Wind speeds on Mars are high enough to blow fleets of large spherical rovers that resemble tumbleweed across the Red Planet’s surface, according to new wind-tunnel tests of small prototypes conducted by an international consortium of young scientists.
“We now have experimental validation that tumbleweed rovers could indeed operate and collect scientific data on Mars,” James…
SpaceX targeting Oct. 13 for next Starship megarocket launch
October 1, 2025
SpaceX’s Starship megarocket will fly again less than two weeks from now, if all goes according to plan.
SpaceX announced on Monday (Sept. 29) that it’s targeting Oct. 13 for Starship Flight 11, which will be the final launch of the vehicle’s current…
Canon EOS R50 V review
September 30, 2025
The Canon EOS R50 V is an attempt to capture content creators such as vloggers in addition to Canon’s core photographer audience. With the uplift in people making podcasts, vlogs, and personal YouTube channels, it’s no surprise.
Unlike expensive, top-end EOS R…
Secrets of ancient life on Earth may live in Japan's hot springs
September 30, 2025
Some 2.3 billion years ago, the Earth would have been unrecognizable to us. At that time, ancient microorganisms were the dominant life form; there were no animals, no plant life, and certainly no humans.
But then, something changed. Oxygen-producing cyanobacteria triggered the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), which introduced atmospheric oxygen to our planet and allowed life as we know it to…
Mysterious crown-like features on Venus may finally have an explanation
September 30, 2025
The mystery behind Venus’ giant, crown-shaped geological features, known as coronae, may finally have an explanation: A “glass ceiling” in Venus’ mantle is trapping heat and driving slow, shifting currents that might lead to the formation of the…
Why 2025's Harvest Moon is a rare October full moon
September 29, 2025
Our next full moon will occur on Oct. 6, and it will be a somewhat special one for those living in the Northern Hemisphere in that it will also carry the title of “Harvest Moon.” The moon officially turns full when it reaches that spot in the sky opposite (180…
Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE lens review
September 29, 2025
When you’re shooting subjects such as the night sky, the ability to resolve fine detail while also pushing camera settings to the limit is essential. This is why professional prime lenses can be the perfect options for astrophotographers, and the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE is a lens that full-frame Sony camera owners will appreciate.
This lens is part of Viltrox’s flagship LAB series, which…
See the red supergiant star Antares shine with the crescent moon at sunset on Sept. 27
September 29, 2025
Heads up stargazers! The moon will shine close to the bright star Antares at sunset on Sept. 27, while some lucky viewers — and plenty of penguins — will witness the lunar disk pass directly in front of the red supergiant, hiding it from view.
Look 15 degrees above the…
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM lens review
September 26, 2025
85mm prime lenses are highly regarded for their excellent image quality and fast maximum apertures. This makes them a popular choice for different types of photography because of the focal length they provide alongside fast maximum apertures. This makes it an attractive lens…
Rick Tumlinson founded SpaceFund, a venture capital firm investing in space startups, the Earthlight Foundation, and New Worlds. He also co-founded the Space Frontier Foundation, and is a founding board member of the X Prize Foundation. He contributed the following piece — an edited essay from his upcoming book “Why Space: The Purpose of People,” to be published in October 2025 —…
