Scientists are exploring and continuing to search for potentially habitable alien worlds
Since the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star was confirmed in 1995, scientists have discovered more than 5,000 such distant worlds. More than half of these discoveries were made by NASA’s Kepler space telescope, launched in 2009 to determine the prevalence of Earth-like planets in the Milky Way galaxy. Kepler was decommissioned in 2018, having discovered more than 2,600 exoplanets.
The last two years of studying Mars’ glaciers have yielded more interesting results than expected
Geological and mineralogical evidence suggests that approximately four billion years ago, Mars was warm and wet enough to support abundant liquid water on its surface, ranging from rivers and lakes to a vast northern sea. This period spans two geological eras: the Noachian, which lasted from 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, and the Hesperian, which lasted from 3.7 to approximately 3 billion years ago. The Noachian era is characterized by warmer conditions, but in its final stages, Mars would have begun to cool as it steadily lost its atmosphere to space.
Scientists have high hopes for lunar caves
For decades, scientists have suspected the existence of underground caves on the Moon, similar to those on Earth. Conjectures about the presence of pits leading to caves were made based on images taken by NASA’s lunar orbiters, which mapped the lunar surface before the Apollo missions. The presence of such a pit was confirmed in 2009 in images taken by the Kaguya orbiter of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and since then, numerous similar pits have been discovered across the Moon thanks to images and thermal measurements of the surface taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). These lava-formed caves would provide both general shelter and protection from the extreme temperatures and radiation typical of the lunar surface.
Scientists are studying the history of collisions between the Milky Way and other galaxies and the possible consequences of future collisions. These collisions, incidentally, are still occurring
The Milky Way’s halo contains a large group of stars with unusual orbits, many of which are believed to have been engulfed by our galaxy during an event astronomers call the “last major merger.” As the name suggests, this was the last time our galaxy experienced a significant collision with another galaxy—presumably a massive dwarf galaxy that flooded the Milky Way with stars passing very close to our galaxy’s center.
Magnetars are neutron stars with the strongest magnetic fields. What is known about them today?
Magnetars are a special class of neutron stars with ultra-strong magnetic fields, the strongest of any object in the observable universe, approximately a trillion times stronger than the most powerful permanent magnets ever created on Earth. Neutron stars are the remnant cores of massive stars formed at the end of their lives, possessing a mass greater than the Sun and compressed to the size of a city, making them natural laboratories for studying extreme physical phenomena. Magnetars, as previously thought, can come in different types. One possibility is an exploding object orbiting a black hole surrounded by a disk of material. Another possibility is a pair of rotating neutron stars whose magnetospheres periodically interact, creating a cavity where eruptions can occur. Magnetars are estimated to be active for about 10,000 years before settling down, so they could be found where a firestorm of star formation is occurring. However, this does not seem to be the case for all magnetars.
Study of sensory organs in microgravity conditions: methods and results in 2026
As humanity expands its activities in space, medical research into how our bodies cope with microgravity conditions has become the subject of numerous studies, including the effects of spaceflight on muscle mass and radiation exposure. Astronauts on future missions to the Moon or Mars will face increased risks to their vision and eye structure due to longer exposure to microgravity. The CIPHER study, consisting of 14 human studies, is examining the physical and psychological health of astronauts in space and applying these findings to supporting the health of crews on long-duration missions away from Earth.
Some facts about the devices and methods for studying Venus
Between 1961 and 1984, the Soviet Union sent 16 exploration missions to Venus. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made several flybys of Venus, utilizing the planet’s gravity assist. The DAVINCI mission, consisting of a flyby spacecraft and a lander, is scheduled to launch in the early 2030s. Using solid oxide electrolysis, EVE enables the exploration of Venus using balloons of unlimited duration. The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft was on a trajectory to perform a gravity assist pass by Venus on August 31, 2025. The Japanese space agency reported losing contact with its intrepid Akatsuki spacecraft, designed to explore Venus, in May 2024.
Researchers have provided numerous pieces of evidence that Mars once had water. And perhaps still does
Once upon a time, liquid water was abundant on the surface of Mars—oceans, lakes, and rivers—but it disappeared about 3 billion years ago; today, rovers explore dried-up lake beds and empty riverbeds. While some of Mars’s water is locked up as ice in the polar caps and as permafrost in the mid-latitudes, the rest of Mars’s water was assumed to have escaped into space. It was thought that atmospheric water vapor was destroyed by solar ultraviolet radiation, and Mars’s low gravity was thought unable to retain the hydrogen portions of this vapor, which would then be carried into space by the solar wind without the global magnetic field to protect it. Meanwhile, the oxygen portions of the vapor would have oxidized surface rocks, leading to the formation of the rusty-red planet we see today.
