New technologies are reshaping how buildings are made in the United States. One of the most exciting innovations is a coral-inspired building material that can sequester carbon dioxide. This means it can trap CO₂ from the air and lock it away, just like natural coral does in the ocean. Scientists and engineers are now copying … Read more
How Did Iguanas End Up in the Remote Islands of Fiji? Millions of years ago, iguanas made an incredible journey across the Pacific Ocean. They traveled over 5,000 miles from North America to the remote islands of Fiji, likely by floating on natural rafts made of vegetation. This remarkable voyage is considered the longest known … Read more
The space race is no longer just about discovery—it’s now about defense. As Earth’s orbit becomes more crowded, new risks are rising fast. Space pirates already have their sights set on the ‘high seas’ of Earth orbit, targeting satellites and systems we rely on daily. This threat isn’t far-off fiction. Cyberattacks, satellite hijackings, and military-grade … Read more
What Are Hypersonic Weapons and Why Do They Matter? Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or over 3,800 mph. Unlike traditional missiles, they can maneuver mid-flight, making them difficult to detect and intercept. This combination of speed and agility poses a significant challenge to existing defense systems. The U.S. has been developing hypersonic … Read more
A sunrise partial solar eclipse is a breathtaking show. (Image credit: John Fader via Getty Images) Have you ever seen the Sun sprout horns? On March 29, 2025, early risers in select parts of North America will witness a rare celestial spectacle: the “solar horns.” This phenomenon occurs during a partial solar eclipse, where the … Read more
solar system, exoplanets, planetary formation, astronomyThe Kepler-11 system, as imagined from above, is a “peas-in-a-pod” planetary system. Credit: NASA For decades, astronomers thought our solar system was special. They believed it was a unique mix of planets and orbits, different from everything else in the universe. However, recent studies suggest that our celestial neighborhood might … Read more
A Stellar Tribute with a Historical Oversight Did you know that Barbie ventured into space before humans set foot on the Moon? In 1965, Mattel introduced the Miss Astronaut Barbie, showcasing a vision of women in space exploration. Now, six decades later, the 60th Anniversary of Miss Astronaut Barbie commemorates this pioneering spirit. However, amidst … Read more
A Galactic Threat Unveiled What if the calm heart of our galaxy suddenly erupted with unimaginable force? At the center of the Milky Way lies a supermassive black hole named Sagittarius A*. For now, it’s relatively quiet. But scientists recently observed a faraway galaxy behaving in a way that challenges everything we thought we knew—launching … Read more
Tracing Space Rocks: Where Do Meteorites and Asteroids Come From? Have You Ever Wondered Where That Meteorite Landed From? Each year, thousands of meteorites crash onto Earth, but have you ever paused to ask: Where did that space rock come from? For decades, scientists could only speculate. But recent advancements have allowed researchers to trace … Read more
What if some of the universe’s biggest mysteries were hiding in its smallest galaxies? The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Euclid spacecraft — dubbed the “dark universe detective” — is on a mission to uncover them. In a powerful new data release, researchers have identified an astonishing 2,674 previously unknown dwarf galaxies, revealing just how transformative … Read more