Curiosity Blog, Sols 4934-4940: In the Land of the Polygons
Curiosity rover traversed light-toned, smooth terrain during sols 4934-4940 in June 2026, operating through two planning cycles. The rover's position within this orbital-imaged unit allowed it to continue systematic surface observations and geological documentation.
Caltech Welcomes Astrophysicist Ray Jayawardhana as New President
Ray Jayawardhana became Caltech's 10th president, succeeding Thomas Rosenbaum who served since 2014. Jayawardhana holds the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and serves as professor of astronomy.
NASA’s TESS Mission Finds Planetary System in New Way
TESS identified a planet using gravitational wave ripples in space-time for the first time, detecting a super-Jupiter orbiting far from its host star. This differs from TESS's standard method of finding planets that pass in front of their stars blocking light.
Europe’s Future Circular Collider could revolutionize particle physics—if it’s ever built
A proposed 91-kilometer circular particle collider would succeed Europe's Large Hadron Collider, with scientific support established after decades of discussion. The megaproject's construction remains uncertain despite clear scientific justification for the undertaking.
Scientists discover a surprising link between vitamin C and brain health
A study of over 2,000 older Japanese adults found that lower blood vitamin C levels correlated with reduced gray matter and weaker connections in brain networks responsible for memory and attention. Participants with insufficient vitamin C showed particular weakness in cognitive function networks.
Physicists and AI model Claude 'collaborate' to prove a 10-year-old jamming conjecture
Physicists used the AI model Claude to prove a mathematical jamming conjecture that had remained unsolved for over 10 years. The proof of this mathematical relation was published in the Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment by Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi and Francesco Zamponi.
Cosmic eruption caught in the act by submillimeter array's new fastest response system
The Submillimeter Array achieved its first rapid-response observation of a gamma-ray burst on January 26, 2026, detecting the event within minutes of discovery. Scientists captured the earliest-ever submillimeter wavelength observations of such a cosmic eruption using this new capability.
Abundant catalyst converts methane into valuable liquid chemicals
Molybdenum disulfide catalyst converts methane into methyl peroxide and other liquid oxygenates at temperatures below 100°C. The process uses an earth-abundant industrial catalyst that requires minimal modification to selectively produce methyl peroxide, a precursor for methanol.
Quantum computer simulates hadronization, reproducing string breaking with 104 qubits
A quantum computer with 104 qubits successfully simulated hadronization, a key particle physics process involving string breaking. The simulation used a simplified quantum mechanical model and was conducted remotely on an IBM quantum computer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
3,000-year-old Irish Bronze Age site may be one of Europe's earliest 'town-like' settlements
A 3,000-year-old Irish settlement called Haugheys Fort near Armagh shows evidence of being one of Western Europe's earliest large, organized settlements from around 1200 BC. The site combined settlement, craft production, and ritual activities in a carefully planned landscape at an unprecedented scale.
NASA’s Chandra Reveals ‘Red, White, Blue’ Universe for US 250th
NASA released four cosmic images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory colored in red, white, and blue to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. The images were accompanied by three new sonifications that convert astronomical data into sound.
Fossils reveal a prehistoric crocodile relative that walked on two legs
A bipedal shuvosaurid, a prehistoric crocodile relative, walked on two legs 212 million years ago. This ancient creature lived in what is now the United States during that period.
NASA Awards More Moon Base Science, Previews New Opportunities
NASA selected three companies to land four missions on the Moon in late 2028 as part of the Moon Base Program. Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines will deliver the missions.
What’s jimbu? The herb that bolsters an iconic Nepali dish could also help save snow leopards
Jimbu, a Himalayan herb used in Nepali dal bhat dishes, is being cultivated as an alternative livelihood for communities in snow leopard habitats. This sustainable harvesting practice helps protect endangered snow leopards by reducing pressure on their mountain ecosystems.
One of the most distant 'leaky' galaxies ever found may reveal how the universe reionized
Astronomers identified a distant galaxy candidate that leaks ionizing radiation, the type believed to have transformed the early universe during reionization. The galaxy's leaked radiation may help explain how the epoch of reionization occurred in the early cosmos.