Researchers are looking for a ceiling on the impact of solar storms on Earth. And so far they haven’t found one
Even “moderately intense” geomagnetic storms, disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field caused by charged particles and the Sun’s magnetic energy, can carry much more energy than previously thought, challenging scientists’ understanding of how these space weather events develop and how their strength is measured.
Jupiter and its asteroid belt played a crucial role in the distribution of the essential chemical components necessary for life
As Jupiter formed and grew to enormous size and its gravitational influence increased, the planet restricted the movement of phosphorus and nitrogen from the inner to the outer Solar System. This meant that when the second generation of planetesimals emerged, those in the inner Solar System had a higher phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio than their counterparts further out.
Pluto’s ‘Heart’ Hints at Its Rich Geological World
When the New Horizons mission flew past Pluto in 2015, it discovered a geologically rich world, not the cold, dark landscape many expected. Almost immediately, researchers discovered two features, named Mount Wright and Mount Piccard, which were suspected to be ice volcanoes, and further study confirmed their identity.
Microbiological surprises of extraterrestrial life: reverse panspermia. Terrestrial microorganisms can colonize outer space
Cosmic rays and aggressive environments don’t kill microorganisms; they even maintain an active metabolism that “heals” mutations. This gives rise to the hypothesis of reverse panspermia: terrestrial microorganisms could “conquer” space and become the origin of life on other planets. On the other hand, early life on Earth functioned in conditions so different from modern ones that they could seem almost alien. Studying these systems helps us understand not only where life might exist, but also what it might be like.
Modern technologies and problems of studying the Milky Way
The European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton and NASA’s Chandra space telescopes captured the aftermath of three bright explosions echoing in the Milky Way’s outer spiral arms. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help scientists better understand the fainter components of our Milky Way galaxy—the gas and dust scattered between stars, known as the interstellar medium. Scientists can also gain insight into the ages, masses, and sizes of stars using the Kepler space telescope, which provided asteroseismic data on approximately 16,000 stars before its decommissioning in 2018. A laser star pointer mounted on Cerro Pachón in central Chile points upward across the Gemini South observatory’s field of view, illuminating the Milky Way.
Mars’ Perseverance and Curiosity rover teams have collected enough samples and are awaiting their return home
Sulfur crystals, traces of serpentine, pyroxene, and feldspar were discovered. For example, data obtained from the Perseverance rover’s instruments show that Jezero Plateau is composed almost entirely of serpentine minerals, formed by the reaction of large amounts of water with iron- and magnesium-containing minerals in igneous rocks. A variety of photomosaics were also collected, and atmospheric measurements were taken.
Quasars are among the earliest objects in the Universe. Are they creators or destroyers of galaxies?
Quasars represent a stage in a galaxy’s life during which large volumes of matter spiral toward a central supermassive black hole, releasing enormous amounts of energy. During this stage, the galactic core shines brighter than anything else in the universe, often outshining the rest of its host galaxy by hundreds or thousands of times. Quasars are the extremely bright centers of galaxies, powered by actively fueled supermassive black holes. Studying these objects can help researchers understand how black holes evolve throughout the modern Universe. However, by attracting gas and dust, these black holes release so much energy that they can outshine entire host galaxies, making them difficult to study.
A Restless Moon: Scientists are studying the seismic and volcanic activity of Earth’s satellite
China’s Chang’e-5 mission returned evidence that as recently as 120 million years ago, the Moon had active volcanoes, and some may still be active. Another study found that lunar earthquakes are rare, with the most powerful, around magnitude 5.0, occurring near the surface. Unlike earthquakes on Earth, which last from tens of seconds to minutes, lunar earthquakes can last for hours, enough to damage or topple structures, destabilize launch vehicles on the surface, or disrupt ground operations.
Microgravity, plants, worms, and butterflies: How space agriculture is taking off
Cutting-edge research in botany and biology is conducted aboard the International Space Station to support future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The latest facts about our planetary neighbor, Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. Venus is the third-brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. Venus rotates slowly, in the opposite direction to most planets. Several Russian Venera probes have detected particles about a micron in length in the lower layers of Venus’s atmosphere—roughly the same size as a bacterium on Earth.
Scientists have confirmed that space weather affects spacecraft, astronaut safety, radio communications, GPS, and power grids on Earth
The effects of solar storms may be limitless. Observations have shown that electrical currents in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, which can affect satellites, communications, and navigation signals, increase as the solar wind intensifies.
