesterday’s coffee into tomorrow’s coffee. Today, these systems can recover nearly 98% of the water brought to the station.  

His proudest memory was commissioning regenerative life support systems and raising a symbolic toast with the crew while on console in mission control. He also helped activate the Water Storage System, saving crew time and improving operations on station. For Brown, these milestones were vital steps toward future long-duration missions beyond Earth. 

Stephanie Sipila – The Heart of Microgravity Research  

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins works on the Cardinal Heart study, which seeks to help scientists understand the aging and weakening of heart muscles in the search for new treatments for astronauts and people on Earth. NASA/Mike Hopkins

Stephanie Sipila, now integration manager for NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, began her career as a mechanical and robotic systems instructor for the orbital outpost. Her favorite experiment, Engineered Heart Tissues, studies microgravity’s effect on the human heart to help develop new treatments for cardiovascular disease. She recalls NASA astronaut Sunita Williams running the Boston Marathon on a treadmill aboard station, becoming the first person to complete the race in space and showing how astronauts stay connected to Earth while living on orbit.  

Sipila also highlights the Spacesuit Art Project, an initiative that turned artwork from children with cancer into spacesuits flown to and worn aboard the orbital outpost during live downlinks, connecting science, art, and hope — and raising awareness of cancer research conducted aboard the orbital outpost.  

Liz Warren – Where Exploration Meets Humanity 

NASA astronaut Jack Fischer wearing the Unity spacesuit painted by patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. NASA/Randy Bresnik

Space station Associate Chief Scientist Liz Warren has seen firsthand how the Spacesuit Art Project uplifted children on Earth. During Expedition 52, she watched astronaut Jack Fischer wear a suit covered in artwork created by young cancer patients, including his own daughter, a survivor. “It was incredibly touching to note the power of art and inspiration. Human spaceflight requires fortitude, resilience, and teamwork—so does fighting childhood cancer,” Warren said. 

Her memories also extend to her time as an operations lead for NASA’s Human Research Program, which uses research to develop methods to protect the health and performance of astronauts in space to prepare for long-duration missions. While out for a weekend run, Warren received a call from the Payload Operations and Integration Center in Huntsville, Alabama. An astronaut on station, following a prescribed diet for a research study, wanted to swap out a food item. Warren coordinated with her support team and relayed the decision back to orbit—all while continuing her run. The moment, she recalls, underscored the constant, real-time connection between astronauts in space and teams on the ground. 

Adam Baker – Checkmate: Space Debris Cleanup 

Flight Director Chris Edelen, left, and capsule communicator Jay Marschke discuss their next chess move during a match with NASA astronaut Greg Chamitoff, Expedition 17 flight engineer aboard the space station.NASA/Robert Markowitz

As an aerospace engineer, Adam Baker helped track experiments and spacecraft operations from mission control. Baker remembers when mission control played a live chess match with astronaut Greg Chamitoff during Expedition 17, a moment that showed the unique ways the station connects crews in orbit with people on Earth. His favorite technical project, though, was the RemoveDebris small satellite, deployed from the station in 2018 to test technologies for cleaning up space junk. “Knowing these experiments could one day help keep the orbital environment safe made it even more meaningful,” he said.   

Michael McFarlane – Training for Success 

Engineers run simulations inside Johnson’s Systems Engineering Simulator during a shuttle-to-station docking simulation.Smiley Pool/Houston Chronicle

As chief of the Simulation and Graphics Branch, Michael McFarlane prepared astronauts for space station assembly missions using high-fidelity simulators. “My greatest memory is seeing the station grow as we successfully executed assembly missions that looked very much like what we analyzed and trained for in our ground-based simulations,” he said. 

A Legacy of Ingenuity and Community 

Date: 10-31-2023 Location: Bldg 30 MCC, ISS MER Subject: Mission Evaluation Room (MER) Halloween Celebration “MERloween” Photographer: James BlairNASA/James Blair

In the Mission Evaluation Room, engineers not only troubleshoot in real time but also celebrate milestones with traditions like “MERloween,” where controllers dress in space-themed costumes to honor the year’s lessons learned. 

NASA’s SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of America, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, returning Crew-9 to Earth on March 18, 2025. NASA/Keegan Barber

For social media consultant Mark Garcia, sharing the station story with the public has been the highlight of his career. His favorite moment was watching NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 splash down in 2025, greeted by dolphins in the Gulf of America. “I love writing about the science aboard the station that benefits people on Earth,” he said. 

For 25 years, the International Space Station has shown what humanity can accomplish together. The lessons learned aboard will guide Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars—ensuring the next 25 years are built on innovation, resilience, and the human spirit.