"Our study provides a new direction to understand the whole evolutionary history of massive stars toward the formation of black hole binaries."

Massive supernova explosion may have created a binary black hole

"If they were purely made up of stars, they would be the densest galaxies in the universe."

James Webb Space Telescope's mysterious 'little red dots' may be black holes in disguise

Four astronauts are set to depart the International Space Station Wednesday amid a health concern. The unprecedented early departure will leave behind a skeleton crew.

4 astronauts depart ISS, leaving behind just 3 crewmates to staff the orbiting lab

SpaceX's Crew-11 astronauts will leave the International Space Station today (Jan. 14) in the first-ever medical evacuation from the orbiting lab, and you can watch it live.

Crew-11 astronauts undock in 1st-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station (video)

Organ donations from the recently deceased dropped last year for the first time in over a decade, resulting in fewer kidney transplants, according to an analysis issued Wednesday that pointed to signs of public mistrust in the lifesaving system.  More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are on the list for an organ transplant.  The nonprofit Kidney Transplant Collaborative analyzed federal data and found 116 fewer kidney transplants were performed last year than in 2024.

Public mistrust linked to drop in deceased donor organ donations and kidney transplants

Crew 11 is expected to splash down off the coast of Southern California at 3:41 a.m. ET, closing out a 167-day stay in space.

Astronauts head home early after medical issue

Four astronauts are set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean as they return early from the International Space Station due to a crew member’s medical issue.

4 astronauts are en route home from ISS after medical issue forces early exit

Some methods being tried to counter climate change shift the ocean’s biology or chemistry. Others would deflect solar radiation. All have consequences for marine life.

Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – our new study examines each method’s risks

The US, China, India, Europe and Japan all have exciting missions on the horizon in 2026. Many of them are collaborative feats.

From a new flagship space telescope to lunar exploration, global cooperation – and competition – will make 2026 an exciting year for space

Some newly found stars in a small galaxy called Sextans A are forming without some of the usual "ingredients," raising questions about how the early universe evolved.

Unusual 'ingredients' helped stars form in a galaxy near the Milky Way

The findings potentially solve the paradox of how liquid water seems to have persisted on Mars even when the climate grew too cold.

How Mars' ancient lakes grew shields of ice to stay warm as the Red Planet froze

Horses can detect fear in humans by smell, becoming more likely to startle and more wary of people who are scared, a new study has found.

Horses really can smell our fear, new study finds

Inside the stomach of an ancient wolf puppy found entombed in Siberian permafrost, scientists discovered meat from a woolly rhinoceros — and sequenced its genome.

In the stomach of a mummified wolf pup, scientists find DNA from a woolly rhinoceros

Astronauts on the International Space Station were not only treated to a sight from Earth's atmosphere recently but also caught a glimpse of one of the Milky Way's nearest galactic neighbors.

ISS astronauts spy airglow and dwarf galaxy | Space photo of the day for Jan. 13, 2026

Researchers who focus on one specialty are more likely to rise through the academic ranks, even though wicked societal problems require crosscutting work to solve.

Research institutions tout the value of scholarship that crosses disciplines – but academia pushes interdisciplinary researchers out

Space apparently changes your frame of mind in more ways than one.

'Backward and upward and tilted': Spaceflight causes astronauts' brains to shift inside their skulls

Marine viruses attack cells, but the material that spills out helps fuels marine life around the world.

Viruses aren’t all bad: In the ocean, some help fuel the food web – a new study shows how

A new study suggests lunar soil contains elements that solar wind transported to the moon from Earth’s atmosphere, solving a long-standing astronomy puzzle.

Astronomers now say the moon is eating up molecules from Earth’s atmosphere

The observatory will combine tech from NASA's most powerful space telescopes.

NASA funds new tech for upcoming 'Super Hubble' to search for alien life: 'We intend to move with urgency'

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Astronomers have observed a white dwarf - a highly compact Earth-sized stellar ember - that is creating a colorful shockwave as it moves through space,

Astronomers spot white dwarf star creating a colorful shockwave

It will be the first-ever medical evacuation of astronauts from the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts to return from space early due to an 'unexpected medical issue.' What happened — and when are they coming home?

Songbirds on the UCLA campus changed beak shapes during the pandemic, according to a new study. Researchers suspect it might be a case of rapid evolution.

Birds at a college changed beak shapes during the pandemic. It might be a case of rapid evolution

The project, launched by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), aims to trace the origin of thousands of ceramic vessels even when the kilns where they were fired have long vanished. A new Israeli research initiative is using cutting-edge scientific methods to solve one of archaeology’s oldest mysteries: where ancient pottery was made.

Israeli archaeologists launch project to trace origins of ancient pottery

Astronauts’ brains can change shape and shift positions in space, according to a study with implications for NASA as it plans for missions to the moon and Mars.

Astronauts' brains change shape and position after time in space, study finds

Outgoing space station commander Mike Fincke, a member of the returning Crew 11, turned the station over to cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, saying the combined crew had developed deep friendships.

Space station changes command, setting stage for Crew 11 departure

You can watch India launch 16 payloads, including an advanced military satellite, to space tonight (Jan. 11). It will be the first liftoff of a PSLV rocket since a May 2025 failure.

Watch India launch advanced military satellite on rocket's 1st flight since May 2025 failure

Such experiments have previously only been conducted aboard the International Space Station.

'A completely new manufacturing frontier': Space Forge fires up 1st commercial semiconductor factory in space

The findings from Pandora will complement data from the James Webb Space Telescope to give astronomers more insight into stars and planets outside our solar system.

NASA’s Pandora telescope will study stars in detail to learn about the exoplanets orbiting them

Kimiya Yui released the timelapse footage to celebrate his 300th cumulative day spent orbiting Earth.

Astronaut on ISS captures spectacular orbital video of zodiacal light, auroras and the Pleiades

The Washington Monument lit up on New Year's Eve in celebration of the Artemis 2 moon mission as well as the 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence.

Moon fever hits DC as Artemis 2 rocket 'candle' lights up Washington Monument just 1 month before launch (photos)

On Episode 192 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik looks forward to 2026, which promises to be the most exciting year in the new space age yet!

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 192 — Space, 2026!

Liftoff is scheduled for 8:19 a.m. ET on Sunday (Jan. 11).

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