NASA faces a significant budget cut in 2026, potentially reshaping the agency. The proposed cuts threaten science programs and human spaceflight initiatives, including the ISS. However, this crisis presents an opportunity to transform NASA into a more agile agency by leveraging commercial partnerships and focusing on mission planning while outsourcing infrastructure development.
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Sky gazers can look forward to the Strawberry Moon in June 2025. This full moon, named by Native American tribes, signals the start of strawberry harvesting. It will appear low on the horizon, possibly with a golden hue. The best viewing time is June 10, as the moon rises in the southeast.
A NASA study reveals that increased solar activity, particularly during solar maximum, accelerates satellite re-entry due to heightened atmospheric drag. This phenomenon, impacting constellations like Starlink, poses operational challenges and environmental concerns as more satellites burn up, releasing materials into the atmosphere. The situation necessitates improved space traffic management and consideration of space weather in planning.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to become the first Indian astronaut to journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This mission signifies India's return to human spaceflight after four decades, highlighting its increasing role in global space exploration.
Astronomers have detected ASKAP J1832-0911, a unique space object 15,000 light-years away, emitting powerful radio and X-ray bursts every 44 minutes. This long-period transient, observed by ASKAP and Chandra, challenges existing stellar evolution models. Scientists believe it could be a magnetar or a binary system with a magnetized white dwarf, potentially revealing new physics.
In 2024 alone, there were 261 space launch attempts globally, signaling increased traffic in Earth's orbit and growing congestion in space.
Donald Trump has withdrawn Jared Isaacman's nomination for Nasa administrator just before the senate confirmation vote. Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4 and a SpaceX mission participant, was nominated in December. He distanced himself from Elon Musk's views on lunar landings during his confirmation hearing, pledging to prioritize them if confirmed.
Scientists have discovered a perfectly spherical object named Teleios in the Milky Way, emitting only radio signals. This mysterious structure, found using Australia’s ASKAP telescope, defies typical explanations due to its unique symmetry and lack of visible light or X-ray emissions. Researchers are exploring possibilities ranging from supernova remnants to stellar wind bubbles to understand its origin and nature.
Researchers at the University of Limerick are pioneering a groundbreaking approach to address male infertility by engineering human sperm from lab-grown testicular tissue. This innovative research aims to provide hope for men facing untreatable infertility, offering an alternative to surgical sperm retrieval and donor sperm.
A recent study by sociologists at the University of Cologne reveals a paradox: parents find life more meaningful than childfree individuals, yet report lower life satisfaction. This disparity, highlighted in the Journal of Marriage and Family, stems from challenges exacerbated by inadequate family policies. Scandinavian countries, with robust childcare and parental support, show minimal difference in satisfaction between parents and non-parents.
NASA faces a significant budget cut in 2026, potentially reshaping the agency. The proposed cuts threaten science programs and human spaceflight initiatives, including the ISS. However, this crisis presents an opportunity to transform NASA into a more agile agency by leveraging commercial partnerships and focusing on mission planning while outsourcing infrastructure development.