Space
Space is a seemingly infinite world of wonder and discovery, filled with mysterious black holes, stunning solar flares, elusive exoplanets and countless cosmic oddities. Our team of expert science writers and editors are ready to hold a James Webb Space Telescope-size lens beyond Earth, keeping those on this planet up to date with the latest space news, articles and features.
Explore Space
Editor's Picks
Latest about Space
![Measurements from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft mapped the topography of Mercury's northern hemisphere in great detail.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMhLF64NvzQbnXHdLne9K-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Mercury may have a 'potentially habitable' region below its surface, salty glaciers suggest
By Briley Lewis published
Salty glaciers discovered in craters near Mercury's north pole may have the right conditions for extreme forms of life, new research suggests.
![An illustration shows the rings from the surface of the ice-rock centaur Chiron.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvMGkwfhHKCs9UaP8iNuqK-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Strange object trapped between Saturn and Uranus is transforming before our eyes
By Keith Cooper published
A distant comet trapped in orbit between Saturn and Uranus is accompanied by a transforming disk of icy dust, new observations reveal.
![The aurora australis streams across the Earth's atmosphere as the International Space Station orbited 271 miles above the southern Indian Ocean in between Asia and Antarctica.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVnkVBWuES8ksbipxoUjrT-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Solar storm from 1977 reveals how unprepared we are for the next 'big one'
By Stephanie Pappas published
New research finds that solar storms vary in strength over surprisingly short distances, and the current network of sensors may not be enough to properly prepare for future outbursts.
![Illustration of light patterns on black void background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LrxVTk78QDnk2QYwAdPAAN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Is Earth inside a giant void? It could solve one of cosmology's biggest puzzles
By Indranil Banik published
Our best observations can't come up with a single answer for how quickly the universe is expanding. Maybe that's because our galaxy is at the center of a giant void.
![The Russian Progress MS-23 cargo ship burns up in Earth's atmosphere on Nov. 29, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pqaALg7x3Gafc3FH9pDSrg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
A Russian cargo ship burnt to a crisp in Earth's atmosphere while ISS astronauts watched
By Brett Tingley published
A Russian spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station, only to burn up in Earth's atmosphere hours later as part of a routine waste disposal mission.
![Two astronauts in full spacesuits with backpacks on a space walk with tethers, facing each other with hands out. They are floating in the front of Planet Earth as the sun rises between them.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oNNWzMiyntgoVjmedmpdn-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What does space smell like?
By Charles Q. Choi published
Outer space has a particular stench. But why?
![Science news this week includes SpaceX rockets creating blood-red ‘atmospheric holes’ and privacy-boosting smart glasses that use sonar.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3EyzKJLUSzqbJ7iVECu2r6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Science news this week: Atmospheric holes and smarter glasses
By Alexander McNamara published
Dec. 3, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained.
![X-37B space plane encapsulated ahead of its sixth mission.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GwG9K73FD8T9E4vtnmCt6h-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
US Space Force delays launch of secretive space plane to Dec. 10
By Josh Dinner published
The U.S. military's elusive X-37B space plane has postponed its next launch by three days. Based on the rocket its riding on, the secretive spacecraft is likely launching farther than ever before.
Live Science newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest science news by signing up for our Essentials newsletter.