A city on the moon: Why SpaceX shifted its focus away from Mars

Just 13 months after declaring the moon “a distraction,” Elon Musk has announced that Earth’s nearest neighbor is now the focus of SpaceX’s settlement plans. What changed?

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS survived its flyby of the sun — and gave up some secrets in the process

Interstellar comets are the original cosmic explorers, and by studying their metallic whispers, we are learning the secrets of worlds we may never see directly.

Venus may have an underground tunnel carved by volcano eruptions

Scientists analyzing decades-old NASA’s Magellan data have identified only the second reported lava tube on Venus.

What Americans lose if their National Center for Atmospheric Research is dismantled

Five ways dismantling NCAR will cost the American people, and two ways to save it.

The way Earth’s surface moves has a bigger impact on shifting the climate than we knew

New research reveals the source of this carbon – and the driving forces behind it – are far more complex than previously thought.

NASA space telescope sees interstellar visitor comet 3I/ATLAS flare up while exiting the solar system

New infrared observations reveal that the rare interstellar visitor known as comet 3I/ATLAS has dramatically brightened during its farewell tour of the solar system.

Could a toxic chemical in Mars dirt help us build a Red Planet base?

Perchlorate, a toxic substance found in Mars dirt, could help the bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii strengthen bonds between particles of regolith.

Will a bright comet adorn our early spring sky? Why astronomers are getting excited about Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)

A new comet approaching the sun has caught the attention of astronomers, primarily because of its lineage. It appears to belong to a group of comets that in some cases have briefly become outstandingly bright objects.

Sun unleashes colossal X4.2 solar flare, knocking out radio signals across Africa and Europe (video)

An impulsive X4.2 solar flare sparked strong radio blackouts across Africa and Europe as the giant sunspot continues to rage.

NASA satellite watches January’s polar vortex | Space photo of the day for Feb. 4, 2026

A late January 2026 winter storm left more than snow and ice in its wake.