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LIVE: Exploring the Universe
To Keep Water Liquid, the Red Planet Needed to Freeze
Mars has a curious past. Rovers have shown unequivocal evidence that liquid water existed on its surface, for probably at least 100 years. But climate models haven’t come up with how exactly that happened with what we currently understand about what the Martian climate was like back then. A new paper, published in the journal AGU Advances by Eleanor Moreland, a graduate student at Rice University, and her co-authors, has a potential explanation for what might have happened - liquid lakes on the Red Planet would have hid under small, seasonal ice sheets similar to the way they do in Antarctica on Earth.
Some Dogs Learn New Words Just Like Toddlers Do
A new study reveals that some smart dogs can learn words just by overhearing humans’ conversations
NASA to Provide Media with International Space Station Update Today
NASA will host a live news conference at 5 p.m. EST on Thursday from the agency’s headquarters in Washington to discuss the International Space Station and its crew.
On Jan. 7, the agency announced it was postponing a planned spacewalk originally scheduled for Jan. 8 while teams monitored a medical concern with a crew member currently living and working aboard the orbital laboratory.
The matter involved a single crew member, who is stable. Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member.
Participants in the news conference include:
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
- Amit Kshatriya, associate administrator
- Dr. James Polk, chief health and medical officer, NASA Headquarters
NASA will provide live coverage of the news conference on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.
To participate in the news conference virtually or in-person, media must RSVP for details no later than one hour before the start of the event to the NASA Newsroom at: hq-media@mail.nasa.gov. NASA’s media credentialing policy is online.
To learn more about the International Space Station, visit:
-end-
Bethany Stevens / Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
NASA to Provide Media with International Space Station Update Today
NASA will host a live news conference at 5 p.m. EST on Thursday from the agency’s headquarters in Washington to discuss the International Space Station and its crew.
On Jan. 7, the agency announced it was postponing a planned spacewalk originally scheduled for Jan. 8 while teams monitored a medical concern with a crew member currently living and working aboard the orbital laboratory.
The matter involved a single crew member, who is stable. Due to medical privacy, it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member.
Participants in the news conference include:
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
- Amit Kshatriya, associate administrator
- Dr. James Polk, chief health and medical officer, NASA Headquarters
NASA will provide live coverage of the news conference on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media.
To participate in the news conference virtually or in-person, media must RSVP for details no later than one hour before the start of the event to the NASA Newsroom at: hq-media@mail.nasa.gov. NASA’s media credentialing policy is online.
To learn more about the International Space Station, visit:
-end-
Bethany Stevens / Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov
Why a January Heat Wave Is Breaking Records Across the South
An area of high pressure is bringing record-high heat to some parts of the U.S., with an added boost from climate change
Tree bark microbiome has important overlooked role in climate
Tree bark microbiome has important overlooked role in climate
Do Monkeys Make Faces on Purpose?
A new study suggests that primate facial expressions may not just be reflex
This Newly Discovered Asteroid, Almost Half a Mile Wide, Just Set a New Space Record
A giant asteroid has sent astronomers into a spin, setting a record for how fast it rotates on its axis
Supermassive Black Hole ‘Snowplows’ Can Stifle Star Formation in Spiral Galaxies
A wobbling jet from a giant, voracious black hole is suppressing star formation in a distant galaxy—and astronomers have never seen anything quite like it before
Best of 2025: Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test
Best of 2025: Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test
Artemis II crewmembers (left to right) NASA astronauts Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Victor Glover, pilot; CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander are led by Bill Owens of the Closeout Crew from the elevator at the 275-foot level of the mobile launcher to the crew access arm as they prepare to board their Orion spacecraft atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket during the Artemis II countdown demonstration test, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For this operation, the Artemis II crew and launch teams are simulating the launch day timeline including suit-up, walkout, and spacecraft ingress and egress.
Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars, for the benefit of all.
This image was chosen by NASA’s Headquarters photo team as one of the best of 2025.
Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Best of 2025: Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test
Artemis II crewmembers (left to right) NASA astronauts Christina Koch, mission specialist; and Victor Glover, pilot; CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander are led by Bill Owens of the Closeout Crew from the elevator at the 275-foot level of the mobile launcher to the crew access arm as they prepare to board their Orion spacecraft atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket during the Artemis II countdown demonstration test, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For this operation, the Artemis II crew and launch teams are simulating the launch day timeline including suit-up, walkout, and spacecraft ingress and egress.
Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars, for the benefit of all.
This image was chosen by NASA’s Headquarters photo team as one of the best of 2025.
Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Starless Gas Cloud Might Harbor Dark Matter
Astronomers discovered a cloud of hydrogen gas that’s devoid of stars. Held together by an invisible halo of dark matter, the starless cloud may elucidate its nature.
The post Starless Gas Cloud Might Harbor Dark Matter appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
NASA Starts Up Gateway’s Power System for First Time
1 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The primary structure of Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) undergoing assembly, integration, and testing at Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, California, on September 29, 2025. Lanteris Space Systems
Development continues on NASA’s Power and Propulsion Element, a solar electric propulsion spacecraft designed to provide power for Gateway in lunar orbit.
Able to generate 60 kilowatts of power, the element was successfully powered on earlier last year. The milestone demonstrates the element can provide the spacecraft with power, high-rate communications, attitude control, as well as the ability to maintain and maneuver between orbits.
The Power and Propulsion Element is managed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and built by industry partner Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, California, where teams have secured the element’s main electrical system inside protective exterior panels. On deck for installation at Lanteris Space Systems are three 12-kilowatt advanced electric propulsion system thrusters, manufactured by L3Harris, and four 6-kilowatt Busek-built BHT-6000 thrusters. The roll-out solar arrays for Gateway are complete and moving through testing at Redwire’s facility in Goleta, California.
For more information about NASA’s lunar exploration missions, visit:
Share Details Last Updated Jan 08, 2026 ContactJacqueline Minerdjacqueline.minerd@nasa.govLocationGlenn Research Center Related Terms Explore More 3 min read Lunar Space Station Module for NASA’s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting Article 9 months ago 2 min read Gateway Tops OffGateway’s Power and Propulsion Element is now equipped with its xenon and liquid fuel tanks.
Article 1 year ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAMissions
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System
NASA Starts Up Gateway’s Power System for First Time
1 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The primary structure of Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) undergoing assembly, integration, and testing at Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, California, on September 29, 2025. Lanteris Space SystemsDevelopment continues on NASA’s Power and Propulsion Element, a solar electric propulsion spacecraft designed to provide power for Gateway in lunar orbit.
Able to generate 60 kilowatts of power, the element was successfully powered on earlier last year. The milestone demonstrates the element can provide the spacecraft with power, high-rate communications, attitude control, as well as the ability to maintain and maneuver between orbits.
The Power and Propulsion Element is managed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and built by industry partner Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, California, where teams have secured the element’s main electrical system inside protective exterior panels. On deck for installation at Lanteris Space Systems are three 12-kilowatt advanced electric propulsion system thrusters, manufactured by L3Harris, and four 6-kilowatt Busek-built BHT-6000 thrusters. The roll-out solar arrays for Gateway are complete and moving through testing at Redwire’s facility in Goleta, California.
For more information about NASA’s lunar exploration missions, visit:
Share Details Last Updated Jan 08, 2026 ContactJacqueline Minerdjacqueline.minerd@nasa.govLocationGlenn Research Center Related Terms Explore More 3 min read Lunar Space Station Module for NASA’s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting Article 9 months ago 2 min read Gateway Tops OffGateway’s Power and Propulsion Element is now equipped with its xenon and liquid fuel tanks.
Article 1 year ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAMissions
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System
Some quantum computers might need more power than supercomputers
Some quantum computers might need more power than supercomputers
Archeologists Just Found a 2,000-Year-Old Battle Trumpet That May Be Linked to Queen Boudica
This newly discovered Iron Age instrument may have been played in the Celtic resistance against the Roman Empire