This satellite constellation transformed earth science by creatively tuning in to GPS signals
CYGNSS, a satellite constellation launched in 2016, detected reflected GPS signals to improve hurricane forecasting and applications beyond its original mission. The system's ability to receive and analyze bounced GPS transmissions enabled earth science discoveries that NASA researchers had not anticipated.
Light flips bacterial signaling enzyme between two shapes, unlocking how signals travel
Light causes sensor histidine kinases to shift between two asymmetrical shapes, enabling bacterial signal transmission. This mechanism of light-controlled asymmetry change reveals how these enzymes process signals in bacteria.
AI analysis of data from multiple sensors can improve earthquake detection
AI can combine readings from multiple seismometers across a geographic area to detect weak seismic signals more reliably than traditional methods. This approach uses distributed sensors to distinguish between earthquakes and human activities like underground nuclear tests.
The broader a fungus's diet, the better it kills insects and helps plants
Fungi with broader diets are more effective at killing insects and benefiting plants through nitrogen transfer. A single fungal species can simultaneously function as an insect pathogen, soil decomposer, and plant partner.
Spontaneous current loops in a kagome metal point to hidden quantum order
Researchers discovered spontaneous current loops in a kagome metal, revealing a hidden quantum order that emerges from collective electron arrangements. This state cannot be explained by classical physics theories and demonstrates unusual quantum mechanical behavior in the material.
Researchers develop a new predictive model for designing 2D perovskites
A new predictive model enables researchers to design two-dimensional perovskites for optoelectronic devices by combining characteristics of 2D semiconductors and 3D perovskites. The model helps identify which material compositions will produce desired properties for applications in next-generation electronics.
Plant DNA harbors virus 'fossils' that reflect 300 million years of evolution
Plant genomes contain molecular fossils of viruses that have infected them over 300 million years of evolution. Researchers from INRAE and CIRAD discovered these ancient viral remnants by analyzing plant DNA sequences published in PLOS Pathogens.
New polymer design could make everyday plastics easier to break down without losing performance
Researchers incorporated alkoxycarbonylmethylene units into polymer backbones to create degradation sites that break down under basic conditions while preserving material performance. The new molecular design strategy enables carbon-carbon backbone polymers to degrade without losing their desirable properties during use.
NASA’s Artemis II Breaks Agency Streaming Record
NASA's Artemis II mission generated 149.4 million views across the agency's platforms during its launch, lunar flyby, and splashdown coverage. The viewership included 24/7 streams featuring Orion spacecraft views throughout the mission.
NASA Students Get Airborne View of Atmospheric Science at Ellington Field
NASA's Student Airborne Research Program brought students to Ellington Field in Houston from June 3 to 13 to observe how aircraft collect atmospheric data. Students learned field campaign methods used in atmospheric science, ecology, air quality research, and climate modeling through direct airborne experiences.
NASA’s Webb Reveals Stars Sparking to Life in Cosmic Celebration
The James Webb Space Telescope captured infrared light from previously hidden features in the FS Tau star system, penetrating thick dust that blocked earlier observations. The image reveals numerous background galaxies and stellar features within the star system's dust clouds.
Teaching AI to run with the turbines
AI systems are being deployed to monitor and optimize wind turbine operations in industrial settings. Machine learning algorithms analyze real-time turbine data to improve performance and maintenance scheduling, moving beyond consumer applications into critical infrastructure management.
Sightings of humpback whales surge in Rio de Janeiro, fueling demand for whale-watching trips
Humpback whale sightings off Rio de Janeiro's coast are increasing as populations recover from commercial whaling. The surge in whale observations during annual migration has accelerated demand for whale-watching trips in the region.
New Indonesia roadmap aims to protect Indigenous knowledge for biodiversity
The Indonesian government is developing a roadmap to protect Indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation, with drafting that began in June 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples and local communities whose traditional practices have safeguarded Indonesia's ecosystems.
New tool maps public land with potential for hundreds of thousands of affordable homes in British Columbia
A new research tool identifies over 50,000 publicly owned land parcels in British Columbia with potential for affordable housing development. The B.C. Public Lands Map combines federal, provincial, and municipal data and reveals up to 273,000 potential housing units on vacant and underused land in Metro Vancouver alone.
