Oumuamua

Oumuamua has been identified by astronomers as the first known interstellar object in the Solar System.

Speed and orbital path are the pillars of the argument.  It's simply moving too fast to stay in the Solar System, and its trajectory confirms it came from outside.

North Korea

North Korea tested a new ICBM yesterday that could reach anywhere in America.

The real threat, however, could be the capability to deliver and explode a thermonuclear device directly over America, creating an electromagnetic pulse that could knock out the power grid for weeks or months.

Pulsars

Fifty years ago, Jocelyn Bell discovered pulsars, deepening our understanding of the universe.

At first, because of the extreme regularity of pulsar signals, some speculated they were sent by an alien race.

Red Blood Cells

A new study suggests astronauts do not lose red blood cells while in space as previously thought.

That would be one more small step on the way to Mars.

Mars City

A team from MIT has won an international competition to design a city to be built on Mars.

The city would support 10,000 people.

Apollo 12

Forty-eight years ago today, Apollo 12 came home.

Pete Conrad and Alan Bean had executed the second manned lunar landing on the mission.

InSight

NASA's next Mars lander, InSight, has passed its last big test.

Launch is scheduled for next spring.

Mars Streaks

A new study of the dark streaks seen on slopes on Mars are likely flows of sand.

It admits, however, the streaks could also be caused by flowing liquid water.

BFR

SpaceX expects the U. S. Government to help pay for the development of its BFR system.

That development, however, will go forward in any case.

Spacesuits

A new spacesuit is being developed privately in Canada.

Developers see it being used in commercial spaceflight.

Arecibo

Despite minor damage from Hurricane Maria, the Arecibo Observatory will remain open.

Funding, however, will have to change.

Zuma

SpaceX is set to launch the Zuma spacecraft for the U. S. Government.

What exactly Zuma will do, however, is secret.

Sending A Message

A group of scientists and artists sent a radio message to a red dwarf a dozen light years away last month.  A super Earth that might be capable of supporting life orbits the dwarf.

So much for building a consensus.

Ross 128b

Astronomers have found another near Earth mass world that might support life.

It orbits the red dwarf Ross 128, only 11 light years away.

Enceladus

Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, of Breakthrough fame, is considering a privately funded mission to Saturn's fascinating little moon, Enceladus.

The probe would fly through Enceladus' famed geyser plumes in search of evidence of life.

Perspective

Alibaba reported revenue of $25 billion on Singles Day.  One day.

That''s $6 billion more than NASA's current annual budget.

E-coli

NASA is launching E-coli bacteria to ISS to study the effects of antibiotics on microgravity.

Antibiotics are becoming less effective as bacteria evolve to resist them.

Four Hundred Years

On November 9,. 1620, the Mayflower landed in America.  In the less than 400 year period since, the most powerful nation in history has arisen in North America-- an eyeblink in time.

What will Earth's Moon and Mars be like in 400 years?

Ceres

Two new studies suggest the dwarf planet Ceres may once have had a global ocean of liquid water.

Most of the water, researchers think, is still there, bound in the rock.

Hawking

Stephen Hawking argues that if humanity is still confined to Earth in 600 years it may well go extinct.

He cites overpopulation as the cause.

Proxima Centauri

A new study has found a dust ring-- possibly two-- around Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun.

The ring, similar to the Kuiper Belt, suggests Proxima Centauri might have a multi-planet system.

Chinese Spaceplane

China plans to launch a reusable spaceplane by 2020 according to China's state-run news agency.

The vehicle, which could carry people or cargo, would take off and land horizontally.

Laika

Sixty years ago today, the dog Laika was launched into space by the Soviet Union.

She was the first mammal in space.

Oceans On Jupiter?

A new study suggests that gas giants, like Jupiter, may start out as warm water worlds only slightly bigger than Earth.

The next step is to see if the theory fits the general gas giant population.

Astronauts' Brains

A new study documents how the brains of astronauts change during long duration spaceflights.

Of course, so far, many astronauts have remained physically vigorous and mentally active well into old age.

Odd Couple

Scientists have found a world the size of Jupiter orbiting a star only half as massive as the Sun.

How such a tiny star could have such a huge planet is unknown.