The idea that we are “made of stardust” may sound poetic, but it is also scientifically true. The atoms in your body did not all form on Earth. Most of the hydrogen in the universe was created shortly after the Big Bang, along with helium and a small amount of lithium. However, many of the heavier elements that make up planets and living things, such as carbon, oxygen, and iron, were forged in stars and later spread through space by stellar explosions. The human body is made

Jupiter is often called the “bodyguard” of the solar system, and this is due to a variety of reasons. It is the largest planet orbiting the Sun, with so much mass that more than 1,000 Earths could fit inside it. Because of its enormous size and, consequently, powerful gravity, Jupiter has a major effect on the movement of other objects in the solar system, especially comets and asteroids, that come close to it. (ESA/Hubble) Essentially, due to its powerful gravitational field

For decades, human space exploration seemed to stall at low Earth orbit. Since the final missions of the Apollo program, no astronaut had traveled beyond this boundary or ventured back toward the Moon. That changed with the recent launch of Artemis II, marking humanity’s long-awaited return to deep space. Artemis II is the first crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis program and the first time in over 50 years that astronauts have left Earth’s immediate vicinity. Unlike the Apollo

Despite its famous name, the Moon’s “dark side” is not actually dark all the time. The more accurate term is the Moon’s far side, the half of the Moon that always faces away from Earth because the Moon is tidally locked, meaning it rotates at the same rate that it orbits our planet. As a result, we only ever see one side from Earth, while the far side remained hidden until spacecraft finally photographed it in the 20th century. What scientists found was surprising as the far

Finding life beyond Earth would be one of the biggest discoveries in human history. It could completely change how we understand biology, the universe, and even our place within it. But surprisingly, one of the biggest challenges would not just be making the discovery itself, it would also be figuring out how to tell the world about it such a significant discovery. This may sound strange at first. If scientists found life in space, wouldn’t they just announce it? Wouldn't the

For much of the 20th century, Pluto held a secure place in our solar system as the ninth planet. Discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, Pluto was celebrated as a distant, mysterious world orbiting far beyond Neptune. Generations of students memorized its name alongside Mercury, Venus, Earth, and the other classical planets. However, in recent decades, Pluto’s planetary status has become one of the most hotly debated topics in modern astronomy. The controver

When people hear about space exploration, they often wonder, “Why does it matter to me?” After all, most of us won’t travel to space, and...

When we think about space missions, we usually imagine astronauts, rockets, and engineers. But there’s another important role behind the...

In a time when spaceflight was still new and the world was watching every rocket launch with awe and wonder, one woman made history by...

Kalpana Chawla’s story is one of inspiration, determination, and a deep love for the skies. As the first woman of Indian origin in space,...

When Guion “Guy” Bluford Jr. soared into space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on August 30, 1983, he became the first African...

As space agencies like NASA and SpaceX prepare for longer missions (to the Moon, Mars, and beyond), one crucial question comes up: how do...

For decades, the idea of turning Mars into a livable planet has captured the imagination of scientists, authors, and space fans alike....

Mae Jemison made history as the first Black woman to travel to space when she launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in...

As space agencies prepare for missions beyond low Earth orbit, such as journeys to Mars, astronauts will spend extended periods in...

Astronomy has played a significant role in shaping pop culture, having an effect in literature, film, television, and technology. As...

The Space Race of the 20th century is often remembered for the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, which resulted in...

Beneath the icy surfaces of distant moons and planets, vast oceans may hold the key to one of humanity’s most profound questions: Are we...

As artificial intelligence (AI) increases in popularity in multiple sectors around the globe, AI is also playing an increasingly vital...

Launched in 1977, the twin Voyager spacecraft—Voyager 1 and Voyager 2—represent some of humanity’s most remarkable achievements in space...