Earth

Artemis II astronauts return to Earth after historic crewed mission to the Moon

After 10 days in space, Artemis II astronauts are set for a splashdown in the Pacific, marking humanity’s return to the Moon's vicinity for the first time since Apollo.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover is pictured here in the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II lunar flyby April 6, 2026.
The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover, embrace inside the Orion spacecraft on their way home following a flyby of the far side of the Moon on April 7, 2026.

Artemis II astronauts brace for fiery return to Earth

A wheel loader operator fills a truck with ore at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, January 30, 2020; illustrative.

Trump administration to take 10% stake in USA Rare Earth in $1.6b. deal, sources say

 Life beyond Earth may exist in far stranger places than scientists once thought, a new study suggests. January, 22.

Habitable worlds may be far more common than thought, Israeli study says


Special delivery: New study suggests water came to early Earth via comets

A new study renews focus on the role of Jupiter-family comets in Earth's water history.

 How did Earth get its water? Illustration.

Human activity shifted Earth's axis by 80 centimeters, study finds

Water extraction caused an average annual drift of Earth's rotational pole by 4.63 cm, totaling 80 cm in less than two decades.

 Shifting Earth’s axis. Aerial photo of center pivot irrigations systems.

So soon? Bidding goodbye to our recently arrived mini moon

The smallish asteroid is expected to come back next year, and then take its leave for 30 more years.

 Saying goodbye to a mini moon.

Bigger than the dinosaur-killer, asteroid S2 smashed life on Earth into a higher gear

Researchers discovered a 3.26-billion-year-old asteroid impact acted as 'giant fertilizer bomb,' aiding early microbial life.

 en from a meteorite impact.

Researchers find strong evidence for “Snowball Earth” theory

Study “presents the first physical evidence that Snowball Earth reached the heart of continents at the equator” says lead author Liam Courtney-Davies.

 Snow in northeastern United States.

Rendezvous with a comet: 10 years to the historic Philae comet landing

On 12 November 2014, after a 10-year journey, the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission's lander Philae made space exploration history.

 Comet on 16 August.

Final supermoon of the year, the Beaver Moon, to appear on November 15

Supermoon will appear about 14% larger and up to 30% brighter than average as it comes within approximately 225,000 miles of Earth.

 The strawberry supermoon at sunset. June 2020, Spain.

Astronauts share “viral” common dream when sleeping in orbit, Russian cosmonaut reveals

Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, 43, had been in orbit from March 2, 2023, to September 4, 2023—almost 186 days—as part of the crew of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission and the expedition ISS-68/ISS-69.

 What is he dreaming about. Astronaut Scott D. Altman.

Scientists present strongest evidence yet for ninth solar system planet

In 2016, scientists Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin suggested that an unseen Planet Nine could explain the unusual orbits of some Kuiper Belt objects, sparking interest in its possible existence

 Jupiter and Io.

Virginia Tech study reveals evidence of Earth's 'Plumeworld Ocean' era after last Ice Age

The findings suggest vast rivers of glacial meltwater rushed into the sea, pooling over dense salty ocean water.

 Steam rising up off river.