Science News

The Artemis II crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is set to return to Earth on April 10, 2026. The Orion capsule is scheduled to enter the atmosphere at 7:53 p.m.

The Artemis II mission, which involved a lunar flyby reaching over 252,000 miles from Earth, is set to conclude with a splashdown off the San Diego coast on Friday. The Orion spacecraft is carrying four astronauts and will be recovered by the U.S.

On February 21, 1204, poet Fujiwara no Teika documented a strange red light in the night sky over Kyoto, which is now believed to be an aurora. His observations, recorded two days apart, are aiding modern scientists in understanding solar storms, which involve explosive solar activity.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes located on Hawaii's Big Island, erupted on Thursday, sending lava fountains over 200 meters into the air. The eruption began after 11 am local time, producing approximately 3.6 million cubic yards of lava, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Finland's Onkalo facility, built in 2004, is set to become the world's first permanent nuclear waste site, capable of storing 6,500 tons of spent nuclear fuel. The project, costing 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), is located 430 meters underground in 1.9 billion-year-old bedrock.

The Artemis II crew, consisting of Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, is utilizing a specially designed flywheel for workouts aboard the Orion spacecraft. This compact device, measuring about the size of an extra-large shoebox, allows astronauts to perform both cardiovascular and resistance exercises, accommodating up to 400 pounds.

On April 7, 2026, the Artemis II crew captured a breathtaking photo of the Milky Way galaxy, showcasing its elegant spiral structure. The galaxy spans over 100,000 light-years, with Earth located approximately halfway from the center along one of its spiral arms.

On Monday, the Artemis II crew experienced 40 minutes of solitude as they traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history, approximately a quarter million miles away. Commander Reid Wiseman described the moment as 'an unbelievable sight' as they observed the moon's surface and shared maple cookies.

NASA's Artemis II astronauts are set to return from the moon on Friday, reentering Earth's atmosphere at over 32 times the speed of sound. Following unexpected damage to the heat shield during the Artemis I mission in 2022, NASA has opted for a new reentry path to ensure astronaut safety.

Scientists have identified 24 new species of amphipods from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), located 4,000 meters deep in the Pacific Ocean. This area, spanning approximately 6 million square kilometers, is rich in minerals like nickel and cobalt, making it a target for mining.