New Horizons expanded the boundaries of the Kuiper Belt, discovered “snowmen” and other unusual objects
The Kuiper Belt may extend billions of miles further than anyone imagined. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft encountered Pluto in 2015, then spent an extended period in the deepest layers of the Kuiper Belt and encountered a cosmic dust storm, suggesting that the outer reaches of the Solar System may be even further away than we imagine.
Planet or not a planet? Pluto’s status raises serious questions about how to define any object in the solar system
The current debate over Pluto highlights the difficulties in defining the concept of “planet.” The IAU defines a planet as a celestial body orbiting the Sun, having a nearly spherical shape, and having largely cleared its orbital environment of space debris. But even this set of criteria is not universally accepted.
In 2024-2026, a theory of dark matter accumulation in the center of our Galaxy was developed
New models show that stars can exist using only dark matter as fuel, and because there is an extremely large amount of dark matter near the Galactic Center, these stars become immortal.
The Mars Express orbiter expands our exploration capabilities on Mars
Mars is covered in a remarkably diverse landscape. In fact, the planet is roughly divided into two halves: half is covered in ancient soil, dotted with craters and other signs of age and activity, while the other half is much smoother, having been covered over time by lava. These landscape features were explored in detail by Mars Express, which launched on June 2, 2003, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-U-FG launch vehicle with a Fregat upper stage. The spacecraft continues to operate, collecting data about our planetary neighbor.
Analysis of the composition of soil from the far side of the Moon collected by China in 2024 revealed differences between the two sides of the object
A Chinese probe returned soil samples from the far side of the Moon to Earth for the first time on June 25, 2024. The Chang’e-6 probe landed on June 25, 2024, at 2:07 PM local time (8:07 AM Moscow time). The landing occurred “exactly at the designated location”—in Siziwang Banner in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xinhua reported. Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, declared the mission a “complete success.”
New discoveries in the field of interactions in stellar systems
Using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a spacecraft designed to search for exoplanets, astronomers discovered an unusual quadruple star system. During another dedicated observing campaign, XRISM revealed that hot plasma signals follow the orbital motion of an otherwise invisible companion star. And a new study by Japanese scientists has shown that our Sun and numerous similar “solar twins” may have migrated together from the core of the Milky Way galaxy.
Technologies for creating a fully-fledged habitat in microgravity conditions and on other planets: mycelium, 3D, carbon fiber
The Mycotecture project team at NASA’s Ames Research Center is developing technologies that will enable the “growing” of habitats on the Moon, Mars, and beyond using fungi and the subterranean filaments that make up their main component, known as mycelium. Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully tested the next-generation SpaceCAL microgravity 3D printer. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have unveiled ecovoxels—modular, reconfigurable building blocks that can be used for both construction on Earth and for creating living and working spaces in space. As part of the European Space Agency’s First! initiative, CompPair, in collaboration with Com&Sens and CSEM, has developed a new self-controlling and self-healing carbon fiber composite material.
New information about the instruments used to study the Sun in our solar system
The RF observatories, SOHO, Inouye, BioSentinel, Proba-3, Parker Solar Probe, SPHEREx, PUNCH, Carruthers, Helios, and SunRISE study solar radio flares, the solar atmosphere, the influence of solar radiation on various objects, and map the solar magnetic field from the outer corona to interplanetary space.
Modern questions about the solar system: its speed, boundaries, hidden objects in the outer part
The solar system may be moving through space three times faster than expected. The location of the outer edge of the solar system is also a subject of debate among astronomers. Here’s a simple guide to the sizes and locations of the planets in our solar system.
The most general and up-to-date information about the “former” ninth planet of the Solar System – Pluto
Pluto is the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System. It was previously considered the ninth and farthest planet from the Sun. In 2006, its status was downgraded. This strange world is located in the Kuiper Belt—a region beyond Neptune filled with hundreds of thousands of rocky, icy bodies, each over 100 kilometers in diameter, as well as 1 trillion or more comets. Pluto ceased to be a planet in 2006 when it was reclassified as a dwarf planet, sparking controversy and debate in the scientific community and among the general public.
First proposed by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960, the idea of alien spheres remains relevant in the 21st century
In the 1960s, physicist and polymath Freeman Dyson proposed the idea of creating these eponymous spheres. He proposed that a sufficiently advanced society would have an insatiable need for space and energy. If they were industrious enough, they could solve both problems by dismantling a planet and turning it into a massive spherical shell. This sphere would encircle the star, providing a surface area equal to billions of planets and absorbing vast amounts of solar energy. Dyson calculated that a shell made from a Jupiter-mass planet could completely envelop the Sun at approximately the same orbit as Earth. However, gravity within the hollow shell is neutralized, meaning there is nothing binding the shell to the star. They are free to move in independent directions, meaning the star containing the Dyson sphere would soon simply smash into the shell, destroying it.
