We may already be signaling other intelligences beyond our solar system, without even trying. Kunyu City, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China, hosts huge sprinklers that are irrigating over 1,317 acres (533 hectares) of winter wheat fields on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Then there’s the world’s largest cluster of solar farms, a megaproject that covers 235…
'That's just not a winning strategy': Congress objects (again) to Trump's planned NASA budget cuts
April 24, 2026
President Trump’s big NASA budget cuts appear to be dead on arrival, again.
Earlier this month, the White House released its fiscal year (FY) 2027 federal budget request, which slashes NASA’s total budget by 23% and its science funding by 47%.
Trump proposed the same…
Don’t miss the first quarter moon shining close to Jupiter in the daytime sky this week!
Earth’s moon is one of the few objects bright enough to be seen in the daytime sky — along with the most dazzling planets such as Jupiter and Venus and, more rarely, Jupiter, under…
The Lyrid meteor shower put on a spectacular show last night as Earth plunged through the debris stream cast off by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), triggering a peak of activity that saw shooting stars blaze a path away from the blue-white star Vega in the constellation Lyra.
Shooting stars appear when fragments of comets and asteroids cross paths with Earth, ending their existence in a fiery…
New observations of Uranus’s enigmatic outer rings have shown them to be even more mysterious than astronomers had thought, and their unusual properties hint at some puzzling things going on with the planet’s system of moons.
These observations suggest that small…
NASA reveals its Roman Space Telescope today: How to watch live, and what's next for the next-generation observatory
April 22, 2026
Watch live: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a game changer and fully assembled – YouTube
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NASA’s newest space telescope is ready for its moment on stage — and soon, in space.
The agency will unveil the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope…
Don't miss the Lyrid meteor shower 2026 peak tonight! Viewing times, location and tips
April 22, 2026
Heads up, skywatchers! Don’t miss the Lyrid meteor shower tonight, as activity peaks in the predawn hours of April 22.
Under ideal conditions, it’s possible to see up to 20 meteors per hour during the peak, with the chance to witness dramatically bright flashes known as fireballs.
Viewing conditions are looking promising for the Lyrids this year. The moon will set around midnight, leaving…
NASA's Curiosity rover finds building blocks of life on Mars. Scientists aren't sure how they got there
April 22, 2026
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has found a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals widely considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth. The finding marks the first time a new kind of chemical experiment has been performed on another…
It turns out that living in space can have a lasting impact on how your brain works, researchers have found.
In space, astronauts have to learn to live without gravity — whether they’re aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or on a journey to the moon, such as…
The Lyrid meteor shower is currently active and peaks tonight, during predawn hours on April 22 — but if cloudy skies, light pollution, or a busy schedule are getting in your way of the show, you don’t have to miss out.
A large number of high-quality night sky livestreams from around the world let you hunt for the Lyrids from the comfort of your home. Many livestreams even include a live chat…
