What’s Up: August 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
A solar eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower, bright evening Venus, and a deep partial lunar eclipse occur in August 2026. The lunar eclipse closes the month while Venus reaches peak brightness in the evening sky.
Art festivals may revive island communities when tourism stays within local limits
Art festivals held periodically on islands can revitalize local communities if tourism is controlled within the areas' capacity and social limits. The Setouchi Triennale demonstrates how intermittent events, rather than constant tourism, support sustainable long-term community development.
A new genetic tool helps researchers uncover the logic of gene regulation
Researchers developed a genetic tool that reveals how cells decide which of the 20,000 human genes to activate at specific times. The method helps uncover the logic behind gene regulation in different cell types.
From research to policy: Study turns EU wildfire assessments into a tool for better governance
A study transformed EU wildfire risk assessments into a governance tool addressing climate change, land-use shifts, and socioeconomic pressures. Wildfires now impact ecosystems, infrastructure, public health, water resources, cultural heritage, and rural livelihoods despite increased firefighting investments.
Newly discovered mechanism protects DNA during cell division
A newly discovered mechanism prevents DNA bridges from damaging chromosomes during cell division by keeping them intact until after the cells separate. This process involves proteins that stabilize the DNA bridges, which are thin strands connecting newly formed cells when chromosomes fail to fully separate.
Homing in on the X-ray sky with eROSITA's second data release
The eROSITA X-ray observatory released its second major public data set containing observations of the X-ray sky. The German eROSITA consortium, led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, made this data release publicly available for research purposes.
NASA, SpaceX Advance Wind Tunnel Tests for Starship Rocket
Wind tunnel tests on SpaceX's Super Heavy Version 3 booster completed at NASA's Ames Research Center to study aerodynamic forces during re-entry for the Artemis III mission. The tests examined extreme conditions the rocket experiences, preparing for next year's demonstration flight.
NASA’s Roman Telescope to Carry 1.35 Million Names to Deep Space
A memory card containing 1,350,144 names was installed on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The names, submitted by people worldwide including Artemis astronauts, will travel with the observatory into deep space.
The Download: Montana’s new experimental drug rules
Montana has begun allowing biotech companies to administer drugs that have completed only preliminary testing, sometimes after just 10 trials. This experimental program positions the state as a medical testing hub for treatments not yet approved through standard regulatory channels.
Learning to better understand bone-like minerals
Researchers added europium, a rare-earth element, to hydroxyapatite to better understand and stabilize the calcium phosphate mineral found in teeth and bones. The europium mimics calcium and enables potential applications in medical imaging.
New report highlights health of the UK's plankton communities
UK marine plankton communities are experiencing major large-scale shifts due to climate change, according to a new report led by University of Plymouth researchers. The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership published the report examining the latest evidence of these changes in UK waters and their effects on pelagic habitats.
Probing binary stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud with the JWST
Stars and stellar remnants comprise approximately 85% of the baryonic mass in the Milky Way's disk and bulge, directly shaping how galaxies evolve overall. The James Webb Space Telescope is being used to study binary stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud to better understand stellar formation and evolution processes.
Waste CO₂ converts into graphite through a newly observed two-step process
Carbon dioxide waste converts into graphite through a newly discovered two-step chemical process. This method could reduce dependence on graphite mining and imports, particularly for the United States.
Photonic time crystals unlock ultrafast control of light in the terahertz range
Researchers created the first all-optical photonic time crystal, a material with optical properties that can be strongly and periodically modulated at ultrafast timescales. The breakthrough was achieved through collaboration between teams at École Polytechnique, Collège de France, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in the terahertz frequency range.
Bacteria build a mineral shield that could help marine infrastructure resist rust
Bacteria produce a mineral coating that protects metal from seawater corrosion, offering an alternative to chemical inhibitors. Researchers at Reichman University published findings in Cell Reports Physical Science demonstrating this biological defense mechanism for marine infrastructure.
A thermal camera trick could let LIGO see twice as far
LIGO's detection range could double by using a thermal camera to monitor and correct heat-induced distortions in its mirrors. The off-the-shelf thermal imaging system addresses thermal noise that has been limiting the gravitational wave detector's sensitivity to smaller measurements.
Pacific Ocean pattern helps explain diverging wildfire trends in US and Australia
Burned forest area has increased substantially in the U.S. Southwest while eastern Australia has not experienced similar increases despite both regions warming. A Pacific Ocean pattern influences moisture and fire conditions differently across the two regions.
Students Take on Airborne Field Research with NASA
Students launched ozonesondes, balloon-based scientific instruments, into the atmosphere above the Texas Gulf Coast as part of NASA's Student Airborne Research Program during its summer session ending July 27. The program had students conduct hands-on atmospheric research from aircraft to collect data on air quality and atmospheric conditions.
Researchers find ‘priority zones’ for yellow fever vaccination of golden lion tamarins
Researchers identified priority zones for vaccinating golden lion tamarins against yellow fever in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The vaccination strategy targets specific geographic areas where the endangered primates face the highest disease risk.
NASA Assigns Astronaut Deniz Burnham to First Space Station Mission
Astronaut Deniz Burnham will launch aboard Soyuz MS-30 spacecraft to the International Space Station as an Expedition 76 flight engineer in March 2027. She will travel with cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Konstantin Borisov from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Starburst Galaxy Centaurus A
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured infrared images of Centaurus A galaxy, located 11 million light-years away, revealing dusty structures and hidden activity. The Mid-Infrared Instrument detected unusual features in this nearby yet highly active galaxy system.
This 4,000-year-old city defied the rules of history
Mohenjo-daro's wealth gap between rich and poor households narrowed as the city grew over 4,000 years ago. The city featured shared infrastructure, fair trade systems, and an absence of powerful royal elites.
Rice bran compound may help ease irritable bowel symptoms
Ferulic acid, a compound found in rice bran, reduced intestinal muscle contractions triggered by chemical messengers in laboratory experiments. This suppression of calcium signals could potentially help treat diarrhea-related digestive disorders, though it may worsen constipation.
Scientists found evolution repeating itself in the Galápagos Islands
Giant daisies in the Galápagos Islands independently evolved similar heat-tolerant leaf shapes multiple times, though each lineage used different genetic combinations. Isolated plant populations showed major genetic differences, indicating new species may currently be forming on the islands.
NASA Johnson Interns Shaping the Future of Exploration
NASA Johnson Space Center interns are working on real-world projects alongside engineers and scientists advancing human spaceflight. These students gain hands-on experience contributing to actual missions while preparing for careers in the aerospace workforce.
Chicken kidney sponge could be 'outstanding' at cleaning up polluted ports
A chicken kidney sponge material can filter pollutants like oil and toxins from harbor water. Researchers propose using this sponge as a renaturalization method to clean enclosed ports by introducing hardy species that survive in disturbed marine environments.
The role of community energy in mediating the sustainable energy transition
Community energy projects governed by local members advance just energy transitions by providing power to remote areas, enabling renewable technology adoption, and strengthening electricity networks. Their current limited adoption raises questions about practical implementation methods and strategies for wider expansion.
Daily multivitamin may help older adults stay independent
A daily multivitamin improved functional health in older adults after three years compared to a placebo group. The preliminary findings, which still need peer review, showed users maintained better strength and stamina for everyday activities.
A climate resilience strategy to strengthen US seafood competitiveness
Climate-driven disruptions pose a significant threat to U.S. seafood production competitiveness, requiring resilience investments in fisheries and supply chains. NOAA is advancing efforts to increase domestic seafood production while a University of Miami study emphasizes that long-term competitiveness depends on fisheries' ability to withstand climate disruptions.