Satellites in Earth orbit monitor soil moisture, water availability, river flow, and the global water cycle
The primary objective of the SMAP mission is to assess the moisture content of the surface soil layer and its state (frozen or thawed). Another pioneering reconnaissance mission of the European Space Agency, the HydroGNSS satellites, has become an important step in expanding global understanding of water availability and the impact of climate change on the global water cycle. The SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite allows for the assessment of river discharge, defined as the volume of water flowing per second at a given point along the river.
The search for dark matter in our Milky Way galaxy is the most challenging task in modern physics
Stars have been observed crawling along the outskirts of the Milky Way more slowly than expected—a slow motion that scientists say can only be explained if our map of galaxies containing dark matter is incorrect. The specific velocities of stars at the edges of these galaxies have historically been irrefutable evidence of the presence of dark matter in galaxies. This is because astronomers can measure a galaxy’s “rotation curve,” which plots the orbital velocities of stars against their distance from the galactic center.
The Perseverance mission to Mars. What has been learned after nearly five years of exploration on another planet?
A key goal of the Perseverance mission to Mars is astrobiology, including the collection of samples that may contain traces of ancient microbial life. The rover is studying the planet’s past geology and climate to pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet and to become the first mission to collect and preserve Martian rocks and regolith. The Mars Sample Return Program, implemented by NASA in collaboration with ESA (the European Space Agency), aims to send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.
Treatment and prevention of diseases during long-term flights in microgravity conditions
Deep space exploration requires a paradigm shift in astronaut medical support toward Earth-independent medical operations. Currently, astronauts rely on real-time communications with ground-based medical facilities. However, as the distance from Earth increases, communication delays and disruptions increase. Crews engaged in deep space exploration will need to autonomously detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. One potential solution is to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of crews participating in long-duration exploration missions with a digital clinical decision support system (CDSS).
Solar activity cycles have stumped scientists around the world, and research continues
When the current solar cycle began in late 2019, experts from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), which includes scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), predicted that solar maximum would likely begin sometime in 2025 and would be comparable to the previous, weaker cycle. However, as the current cycle progressed, it quickly became clear that this was not the case, and that solar maximum would occur earlier and be much more intense than initially anticipated.
Candidates for Planet Nine in the depths of our solar system
The predicted position of Planet Nine is intended to explain the irregular orbits of some Kuiper Belt objects in the outer solar system. However, some researchers are unconvinced that these orbits are caused by an undiscovered planet, and the scientific community as a whole still awaits direct observational evidence of Planet Nine’s existence. If Planet Nine does exist, researchers predict it to be much larger than Earth and to orbit in an unusual orbit billions of miles from Neptune, the eighth and currently last planet in our solar system. Planet Nine’s proposed orbit is so far from the Sun that it would be difficult for Earth-based scientists to detect it, making it difficult to prove or disprove its existence.
Recent studies of Pluto’s moon Charon have revealed that it contains water ice, ammonia and organic compounds, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide
Charon is a medium-sized body, approximately 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) wide, located in the Kuiper Belt—a ring of icy debris, comets, and dwarf planets, also called trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), at the edge of the solar system. Unlike many larger Kuiper Belt objects, Charon’s surface is not covered in volatile ices like methane, allowing scientists to gain valuable insight into the influence of sunlight on cratering these distant bodies. Furthermore, Charon is the only medium-sized TNO for which geological mapping is available. This was made possible thanks to data collected by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which visited the Pluto system about a decade ago.
Unique properties of ionic liquids, superalcohols and cosmic radiation indicate the existence of life beyond Earth
Life may exist right under our noses in the Solar System—the moons of Jupiter and Saturn are of great interest. Europa and Enceladus may harbor vast subsurface oceans where at least microbial life could be possible. Thanks to new data obtained with the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have discovered compelling evidence of extraterrestrial life on one exoplanet. But is water truly a necessary ingredient for life? A new study has determined that ionic liquids can form where liquid water cannot, thanks to their ability to remain liquid over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. These ionic liquids may ultimately support biomolecules such as proteins.
