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International Space Station as main image, circle superimposed on the image showing a digital illustration of e.coli bacteria.
Viruses that evolved on the space station and were sent back to Earth were more effective at killing bacteria Near-weightless conditions can mutate genes and alter the physical structures of bacteria and phages, disrupting their normal interactions in ways that could help us treat drug-resistant infections.
A rendering of multiple rovers, drones, sample caches, and spacecraft around the surface of Mars
NASA's Mars Sample Return is dead, leaving China to retrieve signs of life from the Red Planet NASA'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.
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A collage of 32 glowing discs on a black background. Each disc shows concentric rings in vivid colours: purple, orange, and yellow, with bright cyan centres. The discs vary in size and orientation, creating a striking pattern of circular and elliptical shapes.
Some objects we thought were planets may actually be tiny black holes from the dawn of time Scientists have discovered more than 6,000 planets beyond our solar system. What if some of them aren't planets at all, but tiny black holes in disguise?

Latest about Space

man holding a lantern on a rock formation under orion

The easiest constellations for beginners to spot in winter (and what you need to see them)

By Jamie Carter published

From Orion and Taurus to Auriga and Perseus, here are 10 easy sets of stars to find in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter night sky.

Space

Science history: James Webb Space Telescope launches — and promptly cracks our view of the universe — Dec. 25, 2021

By Tia Ghose published

The James Webb Space Telescope blasted off from a launchpad in French Guiana in 2021, before reaching a spot in orbit a million miles away. It soon began breaking cosmology.

Space
An artist's concept of the exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b (at left) orbiting a pulsar (right)

'What the heck is this?' James Webb telescope spots inexplicable planet with diamonds and soot in its atmosphere

By Elizabeth Howell published

Scientists using the James Webb telescope observed a distant exoplanet with an atmosphere of soot and diamonds, challenging all explanations.

Astronomy

First-ever 'superkilonova' double star explosion puzzles astronomers

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A double explosion, in which a dying star split, then recombined, may be a long-hypothesized but never-before-seen "superkilonova."

Space
man stood in a snowy field under the night sky

The 9 best things to see in the night sky with binoculars from November 2025 to January to 2026

By Jamie Carter published

Discover the highlights of the Northern Hemisphere’s winter night sky with our guide to the top celestial sights to enjoy through binoculars between November 2025 and January 2026.

Space

NASA spacecraft takes milestone 100,000th image of Mars (photo)

By Brandon Specktor published

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft has just taken its milestone 100,000th photo of the Red Planet using its high-definition camera. It reveals a dark region of moving sand dunes.

Mars

Best space photos of 2025

By Harry Baker published

An alien comet, a Martian volcano, a man’s fall from the sun and a groundbreaking telescope’s first images: Here are the most jaw-dropping space photos of 2025.

Space
A Pair of Galactic Cornucopia (Webb + Chandra)

Glittering new James Webb telescope image shows an 'intricate web of chaos' — Space photo of the week

By Jamie Carter published

This mash-up of data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals two galaxies mid-collision, with their spiral arms overlapping and bending toward their neighbors' cores.

Space
Venus and crescent moon next to each other.

Why is Venus so bright?

By Deepa Jain published

The "morning star" is bright because of several factors, including having an atmosphere filled with sulfuric acid.

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Venus

'Unprecedented' protoplanet collision spotted in 'Eye of Sauron' star system just 25 light-years from Earth

By Ivan Farkas published

Scientists watching the nearby Fomalhaut star system have directly seen two protoplanets smash together for the first time. Then, they saw it happen again.

Astronomy
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