News
Antarctica's 'gravity hole' reveals the evolution of Earth's deep interior
6+ hour, 39+ min ago (511+ words) A dip in Earth's gravity field beneath Antarctica is helping scientists track deep-Earth changes over tens of millions of years. A "gravity hole" beneath Antarctica is offering scientists a rare glimpse into Earth's deep interior, a dynamic record of slow-moving…...
Scientists measure air pollution from reentering SpaceX rocket in real-time: 'It's never been done before"
6+ day, 8+ hour ago (769+ words) "This study represents an important milestone in observing the influence of space sector activities on the atmosphere." For the first time ever, scientists have observed in near real time a cloud of air pollution created as space debris burned up…...
The way Earth's surface moves has a bigger impact on shifting the climate than we knew
2+ week, 4+ day ago (771+ words) Space.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans! Our planet has experienced dramatic climate shifts throughout its history, oscillating between freezing "icehouse" periods and warm "greenhouse…...
Super-Earth exoplanets may have built-in magnetic protection from churning magma — and that's good news for life
4+ week, 1+ day ago (645+ words) "A strong magnetic field is very important for life on a planet." "Super-Earth" exoplanets may have an in-built way to protect themselves from harmful radiation, giving any potential life on such worlds a better chance of surviving, according to recent…...
Beneath the ice: Satellites help map Antarctica's subglacial surface like never before
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (325+ words) Understanding Antarctica's topography beneath the ice is crucial to predicting ice loss and sea level rise. One of the least-mapped planetary surfaces in our solar system is closer to home than you might expect: the continent of Antarctica. While Antarctica's…...
How Earth's orbit might help us find oil reserves within the planet
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (382+ words) Subtle shifts in Earth's orbit shaped ancient lake climates " and where oil-rich shale formed as a result. Today, science can narrow down potential oil reserves with surprising accuracy " especially when it comes to shale oil, found embedded within sedimentary rock....
Satellite sees 40-year-old iceberg melt, turn blue | Space photo of the day for January 12, 2025
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (314+ words) A colossal Antarctic iceberg that first broke free in the 1980s is now soaking up the summer warmth, and from orbit seems to be turning a shade of aquamarine. In this recent image from NASA's Earth Observatory, iceberg A-23A is streaked with…...
Space.com headlines crossword quiz for week of Dec. 22, 2025: Which NASA observatory just completed its first sky map?
1+ mon, 4+ week ago (198+ words) Test your space smarts with our weekly crossword challenge, crafted from Space.com's biggest headlines. Every week, Space.com delivers the latest discoveries, launches, and cosmic curiosities from across the universe. From groundbreaking research aboard the International Space Station to…...
1st human missions to Mars should hunt for signs of life, report says
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (415+ words) "The detection of life on Mars is a persistent top priority for explorers of many disciplines, and it is the top science objective in this report." The first astronauts to set foot on Mars should hunt for signs of past…...
Earth's newfound 'episodic-squishy lid' may guide our search for habitable worlds
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (311+ words) A newly discovered tectonic "regime" may explain why Earth has active plates while Venus remains stagnant. A newly identified tectonic "regime" may rewrite our understanding of how rocky worlds evolve, scientists report in a new study. The findings may help…...