From bicycles to rockets, learning through experience – whether human or machine – is shaping the future of space exploration.

AI is making spacecraft propulsion more efficient – and could even lead to nuclear-powered rockets

Ever seen the northern lights? You have a magnetic layer in Earth’s atmosphere to thank for those beautiful displays. But the magnetosphere does a lot more than create auroras.

Earth’s magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip

Most astronauts who menstruate pause their cycle with hormones before hitting the stars, but in the future, we'll need more options.

Scientists sent a menstrual cup to space. This is how it went

The Geminids return with near-perfect viewing conditions, offering skywatchers up to 150 meteors an hour under dark December skies.

Geminid meteor shower 2025 peaks next week. Here's what you need to know about this year's best meteor shower

On Episode 188 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut, who took had his second confirmation as NASA's next leader.

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 188 — A New NASA Leader Rises?

Rocket Lab will launch a Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite on Monday night (Dec. 8), and you can watch the action live.

Watch Rocket Lab launch Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit on Dec. 8

The waning moon shines close to the king of the planets on Dec. 7.

Don't miss Jupiter shining close to the waning gibbous moon on Dec. 7

Errors don’t necessarily mean your mind is faulty. They may actually be a sign of a cognitive system with limited capacity working efficiently.

Misremembering might actually be a sign your memory is working optimally

Newly arrived and soon-to-depart members of Expedition 73 prepared for what is to come next during this, their final week all together aboard the International Space Station.

3 astronauts settle into their new life in orbit | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 1-5, 2025

Rocket Lab launched a satellite for a "confidential commercial customer" on Thursday morning (Nov. 20), just a few hours after giving notice of the impending liftoff.

Watch Rocket Lab launch Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit tonight

Blue Origin's upcoming NS-37 space tourism launch has special significance: One of the passengers is Michi Benthaus, who will become the first wheelchair user in space.

Blue Origin's next space tourism flight will break new ground for people with disabilities

Conspiracy thinking, supernatural beliefs and pseudoscience can seem impervious to evidence. An anthropologist suggests the opposite: Extraordinary beliefs may be supported by an individual’s experience.

Flat Earth, spirits and conspiracy theories – experience can shape even extraordinary beliefs

A new view of Mars showcases a dramatic impact crater on the Red Planet with its debris wings unfurling across the surface like a butterfly in flight.

Mars orbiter sees 'butterfly' crater spread its wings on the Red Planet

The EURECA spacecraft flew on the space shuttle Atlantis in 1992.

See the metal guts of a satellite in this wild X-ray view | Space photo of the day for Dec. 4, 2025

The Geminid meteor shower is active from Dec. 4 and hits its peak on the night of Dec. 13-14.

Geminid shooting stars: One of 2025's most exciting meteor showers begins tonight

A mishap during the successful Nov. 27 launch of three astronauts damaged the only pad that currently supports Russian crewed orbital liftoffs. How long before things are back up and running again?

Damaged launch pad: How long before Russia can send astronauts to the ISS again?

A study suggests that a volcanic eruption around 1345 cooled the climate, leading to crop failures. On the ships that carried grain to fill the gap came plague-carrying fleas.

A volcanic eruption may have catalyzed the plague's arrival in Europe, study suggests

New data suggests an eruption cooled Europe, disrupted harvests and pushed Italian states into grain trades that may have begun one of history’s deadliest pandemics.

Volcanic eruption led to the Black Death, new research suggests

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Paleontologists for decades debated whether meat-eating dinosaur Nanotyrannus was actually just a juvenile Tyrannosaurus.

A throat bone settles it - Nanotyrannus was not a juvenile T. rex

Europe's plans to develop its "Argonaut" robotic moon lander are moving ahead with the announcement of an Italy-led consortium that will build a key element of the spacecraft.

Europe picks companies to help build Argonaut moon lander

By Will Dunham WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - An exponential increase in the number of satellites placed in low-Earth orbit has brought advances in telecommunications including broadband access in

NASA study shows how satellite 'light pollution' hinders space telescopes

Samples collected from the asteroid Bennu are continuing the shed light on the origins of the solar system and how life developed on Earth, scientists say.

Bennu asteroid samples provide clues about solar system origins and 'space gum'

December’s full cold supermoon is peaking this week as the anniversaries of two Apollo missions approach.

December’s full moon is the last supermoon of the year. Here’s what to know

The brief flashes were captured from Earth and could be from the Taurid meteor shower.

Astronomer captures 2 meteors slamming into the moon (video)

China's Shenzhou 20 and 21 astronauts enjoyed freshly cooked BBQ aboard the Tiangong space station recently, thanks to a new microgravity oven.

Watch Chinese astronauts enjoy '1st ever space BBQ' from Tiangong's brand-new oven (video)

Paleontologists spotted injuries on the tails of duck-billed dinosaur fossils that might have occurred during mating.

Mating injuries may lead scientists to identify dinosaurs’ sex

"This discovery ends a protracted search for these waves that has its origins in the 1940s."

Science

Watch Rocket Lab launch Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit on Dec. 8

Don't miss Jupiter shining close to the waning gibbous moon on Dec. 7

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 188 — A New NASA Leader Rises?

Geminid meteor shower 2025 peaks next week. Here's what you need to know about this year's best meteor shower

Scientists sent a menstrual cup to space. This is how it went

Earth’s magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip

AI is making spacecraft propulsion more efficient – and could even lead to nuclear-powered rockets

Misremembering might actually be a sign your memory is working optimally

3 astronauts settle into their new life in orbit | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 1-5, 2025

Watch Rocket Lab launch Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit tonight

Don't miss Jupiter shining close to the waning gibbous moon on Dec. 7

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 188 — A New NASA Leader Rises?

Misremembering might actually be a sign your memory is working optimally

Blue Origin's next space tourism flight will break new ground for people with disabilities

Flat Earth, spirits and conspiracy theories – experience can shape even extraordinary beliefs

Mars orbiter sees 'butterfly' crater spread its wings on the Red Planet

See the metal guts of a satellite in this wild X-ray view | Space photo of the day for Dec. 4, 2025

Geminid shooting stars: One of 2025's most exciting meteor showers begins tonight

Damaged launch pad: How long before Russia can send astronauts to the ISS again?

A volcanic eruption may have catalyzed the plague's arrival in Europe, study suggests

Volcanic eruption led to the Black Death, new research suggests

A throat bone settles it - Nanotyrannus was not a juvenile T. rex

Europe picks companies to help build Argonaut moon lander

NASA study shows how satellite 'light pollution' hinders space telescopes

Bennu asteroid samples provide clues about solar system origins and 'space gum'

December’s full moon is the last supermoon of the year. Here’s what to know

Astronomer captures 2 meteors slamming into the moon (video)

Watch Chinese astronauts enjoy '1st ever space BBQ' from Tiangong's brand-new oven (video)

Mating injuries may lead scientists to identify dinosaurs’ sex

Scientists find twisting magnetic waves on the sun. Could this help solve a huge solar mystery?