Patrick Pester is the trending news writer at Live Science. His work has appeared on other science websites, such as BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick retrained as a journalist after spending his early career working in zoos and wildlife conservation. He was awarded the Master's Excellence Scholarship to study at Cardiff University where he completed a master's degree in international journalism. He also has a second master's degree in biodiversity, evolution and conservation in action from Middlesex University London. When he isn't writing news, Patrick investigates the sale of human remains.
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NASA announces 'near‑impossible' space plans, including $20B moon base and humanity's first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraftNASA's Gateway lunar space station won't launch next year in new changes to the Artemis program, which include ramping up development of a $20 billion moon base and a nuclear-powered 'Freedom' spacecraft.
By Patrick Pester Published
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All 5 'letters' of DNA found on an asteroid speeding through our solar system. What do they tell us about the origins of life?JAXA samples reveal that asteroid Ryugu has a complete set of nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA, suggesting these ingredients of life may be common in the solar system.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Artemis II: NASA is preparing for a return to the moon, but why is it going back?NASA's Artemis II mission is sending humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. Here are the reasons why the U.S. wants to return.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'Super El Niño' could push global temperatures to unprecedented highs, forecasters sayA "super El Niño" could emerge by the end of the 2026 hurricane season, with forecasters predicting that the ongoing La Niña is about to finish.
By Patrick Pester Published
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'Interstellar messenger' 3I/ATLAS could be nearly as old as the universe itself, James Webb telescope observations revealThe comet formed in a cold and distant part of the early Milky Way up to 12 billion years ago, potentially putting it just under 2 billion years the age of the universe.
By Patrick Pester Published
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1,300-pound spacecraft will crash to Earth today following intense solar activity, NASA warnsNASA's Van Allen Probe A is falling to Earth much sooner than expected, though the spacecraft's reentry poses a low risk to humans.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA fixes Artemis II rocket for April launch to take astronauts around moonNASA's Artemis II is on track to shoot for the moon in April after engineers fixed the helium issue that grounded the mission's rocket last month.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Birds are declining faster and faster in 3 US hotspots, new study findsResearchers have revealed that North American birds are declining at an accelerating rate in three regional hotspots associated with intense agriculture.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Chinese astronauts describe moment a crack was discovered on Shenzhou-20 spacecraftTaikonauts from the ill-fated Shenzhou-20 mission have described what happened when they discovered cracks on their spacecraft as they prepared to depart China's Tiangong space station last year.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Kazakhstan plants tens of thousands of trees in giant effort to reintroduce tigersKazakhstan planted 37,000 seedlings and cuttings in South Balkhash last year to prepare for the return of its tigers, which disappeared more than 70 years ago.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA set to roll Artemis rocket back for urgent repairs after yet another delayNASA is about to roll its Artemis II moon rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to fix a helium flow issue that guarantees astronauts won't fly around the moon in March.
By Patrick Pester Last updated
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NASA starts countdown clock for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal after rocky first attemptNASA will attempt to fuel its Artemis II rocket again tomorrow after hydrogen leaks derailed the first wet dress rehearsal and delayed what is scheduled to be a historic crewed flight around the moon.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Our adorable, noodle-like ancestor had 4 eyes, half-a-billion-year-old fossils revealThe earliest recorded vertebrates had four eyes to escape predators in the ancient Cambrian ocean, according to half-a-billion-year-old fossils from China that shed light on our evolutionary origins.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA telescope spots the building blocks for life spewing out of comet 3I/ATLASNASA's SPHEREx space telescope detected organic molecules coming off comet 3I/ATLAS as the interstellar visitor made its closest approach to Earth in December.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Hydrogen leak derails Artemis II wet rehearsal, pushing launch date back by weeksNASA has delayed the Artemis II launch until March at the earliest after engineers discovered hydrogen leaks during last night's wet dress rehearsal.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Artemis II simulated launch window opens tonight as NASA delays mission due to 'rare Arctic outbreak'NASA's Artemis II simulated launch is scheduled for tonight after Arctic weather forced the mission to be delayed. The first crewed Artemis mega moon rocket could still leave Earth as early as this weekend.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Next-generation AI 'swarms' will invade social media by mimicking human behavior and harassing real users, researchers warnArtificial intelligence experts have warned that AI "swarms" are poised to infiltrate social media by deploying agents that mimic human behavior and exploit our tendency to follow the herd.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA is preparing for simulated launch of Artemis II mega moon rocket — and it could happen as early as SaturdayNASA has announced it will fuel the Artemis II rocket as part of a simulated launch that will take place as early as Saturday (Jan. 31).
By Patrick Pester Published
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Arctic blast probably won't cause trees to explode in the cold — but here's what happens if and when they do go boomAn exploding tree claim has gone viral as the U.S. brace for an Arctic blast that will send temperatures plunging, triggering a massive and long-lasting winter storm.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Coyote scrambles onto Alcatraz Island after perilous, never-before-seen swimExperts have reacted to a viral video of a coyote swimming to Alcatraz Island in what is a surprising first for the San Francisco Bay Area.
By Patrick Pester Published
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Medieval 'super ship' found wrecked off Denmark is largest vessel of its kindDivers have unearthed the largest cog shipwreck ever discovered in a strait off Denmark, signalling a period of economic development in medieval Europe.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA's Mars Sample Return is dead, leaving China to retrieve signs of life from the Red PlanetNASA's plans for Mars sample return are effectively cancelled as part of a bill approved by the U.S. Congress, ending efforts to collect Perseverance rover samples that could contain evidence of alien life.
By Patrick Pester Published
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NASA astronauts back on Earth after unprecedented medical emergency on ISSThe SpaceX Crew-11 Dragon spacecraft splashed down this morning as four astronauts completed an unprecedented medical evacuation of the International Space Station (ISS).
By Patrick Pester Published
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Artemis 2 mission update: Rollout imminent as NASA prepares first crewed Artemis mission to the moonNASA's Artemis 2 rollout could be as early as this weekend as the space agency makes final preparations for its first crewed Artemis moon mission.
By Patrick Pester Published
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