Astronomy

Grazing livestock and farming over the past 4000 years have rapidly accelerated the rate of soil loss in the Alps, jeopardising the ecosystem and putting the mountains at risk of further erosion

Discover why some puzzles stump supersmart AIs but are easy for humans, what this reveals about the quest for true artificial general intelligence—and why video games are the next frontier

The Expedition 73 and Axiom Mission 4 crews wrapped up their time together as science and maintenance activities continued aboard the International Space Station.

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On Friday 18 July, His Excellency Christian Stocker, Federal Chancellor of Austria, visited ESA Headquarters in Paris receiving a tour of the site from Director General Josef Aschbacher.

It was the Chancellor’s first visit to an ESA establishment following his swearing in earlier this year. Visiting the Astrolabe interpretive centre, Mr Stocker saw how Austria’s participation in ESA contributes to the goals of sustainable development and scientific excellence, and also heard how commercial space has undergone rapid development in Austria. He was accompanied by the Austrian ambassador to France, Barbara Kaudel-Jensen.

Austria became ESA’s 12th Member State when it ratified the ESA Convention in December 1986 and while always strongly committed to Earth observation and space applications, Austria has recently diversified its space interests, becoming more involved in launchers, navigation and human and robotic exploration. Austrian Carmen Possnig was selected as a member of ESA’s astronaut reserve in 2022 and will commence her second phase of training in the autumn. Carmen joined the visit and enthusiastically answered questions from the assembled Austrian media.

As part of Austria's innovation community, the ESA PhiLab opened last year and has a current call for proposals open until 8 October. Just last month, Austria hosted the Living Planet Symposium, which brought together 6500 members of the Earth observation community to present scientific results and plan future activities. It was supported by a citywide 'Space in the City' festival in Vienna, organised by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) and Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH (UIV) and demonstrating the everyday connections between citizens and space.

Instead of the big bang, some physicists have suggested that our universe may have come from a big bounce following another universe contracting – but quantum theory could rule this out

Instead of the big bang, some physicists have suggested that our universe may have come from a big bounce following another universe contracting – but quantum theory could rule this out

Obesity could exist in many forms, which may benefit from different treatments and prevention strategies

Obesity could exist in many forms, which may benefit from different treatments and prevention strategies

A meteorite impact thousands of years ago may have triggered a landslide in the Grand Canyon and reshaped the Colorado River that runs through the national park.

Baumgartner is most well-known for breaking the sound barrier with his body during a freefall from the stratosphere in 2012.

Rise and shine! Venus, Aldebaran and the moon team up for a dazzling dawn display.

A 72 percent reduction in federal funding is devastating to math research. The American Mathematical Society is offering $1 million in backstop grants—but it’s likely not enough.

Hulu released a new trailer for "Alien: Earth," a new sci-fi horror miniseries from "Fargo" creator Noah Hawley that premieres on Aug. 12.

As astronomers rush to study a newly discovered comet from beyond our solar system, a powerful new observatory may turn rare interstellar sightings into routine events.

We've tested numerous star projectors and one of the best value options, the YGiTK Northern Galaxy Lights projector, is 26% off on Amazon, now under $14.

Week in images: 14-18 July 2025

Discover our week through the lens

Astronomers have used the Chandra X-ray telescope to observe an exoplanet as it disintegrates because its parent star is bombarding it with radiation.

A lunar eclipse was seen over the U.S. Naval Observatory Deep South Telescope in Chile.

With the world on the cusp of passing 1.5°C of warming, scientists are turning their attention to defining a new limit for temperature rises – but not everyone agrees that we should

With the world on the cusp of passing 1.5°C of warming, scientists are turning their attention to defining a new limit for temperature rises – but not everyone agrees that we should