"I have looked farther into space than ever a human being did before me."

— William Herschel

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Neanderthals and early humans may have interbred over a vast area

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 6:00am
We are getting a clearer sense of where and how often Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred, and it turns out the behaviour was much more common than we first thought
Categories: Astronomy

Neanderthals and early humans may have interbred over a vast area

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 6:00am
We are getting a clearer sense of where and how often Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred, and it turns out the behaviour was much more common than we first thought
Categories: Astronomy

Decoding DNA’s ‘dark matter’ with AI, keeping a man alive without lungs, and cracking a botanical mystery

Scientific American.com - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 6:00am

How a new AI model could help us better understand noncoding DNA, how doctors kept a man alive without lungs for two days, and what a peculiar flower can teach us about evolution

Categories: Astronomy

Melatonin gummies as sleep aids for children: What are the risks?

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 5:00am
To eliminate bedtime struggles, a growing number of parents have turned to melatonin gummies, but these hormone supplements are largely unregulated. Columnist Alice Klein digs into the evidence on the risks of regularly using melatonin as a sleep aid for children
Categories: Astronomy

Melatonin gummies as sleep aids for children: What are the risks?

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 5:00am
To eliminate bedtime struggles, a growing number of parents have turned to melatonin gummies, but these hormone supplements are largely unregulated. Columnist Alice Klein digs into the evidence on the risks of regularly using melatonin as a sleep aid for children
Categories: Astronomy

Apply now to the ESA Graduate Trainee Programme

ESO Top News - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 5:00am

The 2026 ESA Graduate Trainee positions are now open! If you’re passionate about engineering, science, IT or business, this is your chance to turn your dreams into reality.

Categories: Astronomy

CRISPR grapefruit without the bitterness are now in development

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 3:00am
Gene-editing citrus fruits to make them less bitter could not only encourage more people to eat them, it might also help save the industry from a devastating plague  
Categories: Astronomy

CRISPR grapefruit without the bitterness are now in development

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Mon, 02/02/2026 - 3:00am
Gene-editing citrus fruits to make them less bitter could not only encourage more people to eat them, it might also help save the industry from a devastating plague  
Categories: Astronomy

U.S. quietly declassifies cold war–era ‘JUMPSEAT’ surveillance satellites

Scientific American.com - Sun, 02/01/2026 - 9:30am

The National Reconnaissance Office has now declassified a satellite program used to spy on America’s adversaries

Categories: Astronomy

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APOD - Sun, 02/01/2026 - 8:00am

Can you see nebulas in other galaxies?


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

The best new popular science books of February 2026

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Sun, 02/01/2026 - 5:00am
Readers are spoiled for choice when it comes to popular science reading this month, with new titles by major names including Maggie Aderin and Michael Pollan
Categories: Astronomy

The best new popular science books of February 2026

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Sun, 02/01/2026 - 5:00am
Readers are spoiled for choice when it comes to popular science reading this month, with new titles by major names including Maggie Aderin and Michael Pollan
Categories: Astronomy

February Podcast: Winter’s Milky Way

Sky & Telescope Magazine - Sun, 02/01/2026 - 1:01am

In this month’s episode, go on a tour of the stars and planets that you’ll see overhead during February. First we’ll keep tabs on the Moon; say good-bye to Saturn; trace out the Winter Milky Way; and explore some lesser-known constellations near Orion.

The post February Podcast: Winter’s Milky Way appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Categories: Astronomy

Largest galaxy survey yet confirms that the Universe is not clumpy enough

Scientific American.com - Sat, 01/31/2026 - 7:00am

The six-year results from the Dark Energy Survey highlight unresolved tensions in standard cosmological theory

Categories: Astronomy

How Claude Code is bringing vibe coding to everyone

Scientific American.com - Sat, 01/31/2026 - 7:00am

Coding for the rest of us finally feels possible now that tools like Claude Code turn plain English into working software

Categories: Astronomy

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APOD - Sat, 01/31/2026 - 4:00am

This moon is doomed.


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

For the First Time, Scientists Detect Molecule Critical to Life in Interstellar Space

Universe Today - Fri, 01/30/2026 - 7:12pm

For the first time, a complex, ring-shaped molecule containing 13 atoms—including sulfur—has been detected in interstellar space, based on laboratory measurements. The discovery closes a critical gap by linking simple chemistry in space with the complex organic building blocks found in comets and meteorites. This represents a major step toward explaining the cosmic origins of the chemistry of life.

Categories: Astronomy

Cracks on Europa Sport Traces of Ammonia

Universe Today - Fri, 01/30/2026 - 7:07pm

The search for life-supporting worlds in the Solar System includes the Jovian moon Europa. Yes, it's an iceberg of a world, but underneath its frozen exterior lies a deep, salty ocean and a nickel-iron core. It's heated by tidal flexing, and that puts pressure on the interior ocean, sending water and salts to the surface. As things turn out, there's also evidence of ammonia-bearing compounds on the surface. All these things combine to provide a fascinating look at Europa's geology and potential as a haven for life.

Categories: Astronomy