Black Hole

Researchers have found a black hole in one galaxy is influencing star formation in galaxies a million light years away.

Black holes emit jets of energy from their poles, and that energy produces shock waves when it encounters matter.  Compressed gas leads to star formation.

Ticket To Ride

NASA is looking at buying a ticket on a private mission to ISS for one of its astronauts.

The mission would last 15-30 days.  NASA wants to examine the effects of spaceflight of various lengths.

Space Economy

NASA is trying to help create a space economy by bringing small, New Space companies into its lunar project.

The companies point out, however, that they will need more customers than NASA to make a go of it.

2020

SETI researchers surveyed say 2020 probably will not be the year we find ET.

They do say, however, that we are likely getting close.

RNA

A new study has found the sugar component of RNA in meteorites believed to be older than Earth itself.

The find strengthens the case that life may have come to Earth from elsewhere.

Ice Fossils

Scientists have found ice fossils in a meteorite.

The fossils tell them about the earliest period in planetary formation.

Lunar Swirls

Features called "swirls" on the lunar surface arre associated with localized magnetospheres.

Because that increased magnetism blocks cosmic rays, lunar swirls might be good places for human outposts.

Life

Scientists now think an Earth-like planet could support life even if the system also contains a giant planet in a wildly eccentric orbit.

The more we learn, the more likely life becomes.

Reality

Some theoretical physicists are questioning whether objective reality exists at all.

It's a quantum theory thing.

Tic Tac II

Commander David Fravor, leader of the squadron that encountered the Tic Tac UFO, says no "unknown individuals" were involved after the incident.

That contradicts reports of five other Navy officers who were on scene at the time.

Tic Tac

Several U. S. Navy officers on scene at the time are now saying "unknown individuals" ordered  data about the so-called Tic Tac UFO to be handed over to them and wiped from all records.

The appearance of such people is common in the UFO literature.

Neptune

Researchers have found the two innermost moons of Neptune follow orbits  that interact with each other.

At times, the two small moons come within 2,000 miles of each other.

Brain Changes

A new study suggests long-duration spaceflight may alter the structure and functioning of the human brain.

There is no indication whether the changes are permanent.

Perspective

Walmart reported quarterly revenues of $128 billion this morning.

That's six times NASA's current annual budget.

Martian Oxygen

A new study suggests oxygen levels spike in Mars' atmosphere in the summer,  similar to the behavior of methane levels there.

That is suggestive of life, but not determinative.

Apollo 12

Fifty years ago, Apollo 12 launched on the second lunar landing mission.  Struck by lightning seconds after liftoff. the mission continued to the Moon.

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

ISS

A quartet of U. S. Senators are proposing extending ISS to 2030.

Currently, it's due to be decommissioned by 2024.

TESS

NASA's TESS planet hunting spacecraft have so far identified about 1,200 exoplanet candidates, of which 29 have been confirmed.

NASA expects TESS to find about 10,000 worlds.

India

India is looking at flying a Venus orbiter.

The mission could launch as soon as 2023.

NoKo Missiles

North Korea has started testing missiles once again.

So far, according to reports, the tests seem to involve only short range missiles.

Discovering ET

Scientists are beginning to think that establishing the existence of ET life may take time even after initial positive indications.

They see discovery as a process, not an event.

Voyagers

Scientists estimate they will only remain in contact with the two Voyager probes now in interstellar space another five years.

Currently, both probes are still functioning after 42 years.

Spacebit

Spacebit, a startup company, is planning to land a swarm of tiny, legged robots on the Moon in 2021.

The rovers, controlled by AI, will be able to explore places wheeled rovers cannot, like lava tubes.

Planetary Defense

NASA is pushing to have a new near-Earth object hunting telescope launched by 2025.

So far, NASA estimates that only about 35% of NEOs big enough to truly threaten Earth have been identified.

Plutoo Orbiter?

NASA is looking at a possible Pluto orbiter.

No commitment has been made, however.