Sciencing: Daily content for curious minds

In 1969, Lightning Struck Apollo 12 Twice After Liftoff. One Obscure Switch Saved The Mission

staff@sciencing.com (Pauli Poisuo) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:25:00 +0000

When undertaking human spaceflight, safety is the most important issue, which is why you generally want to avoid getting struck by lightning.

In The '90s, Scientists Launched A Probe To Saturn's Moon; What They Found Was Unexpected

staff@sciencing.com (Elias Nash) — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Saturn has hundreds of moons, but when we sent a probe there in the 1990s, only one of them was worthy to have a lander sent to its surface.

King Harald Died 22 Minutes After A Lunar Eclipse Peaked. An Ancient Belief Makes The Timing Even Eerier

staff@sciencing.com (Tiffany Betts) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:25:00 +0000

The beloved monarch of Norway, King Harald V, has passed away, but his passing occurred suspiciously close to the peak of a partial lunar eclipse.

Six People Were Sealed In A Simulated Spacecraft For 520 Days, Then Scientists Found Something In Their Poop

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Space is known to have physical effects on the human body, but even simulated space travel was found to have a notable effect on astronauts' guts.

Not Black Holes, Not Dark Matter: Scientists Say This Mystery Is Even Stranger

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:25:00 +0000

The universe is full of non-intuitive natural phenomena that we've been able to see or detect, but some theories still defy easy explanation.

In The '60s, The US Launched Millions Of Needles Into Space & Didn't Expect What Happened Next

staff@sciencing.com (Elias Nash) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 16:25:00 +0000

The Cold War saw many attempts at strange experiments, including this controversial plan to use space-bound needles to help facilitate Earthly communications.

In The Early 2000s, NASA Sent Salmonella Into Space. They Didn't Expect What Happened Next.

staff@sciencing.com (Elias Nash) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:25:00 +0000

Space has odd effects on the human body, but it also happens to affect bacteria, too. And, as NASA discovered, those changes aren't exactly promising.

Scientists Say The Black Fungi Feeding On Chernobyl's Ruins Could Solve An Important Problem For Space Travel

staff@sciencing.com (Robin Oliverio) — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:25:00 +0000

The nuclear disaster in Chernobyl unintentionally created a very unique ecosystem -- one which made fungi just as well suited for space as they are for Earth.

The Mesmerizing Full Moon Phenomenon You Can Experience In August

staff@sciencing.com (Tiffany Betts) — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:25:00 +0000

The full moon has been an object of fascination for all of human history, and August's full moon is no exception. Here's what you need to know about it.

The Sound Astronauts Can't Make In Space

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:25:00 +0000

Though sound and space don't usually mix, an astronaut did find himself surprised when he couldn't make this common sound while in his space suit.

Science Fiction Vs. Fact: Quantum Mechanics And Interstellar's Message To The Past

staff@sciencing.com (Daniel Meagher) — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:25:00 +0000

Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar' gave the world an exciting look at the cutting edge of cosmology, but how accurate was its science really?

Scientists Thought The Sun's Death Would End The World – A New Study Says Otherwise

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:25:00 +0000

Scientists have assumed that the sun would swallow the earth whole near the end of its life, but a closer look at the physics seems to imply otherwise.

The Halley's Comet Doomsday Prediction Of 1910 Never Happened – But What If It Had?

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:25:00 +0000

In 1910, Earth passed so close to Halley's Comet that people feared the two would collide. They clearly never did, and humanity avoided potential catastrophe.

Why Space Travel Can Make The Human Body Age Faster

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Older astronauts have been setting records of late, but space itself can also cause accelerated aging in ways that scientists are hoping to better understand.

Science Fiction Vs. Fact: Surviving On The Red Planet In The Martian

staff@sciencing.com (Pauli Poisuo) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:25:00 +0000

There's plenty of interest surrounding human colonies on Mars, and "The Martian" is a rather accurate representation of how life on Mars could look.

The Difference Between Black Holes And Wormholes Is Easily Explained By Science

staff@sciencing.com (Tiffany Betts) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:25:00 +0000

Black holes and wormholes may seem interchangeable, but they actually are very different objects. In fact, one of them only really exists in theory.

Scientists Didn't Expect To Find This Puzzling Earth Mineral In A Martian Meteorite

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 19:25:00 +0000

When it comes to the geology of Mars, scientists think they understand what's going on, that's why the presence of this mineral was such a surprise.

This Dark Energy Mapping Technology Is More Impressive Than Scientists Expected

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:25:00 +0000

This dark energy project was meant to map just a portion of the skies over a five-year period, but it performed even better and faster than expected.

Science Fiction Vs. Science Fact: Alien Life Might Be Just As Strange As Project Hail Mary Makes It Out To Be

staff@sciencing.com (Pauli Poisuo) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:25:00 +0000

"Project Hail Mary" really pushes the limit when it comes to non-humanoid aliens. But researchers posit that real aliens could be even stranger than that.

Not Mars, Not Europa: Scientists Say This Moon Could Be The Best Place To Find Life

staff@sciencing.com (George Hale) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:25:00 +0000

We have been systematically searching for life in the cosmos for decades, and even though Mars and Europa are prime candidates, there are others.