Tunguska

On this day 110 years ago, a small asteroid exploded over Tunguska, Siberia, leveling a huge expanse of fotest.

Earth is still vulnerable to such disasters.

Defining Life

Some theoretical physicists are arguing we need a broader definition of life to underrpin our search for ET.

They suggest, for example, that artificial intelligence could be considered a life form.

JWST

NASA is delaying launch of the James Webb Space Telescope until at least 2021.

It's the latest in a series of costly delays for the project.

Moving Stars

A new paper suggests it may be possible for an advanced civilizations could move stars to desired positions.

The paper suggests that might happen in 100 billion years to counter universal expansion.

Intermediate Black Hole

Astronomers have found an intermediate-sized black hole gobbling up a star.

For whatever reason, intermediate black holes are rare.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin says it will start selling tickets to suborbital flights next year.

So far. BO hasn't flown any humans.

Awesome Eruptions

A new study suggests some of the biggest volcanic eruptions in the history of the Solar System happened on Mars over a period of 500 million years, ending about 3 billion years ago.

Such a period would have completely reshaped the planet.

Martian Dust Storm

The dust storm on Mars has become a global event.

Curiosity, which is nuclear powered, is fine, but Opportunity, which is solar powered, is shut down for now.

Hackers

According to reports, China has hacked into American satellites and defense contractors.

The hackers could possibly have changed the satellites' orbits.

Ceres

New analysis of data from the Dawn spacecraft suggests Ceres has a significantly larger amount of organic molecules than originally thought.

Ceres continues to be a fascinating little world.

Space Force

President Trump has begun the process of creating a U. S. space force.

He also said the U. S. will establish a permanent presence on the Moon and go to Mars.

Space Laser

Russia would like to solve the space junk problem by blasting junk to smithereens with a powerful laser.

Of course, such a laser could also destroy operational satellites.

Hawking

At the memorial for Stephen Hawking, his voice was beamed in the direction of a black hole.

It was meant as a tribute, but it was also ironic. Hawking warned against beaming signals into space lest we attract the attention of dangerous aliens.

ISS Visit

Axiom Space is offering 10-day stays on ISS for $55 million each.

The company also plans to have its own commercial space station by 2022.

Opportunity

NASA has lost contact with its Opportunity rover, which is in the midst of a huge dust storm.

This could potentially end the mission after 14 years.

Alpha Centauri

NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory reveals the radiation level in the Alpha Centauri system is low enough to allow life.

That's good news for possible human settlement.

Dust Storm

A huge dust storm has shut down the Opportunity rover.

If the storm lasts too long, Opportunity could essentially freeze to death.

Black Hole Life

Astrophysicist Sean Raymond has calculated that a million habitable planets could orbit a supermassive black hole.

Several stars would also orbit the black hole.

Moon Trip Delay

SpaceX won't fly tourists around the Moon this year as planned, according to reports.

No timetable for the trip has been announced.

Life On Mars?

NASA announced yesterday that Curiosity has found organic compounds in rocks and a seasonal change in the amounts of methane in the Martian atmosphere.

Both discoveries are suggestive of life.

Space Support

A Pew national survey finds a strong majority of Americans think the U. S. should remain the leader in space exploration.

That support doesn't all go to NASA, however.  They are support private space efforts.

Announcement

NASA is set to announce a discovery made by the Curiosity rover.

The announcement is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Weird Orbits

A new study suggests there is no need for a massive Planet Nine to explain weird orbits in the Kuiper Belt.

The study suggests the cumulative gravity of thousands of small objects could produce the orbits.

Space Race?

NASA's Jim Bridenstine said recently the U. S, needs to compete with China in space.

China has big plans for the Moon, including a landing on the far side and a manned landing.

Sterile Neutrino

Physicists have found a new particle, the sterile neutrino.

Or not.  Some experiments say sterile neutrinoes exist, while other experiments say otherwise.  At stake is our understanding of the universe.

AI

NASA and other space agencies are using artificial intelligence in various ways, and the role of AI in space and other fields is slated to expand.

The question, according to some humans, is: Will we control AI, or will AI control us?