World Cup research reveals strategy to give teams a penalty-shootout edge
A new study questions the conventional belief that penalty shootout teams kicking first have a significant advantage. Research analyzing World Cup penalty shootouts reveals the outcome depends on strategic factors beyond simply going first.
How cricket mothers control the developmental timing of their offspring
Cricket mothers regulate offspring development timing through diapause, a dormancy state that allows eggs to survive harsh seasons. This reproductive strategy enables temperate insects to delay development until environmental conditions become suitable for survival.
How embryonic cells 'read' their boundaries to organize themselves
Mammalian embryonic cells detect their boundaries and position within the cluster to self-organize into defined structures during development. Cells use this spatial information to determine their orientation and establish where the fluid-filled cavity will form, a critical step in early embryonic organization.
Tiny new marsupial species, not seen in two decades, confirmed from museum specimens
A new marsupial species weighing just a couple of grams has been confirmed from museum specimens in Australia's Northern Territory and named the Arnhem Plateau planigale. The tiny rock-dwelling carnivore, which is among the world's smallest marsupials, was identified from specimens not observed in the wild for two decades.
Scientists may have finally found how Alzheimer's spreads through the brain
A brain protein transports toxic Tau proteins from damaged neurons to healthy ones, potentially explaining how Alzheimer's spreads. Researchers propose that blocking these harmful protein packages could slow the disease's progression through the brain.
Scientists say creatine may help fight depression
A review of five clinical trials involving 238 participants examined whether creatine could treat depression by boosting brain energy. Two studies showed that adding creatine to standard treatment improved symptoms in women with major depressive disorder, while three studies found no meaningful benefit.
Bangladesh unveils sweeping EV incentives to cut emissions and pollution
Bangladesh eliminated heavy taxes on electric vehicles and replaced them with incentives to reduce emissions and pollution. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the new EV policy in his June 11 budget speech for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
A coastal Philippine farm offers a blueprint for farming with wetlands
A Philippine coastal farm demonstrates integrated wetland agriculture by combining active and abandoned brackish fishponds with mangrove ecosystems. The Glinoga Integrated Farm in Pitogo municipality, located four hours from Manila, manages multiple pond types and uses embankment construction to control water movement through mangrove areas.
NASA, SBA Announce New Initiative to Scale American Space Economy
NASA and the SBA launched the SBIC-NASA Initiative to increase investment in American manufacturers of industrial components and space exploration technologies. Under the agreement, NASA will identify technology priorities and connect businesses to funding opportunities for sustained lunar and Martian presence.
NASA’s Newest Wind Tunnel Builds on Legacy of Innovation
NASA opened the Flight Dynamics Research Facility, its first major wind tunnel built in over 40 years, to replace two older tunnels at Langley Research Center. The new facility succeeds the 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel and the 20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel, which had operated for more than a century.
Hong Kong’s urban cockatoos could be a genetic lifeline for Indonesian ancestors
A feral population of yellow-crested cockatoos in Hong Kong contains genetic diversity that could help save the critically endangered species in Indonesia, where fewer than 2,000 individuals remain in the wild. The Hong Kong birds, descended from escaped or released pets, represent a potential genetic resource for conservation efforts in the species' native Indonesian range.
One mountain lion changed the food web in a California suburb, study finds
A mountain lion that moved into a California suburban preserve around 2012 transformed the local food web by altering prey populations and predator-prey relationships. The finding, documented through nine years of camera trap data, demonstrates that apex predators can reshape ecosystems even in heavily developed landscapes.
NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Preps for Spacewalk
NASA astronaut Chris Williams tested his spacesuit on June 23, 2026, inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock, checking comfort, mobility, communications, and life support systems. ESA flight engineer Sophie Adenot assisted Williams with the spacesuit evaluation before his scheduled spacewalk.
NASA Seeks Industry Input to Accelerate Lunar Surface Technologies
NASA is requesting industry input on a draft solicitation to accelerate development of lunar surface technologies needed for long-term Moon exploration. The agency aims to reduce risk and advance key systems through collaborative design, development, testing, and evaluation with industry partners.
Keep an eye out for tonight's Strawberry Moon
The Strawberry Moon will reach its peak in early morning hours on Tuesday, June 30. This full moon marks the first of the summer season in UK skies.