NASA News

Human-Related Microbes May Survive Moon’s South Pole, NASA Finds

Lee esta historia en español aquí. Some of Earth’s microbes likely to hitch a ride to space with human explorers could survive in the shaded nooks and crannies of the Moon’s South Pole region, NASA scientists say.  Published on Aug. 19, 2026, in Science Advances, these findings highlight a need to better understand microbial persistence […]

science  Aug 19, 2026

NASA News

Ancient Milky Way Merger

This artist’s concept, released on Aug. 17, 2026, depicts a collision between our Milky Way galaxy and a dwarf galaxy known as LKH that happened about 12 billion years ago. A study of data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, recently published in the journal Nature Astronomy, shows definitive evidence of a dwarf galaxy merging with the young […]

science  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

Astronomers detect fastest known star in Milky Way

Star’s extreme proximity to Sagittarius A* means it could open new window onto black hole’s fundamental propertiesAstronomers have detected the fastest known star in the Milky Way, hurtling around the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy.The star, called S301, travels at around 25,000km per second, 100,000 times faster than a commercial plane. It is also the closest known star to the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, approaching it around the distance of Saturn to the

science  Aug 19, 2026

NASA News

NASA Establishes State Hubs to Grow Technical Aerospace Workforce

NASA has awarded approximately $10.5 million to seven institutions to help strengthen and streamline state-based pathways for students into skilled technical jobs in the aerospace industry. The awards were made through the new NASA Aerospace Skilled Technical Workforce Hubs initiative, or NASA State Hubs. This investment in state ecosystems is designed to accelerate the development […]

science  Aug 19, 2026

NASA News

Career Spotlight: Mechanic (Ages 14-18)

What does a mechanic do? Machines and engines are all around us. They power everything from cars and boats to airplanes and even rockets. Mechanics are experts who know how machinery works, especially engines, and how to fix them. When you think of a mechanic, you might picture someone working on cars. But mechanics can […]

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

Coffee drinkers have less fat, more muscle, and surprising hormone differences

Coffee drinkers may be getting more than an energy boost. A Finnish study found that people who drank more coffee tended to have less total and abdominal fat, more muscle, and healthier metabolic markers despite having similar BMIs. Higher coffee intake was also linked to lower levels of certain amino acids associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk.

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists turn probiotic bacteria into tiny drug factories for pancreatic cancer

Engineered probiotic bacteria were able to infiltrate pancreatic tumors, stimulate cancer-fighting immune cells, and slow tumor growth in animal studies. Even more strikingly, the treatment worked better when combined with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

Tiny quantum engines reveal useful energy hiding in “waste heat”

A tiny machine made from just an atom and particles of light may sound impossibly simple, but it raises a surprisingly difficult question: what counts as heat, and what energy can still do useful work? University of Basel researchers have developed a theoretical framework that brings quantum physics and thermodynamics into better agreement for these microscopic “light engines.”

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

Pollen has a surprising problem — and honeybees have found a way around it

Honeybees can apparently detect when their food has the wrong balance of essential nutrients and adjust how much they eat to avoid potentially harmful excesses. They also transform pollen into remarkably well-balanced “baby food” for their larvae, revealing a sophisticated nutritional strategy hidden inside the hive.

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

This 23-foot crocodylian may have ruled South America’s food chain

Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores.

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

16 mummies and a dog reveal a hidden order inside an ancient Egyptian tomb

A tomb in Egypt’s Theban Necropolis reveals a surprisingly organized story of burial, reuse, and changing beliefs spanning hundreds of years. Researchers found 16 mummified people, the remains of at least four more, and a mummified dog, with burials ranging from wealthy individuals laid in coffins with amulets and imported goods to later bodies carefully stacked in increasingly crowded spaces.

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

Breast cancer is surging among Asian American women — and scientists don’t know why

Breast cancer is rising rapidly among Asian American women, with some of the most alarming increases occurring in younger women and in aggressive or advanced cancers. Researchers say screening alone can't explain the surge, suggesting important risk factors may still be undiscovered.

science  Aug 19, 2026

Science Daily

Japanese scientists use tiny silver particles to make DNA assembly up to 5x more efficient

Silver nanoparticles can precisely slice DNA and create longer “sticky ends,” helping genetic fragments join up to five times more efficiently than conventional methods. The breakthrough could eventually simplify the construction of large DNA sequences for gene therapies, cancer vaccines, engineered drugs, and advanced crops.

science  Aug 19, 2026

NASA News

Behind the Lens: Meet NASA Johnson’s Photographers

Photographers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston have documented some of the most defining moments in human spaceflight.  From astronaut training and engineering tests to mission control operations and milestone celebrations, their images preserve the history of exploration while capturing the people and teams behind the missions shaping the next era.   Meet the photographers behind the lens and explore the […]

science  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

Plantwatch: Cities make a surprising refuge for threatened UK wildflowers

Nooks and crannies in urban areas provide a welcome alternative to intensive farming and other rural pressuresWildflowers are having a rough time in the countryside, mostly from the onslaught of intensive farming with fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides and less grazing. On top of that, there are building developments, competition from invasive plant species and the climate crisis to contend with.The UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows over the last century and over half of the country’

science  Aug 19, 2026

NASA News

APOD: 2026 August 19 – The Case of the Mysterious Maybe Meteor

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 19 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. To view […]

science  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

The moment SpaceX Starship spotted off Christmas Island landed in Indian Ocean – video

Footage streamed by SpaceX shows the moment Elon Musk’s 52-metre Starship Flight 13 landed in the Indian Ocean west of Australia. The rocket landed in the ocean on 24 July. Nearly four weeks later, it was recovered off the coast of Christmas Island Continue reading...

science  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

Shrews may grow bigger snouts in winter to cope with cold air, scientists say

Study of long-clawed shrew skulls from Japan shows that while skulls get smaller in winter, snouts elongateHumans turn to heated blankets and fluffy socks to cope with winter, but long-clawed shrews have a very different adaptation: they increase the size of their snouts.Researchers have previously discovered that certain small mammals, including the common shrew and European mole, reversibly shrink their body mass, skull size and brain mass in winter, with regrowth seen in the spring – a strate

science  Aug 18, 2026

Science Daily

Widely prescribed blood pressure drugs linked to 33% higher kidney risk in type 2 diabetes

A widely prescribed blood pressure drug was associated with a 33% higher risk of serious kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes, even when they were already taking kidney-protective medications. The surprising finding is prompting researchers to question whether DCCBs are always the safest second-line choice for diabetic kidney disease.

science  Aug 18, 2026

Science Daily

Tiny robots powered by light can hunt down and collect bacteria

Researchers have built microscopic, light-driven robots that can rapidly navigate through liquid, collect bacteria, and deposit them in chosen locations. These tiny “cleaners” could open new possibilities for manipulating cells and microbes with remarkable precision.

science  Aug 18, 2026