The Latest Breaking News from NASA

Thursday news quiz: Stolen jewels, breakdancing fools and a car that’s breaking the rules

Test yourself on topical news trivia, pop culture and general knowledge every Thursday. How will you fare?

The Guardian - UK · Sep 3

Astronomers discover mysterious 10-sided cloud structure at Saturn's south pole

A mysterious giant 10-sided pattern of clouds has recently formed around Saturn's south pole, a new study finds.

Space · Sep 2

Scientists find a huge 10-sided wave pattern swirling in the clouds over Saturn's south pole

Scientists have discovered an enormous 10-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn's south pole

The Independent UK · Sep 2

Trump is proposing a US Space Academy – if created, it could blur the lines between NASA and the military

During a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Aug. 28, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a United States Space Academy.

The Conversation · Sep 2

Nasa scientists grew corn seeds in space and found something strange: How microgravity confused roots & shoots that normally know exactly which way to grow

Nasa scientists grew corn seeds in space: NASA conducted an intriguing experiment on corn seeds grown in the absence of gravity’s guiding force. The seedlings developed healthy-looking tissues but grew in unpredictable directions, highlighting the important role gravity plays in plant orientation and growth. Other plants, including Arabidopsis, have also…

The Economic Times · Sep 2

In 1996, Columbia reeled out a satellite on a 19.7-km conducting tether; the line snapped after nearly 5 hours of data, but the system reached about 3,700 volts

The Space Shuttle Columbia embarked on an innovative mission, aiming to generate electricity through a tethered satellite system employing a long wire. This experiment yielded impressive voltage and current, albeit briefly. Unfortunately, a flaw in the tether's insulation led to an electrical arc and subsequent breakage. Yet, the mission provided…

The Economic Times · Sep 2

The moon might be hiding a history of ancient supernova explosions

Scientists have managed to extract the history of supernova explosions in our cosmic backyard from radioactive isotopes found in moon dust.

Space · Sep 2

In 2010, NASA launched a 12-pound, loaf-of-bread-sized satellite with two Bacillus populations; radiation exposure reached about 15 times that of the ISS orbit

NASA's O/OREOS mission embarked on an exciting journey to observe how bacteria withstand the rigors of space radiation. The compact satellite, about the size of a loaf of bread, zipped around Earth’s magnetic poles, subjecting dried bacterial spores to intense radiation over several months. While initial germination and growth were…

The Economic Times · Sep 2

NASA satellites compared the Aral Sea between 2000 and 2014; river diversion left its eastern basin as exposed desert

NASA's satellite images illustrate a dramatic transformation of the Aral Sea from 2000 to 2014, driven by the diversion of rivers for agricultural purposes. The resulting shrinkage has left behind salt flats and disrupted local communities and climates. Nevertheless, the construction of dams by Kazakhstan has sparked a modest recovery…

The Economic Times · Sep 2

In 1998, NASA sent oyster toadfish into space on Space Shuttle Columbia; over 16 days in orbit, researchers studied how their balance systems adapted to microgravity

In 1998, saltwater toadfish participated in the Columbia's Neurolab mission, offering insights into the effects of microgravity on the nervous system. Their inner ear adaptations revealed how their vestibular system modified its sensitivity in the absence of gravity. Upon returning to Earth, the adjustments mirrored the disorientation experienced by astronauts,…

The Economic Times · Sep 2