Water is an inevitable consequence of planet formation and is much more common in the galaxy than scientists previously thought
The findings suggest that water may not be a rare cosmic coincidence, but rather an inevitable consequence of planet formation, making it far more common in the galaxy than scientists previously thought. Water is life, at least as we know it. All life on Earth uses liquid water, and researchers studying the origins of life believe that the complex chemistry of life likely originated either in a warm pool on the Earth’s surface or near a deep-ocean hydrothermal vent. Therefore, planetary scientists are particularly interested in extraterrestrial locations where liquid water exists. Based on existing exoplanet data, super-Earths and sub-Neptunes are considered the most common classes of planets in our galaxy, and some of them are likely water worlds. However, these planets are large, and the interactions between the water in their oceans and the rocks in their interiors will determine how habitable they might be.
Before the New Year of 2026, the Curiosity rover has almost completed its exploration of Mount Sharp
Before Curiosity’s landing 13 years ago, the science team observed all the geological wonders scattered across the slopes of Mount Sharp and eagerly awaited the day when they would be able to use the rover to explore them. Since then, the rover has visited many of these targets—valleys, riverbeds, lake beds—and discovered several unexpected places.
The process of astronauts adapting to Earth’s gravity after a long stay in space
When astronauts return from extended stays in space, they are often removed from their capsules and placed on stretchers. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded in March 2025, were no exception. The effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body are an area of active research. The current record for the longest continuous stay in space belongs to Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 days—just over 14 months—aboard the now-defunct Mir space station in 1994 and 1995.
Sunspots and Solar Flares: A Timeline of Occurrences and Research Results in 2025
The end of 2025 was marked by the appearance of a solar spot directly facing Earth, similar in parameters to the standard for assessing modern cosmic threats—the “Carrington event.” And in early November 2025, a series of powerful X-class solar flares triggered coronal mass ejections, resulting in extensive aurora borealis displays observed as far south as Mexico.
The IMAP mission defines the boundaries of the heliosphere and provides space weather measurements
NASA’s new Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Mission (IMAP) was launched on September 23, 2025. Its goal is to study the heliosphere—the giant shield created by the Sun. The mission will determine the boundaries of the heliosphere to help us better understand the protection it provides for life on Earth and how it changes with solar activity.
Planet Nine is a hypothetical extra planet lurking in the far reaches of our solar system
For nearly a decade, astronomers have been scouring the outer reaches of the solar system for signs of a hypothetical ninth planet, to no avail. However, experts say we may finally be on the cusp of discovering it. Deep in the outer reaches of the solar system—so far from the known planets that the sun would barely be distinguishable from the nearest star—a vast, icy world may be lurking in the shadows, waiting to be discovered. More evidence has emerged of a hypothetical extra planet lurking in the farthest reaches of our solar system, and these clues lie in icy bodies that cross the orbit of Neptune on long, winding orbits around the sun.
Science fiction and the official scientific opinion on alien life
Many scientists are searching for extraterrestrial life on planets with conditions similar to Earth. For example, a habitable planet would likely have water. For liquid water, the planet would need to be at the perfect distance from its sun to prevent the water from freezing and turning into gas.
Curiosity Rover in Altadena Square – A Challenging Route and Amazing Mars Landscapes
The dark blocks that occasionally appear in the rover’s path are called floating rocks, and the team is looking higher into the hills to determine their origin. As intriguing as these blocks and boulders are, they pose a serious challenge for the rover’s drivers. They managed to get the rover to its intended stopping point, which is a significant achievement in itself. The mixture of large rocks and sand is completely unfavorable for movement. The risk of the rover shifting at the wrong moment, and the robotic arm colliding with a rock that the instrument is currently exploring, would be too great.
Alien craft or natural object? The most mysterious comet, Atlas, is approaching Earth
Initial estimates placed the comet’s diameter at about 11 kilometers (7 miles). However, subsequent data from the Hubble Space Telescope indicated that 3I/ATLAS is likely closer to the maximum size of 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles). In any case, it is likely the largest interstellar object ever observed.
Curiosity’s Journey Through Gediz Valley and Kings Canyon
The rover is searching for evidence that ancient Mars had the conditions necessary for microbial life, if such life existed at all, billions of years ago, when lakes and rivers existed on the Red Planet. The Gediz Valley channel, located at the foot of the 5-kilometer (3-mile) high Mount Sharp, may help tell the story: what this area looked like when Mars’s water disappeared.
New research into astronaut nutrition
Nutrition has been crucial in every era of exploration on Earth, from the days when scurvy plagued sailors to the last century, when polar explorers died from malnutrition or, in some cases, nutrient toxicity. New research sheds light on the risks of inadequate nutrition and food supply, leading to poor health and performance of astronauts during missions, as well as to poor health in the long term (nutrition and food-related risks).