Space

In late November, Hayli Gubbi erupted explosively, sending a towering plume of ash and volcanic gases high into the atmosphere. The MODIS instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the dramatic scene just four hours after the eruption began. The plume reached roughly 9 miles (15 kilometers) above sea level, drifting northeast across multiple countries and eventually disrupting flights as…

Atoms and molecules from Earth’s atmosphere have been traveling across space to settle on the moon for billions of years, new research has found, explaining a lunar mystery that goes back to the Apollo missions. Not only do the findings point to a way in which a historical record of Earth’s atmosphere could be deposited on the moon, but they also imply a healthy abundance of elements…

In the future, some of us will be wearing clothes made of bacteria that change colors based on the level of radiation we’re exposed to. At least, that’s the hope of scientists and a fashion designer in Scotland. Too much ionizing radiation exposure can cause long-term health problems, including cancer and reproductive issues. Radiation exposure is considered especially risky for…

Two flagship spacecraft captured striking new images of Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, including a surprisingly sharp snapshot from a camera never meant for scientific imaging. Discovered on July 1 by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, 3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed visitor from another solar system, following 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. In November, both…