LSST begins full operations with key contributions from Japanese researchers and engineers
The Legacy Survey of Space and Time has begun full operations, with over 80 Japanese researchers participating in the project through data access. Japanese engineers contribute software and operational systems expertise developed through prior work on the Subaru Telescope.
Huge, specially designed heat pump saves a Norwegian agricultural cooperative millions
A specially designed heat pump installed for a Norwegian agricultural cooperative recovers process heat to generate more energy than it consumes. SINTEF, Aneo, and Felleskjøpet collaborated to transform this heat recovery technology from theoretical research into an operational industrial-scale electricity-saving system.
Sun-powered sponges may generate 11% of tropical coral reef productivity
Sponges in tropical coral reefs use photosynthesis to produce nutrients, potentially generating 11% of the reef's total productivity. Researchers at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics published findings in Functional Ecology showing that sponges supplement their filter-feeding with photosynthetic energy production.
What’s Up: July 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
A predawn gathering of the Moon and planets occurs early in July 2026, while a returning comet becomes visible during the same period. Saturn's rings will appear at a new angle, and July offers optimal viewing conditions for observing the Milky Way.
How extreme weather impacts white stork survival in Bulgaria
White storks in Bulgaria face increasing survival threats from extreme weather, according to a 15-year study examining injured birds treated at a wildlife center between 2010 and 2025. The research, published in Biodiversity Data Journal, analyzed admission and treatment outcomes at the Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Center of the Green Balkans NGO.
Earliest Americans specialized in megafauna hunting from Alaska to South America, analysis of 50 sites reveals
The earliest Native Americans specialized in hunting megafauna across the continent from Alaska to South America, according to analysis of 50 archaeological sites. This dietary pattern shows consistent targeting of the largest animals available on the landscape throughout these geographically distant regions.
New star activity catalog could sharpen hunt for habitable worlds
A new star activity catalog will help identify which exoplanet candidates might support habitable conditions by accounting for stellar rotation and activity patterns. The catalog addresses how a star's characteristics, including its rotation rate, affect temperature conditions in the orbital regions where planets might sustain liquid water.
Updated standards make the case for restoration: ‘We have to create uplift’
The Society for Ecological Restoration released updated standards and principles for ecosystem restoration on June 23, marking the third edition since 2016. The new guidelines aim to establish better practices for carrying out restoration work while avoiding previous approaches that caused environmental damage.
NASA’s Chandra Examines Milky Way at Arms’ Length
New measurements from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory indicate the Milky Way's outer spiral arms extend farther than previously believed. Astronomers used precise distance measurements to dust clouds to make this discovery about galactic structure.
Can coastal infrastructure be engineered to harbor marine life instead of harming it?
Concrete panels with varying textures have been installed in Cobh Harbor's centuries-old wall to create habitat for marine life. The installation consists of 60 hexagonal panels bolted into the stone infrastructure, with some featuring ridges or textured surfaces.
NASA Seeks Volunteers for New Yearlong Simulated Moon, Mars Mission
NASA is recruiting volunteers to spend one year in a simulated moon and Mars habitat at Johnson Space Center starting no earlier than August 2027. Participants will live in isolated conditions designed to replicate the environments of crewed missions to the Moon or Mars.
As AI Reshapes Global Energy Systems, Melbourne Leads Through Engineering Collaboration
Artificial intelligence is driving electricity demand so sharply that data centers are projected to consume 11 percent of Australia's electricity by 2035. Engineers across energy, infrastructure, and computing disciplines must collaborate to address this system-level challenge affecting global power systems.
Scientists Build Fully Synthetic Life Form That Can Eat and Reproduce
Researchers created a fully synthetic organism capable of consuming nutrients and reproducing itself. The synthetic life form represents advancement in engineered biology technology for potential bioeconomy applications.
LINK Spacecraft Set for Mission to Boost NASA’s Swift Observatory
A robotic servicing spacecraft called LINK will raise the orbit of NASA's Swift Observatory during a mission launching July 2 from Kwajalein Atoll. LINK, built by Katalyst Space, represents the first attempt to boost the aging observatory's altitude in the South Pacific.
NASA’s Webb Studies How Planet Survived Death of its Star
A planet survived its star's transformation into a white dwarf billions of years ago, with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope detecting the system's composition and orbital dynamics. The discovery provides evidence that planets can persist after their host star exhausts its fuel and collapses.