Sciencing: Daily content for curious minds

NASA's 'Lost Asteroid' Didn't Hit Earth In 2024 - But What If It Did?

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:25:00 +0000

NASA lost track of an asteroid back in 2007, and in 2024, that same asteroid could have hit Earth. It passed by harmlessly, but what if it hadn't?

Science Fiction Vs. Science Fact: The Potential Of Starfield's Helium-3 As A Resource

staff@sciencing.com (Mina Nakatani) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:25:00 +0000

Bethesda's "Starfield" paints a picture of space that's heavy on mining – and which might be surprisingly accurate, at least where energy sources are involved.

Not Earth, Not Venus: This Planet Has The Biggest Volcano In The Solar System

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Volcanoes are one of the most impressive geological features around, but the biggest of them all isn't here on Earth, but it's not too far away.

What The Blue Origin Rocket Explosion Could Mean For NASA's Moon Base Plans

staff@sciencing.com (Tiffany Betts) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket erupted in a massive explosion, but will the damage it wrought on the launchpad impact our return to the moon?

What Might Happen If You Were Sucked Into Space

staff@sciencing.com (Daniel Meagher) — Sat, 16 May 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Science fiction makes it seem like a breached spaceship will mean an astronaut is pulled into space, but the reality is more nuanced - and more gruesome.

Not A Sphere, Not Flat: The Weirdest Possible Shape For A Planet

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:25:00 +0000

Unless you're on the fringes, it's taken for granted that Earth is round, but if you play with the numbers just right, other shapes are possible.

Why Astronauts Find It Hard To Poop In Space

staff@sciencing.com (Daniel Meagher) — Tue, 05 May 2026 19:25:00 +0000

When it comes to life in outer space, nothing is easy, and that difficulty isn't just based around logistics or isolation, it also applies to pooping.

Scientists Think We Can Hide Earth From Aliens. Here's How

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0000

It's a big universe out there and if we have any neighbors, it might be better if they left us alone, and one pair of scientists has a plan for that.

The Artemis II Astronauts Noticed Something Unexpected About The Moon

staff@sciencing.com (Pauli Poisuo) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Artemis II successfully brought humans close to the moon for the first time in decades, and the astronauts found that it was far from what they expected.

Inside Artemis II: What Living Aboard NASA's Lunar Spacecraft Really Looks Like

staff@sciencing.com (Robin Oliverio) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:25:00 +0000

The Orion spacecraft is on its way to the moon, and its four astronauts are going to have to make some living adjustments during their 10-day mission.

Here's What Scientists Know About The Portal To The Fifth Dimension

staff@sciencing.com (Daniel Meagher) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0000

We largely think of the world in four dimensions - time and the three spatial dimensions. But a fifth dimension might actually solve this longstanding mystery.

The Artemis II Toilet Debacle Meant One Gross Thing For Astronauts

staff@sciencing.com (Tiffany Betts) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Artemis II has just taken to the skies, but its takeoff wasn't without some mechanical problems. Of note, the toilet required some impromptu space plumbing.

The 12 Worst Ways To Die In Space Will Make You Think Twice About Becoming An Astronaut

staff@sciencing.com (Pauli Poisuo) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Space is a spectacular place, but it can also prove deadly, to the point that some space agencies even have plans in case that possibility ever happened.

What Scientists Really Think About 'Project Hail Mary'

staff@sciencing.com (Robin Oliverio) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Based on a novel by Andy Weir of 'The Martian' fame, 'Project Hail Mary' is at the top of the movie charts, but how do scientists rate its accuracy?

NASA Has Big Plans To Return Humans To The Moon

staff@sciencing.com (Tiffany Betts) — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:25:00 +0000

It's been over 50 years since humans have been to the moon, but NASA plans to change that dramatically, as shown changes to their scheduled Artemis missions.

The Biggest Unanswered Questions About How Life Began On Earth

staff@sciencing.com (Pauli Poisuo) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:25:00 +0000

The beginnings of life on Earth are a mystery, leading to many theories as scientists try to pin down the details, only to find more questions than answers.

What A Trip To Mars Might Actually Look Like For Humans

staff@sciencing.com (Daniel Meagher) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:25:00 +0000

Getting to humans to Mars isn't as simple as hitching a ride on the next outbound rocket, and the amount of planning required will surprise you.

Disturbing Things That Would Happen To Your Body After Death On The Moon

staff@sciencing.com (Elias Nash) — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:25:00 +0000

The science of decomposition on Earth is already rather gruesome, but decomposing on the moon is both gruesome, as well as more than a little strange.

The One Thing Humans Must Do To Avoid Extinction, According To Stephen Hawking

staff@sciencing.com (Elias Nash) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 11:25:00 +0000

Everyone has a few ideas about how humanity will end, but one of the brightest minds of the modern era had some thoughts on how to keep us going.

The Scientist That Believed Intelligent Alien Life Existed On Mars

staff@sciencing.com (Elias Nash) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Scientists continue to look for signs of alien life on Mars, but this scientist truly popularized the idea, claiming to find canals on the Red Planet's surface.