How Trump’s ‘America first’ administration could shut US scientists out of the next Nobel-worthy discovery

• NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory detected a "wandering" or "orphan" mega black hole as it shredded and consumed a star on the outskirts of a distant galaxy. • This rare event, known as a tidal disruption event, occurred when the black hole's gravity tore the star apart, creating a massive flare of light.

• NASA's Viking landers were launched on an audacious mission to search for signs of past or present life in Martian soil. • While most experts agree the twin spacecraft failed to find definitive evidence of organisms, some scientists argue the results were misinterpreted.

• Science adviser Michael Kratsios has proposed a major overhaul of federal research funding under President Trump, shifting priorities toward White House-selected fields like chemistry, biological, and physical sciences. • The plan aims to increase investment in artificial intelligence while reducing funding for universities, citing a slowdown in biomedical breakthroughs and flatlining drug approvals despite funding increases since the 1990s.

• NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has documented significant wear and tear on its wheels after nearly 14 years of operation on the Red Planet. • New images reveal cracks and structural damage resulting from the rover's extensive mileage across the harsh Martian terrain.

• NASA has joined the Genesis Mission, a national initiative designed to accelerate scientific and engineering breakthroughs through the integration of artificial intelligence. • The agency will contribute its extensive mission data and technical expertise to help develop powerful AI tools capable of solving complex global challenges.

• NASA astronaut Chris Williams and his crewmates returned to Earth on Sunday after completing an eight-month science mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). • The crew participated in a long-duration expedition focused on conducting research and scientific breakthroughs that are impossible to achieve in Earth's gravity.

• The National Academy of Sciences released a report detailing the evolution of attribution science, which links specific extreme weather events to human-induced climate change. • The report emphasizes that the field has matured significantly over the last decade, providing stronger scientific evidence to counter political climate denialism.

• A White House report authored by Kratsios proposes reducing research funding for universities in favor of allocating grants directly to individual scientists. • The shift aims to support high-risk breakthroughs that often fail traditional peer review, though critics warn it could increase political influence over grant awards.

• NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Russian cosmonauts returned to Earth on Sunday, July 26, after spending 241 days aboard the International Space Station. • The crew departed the station via the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, which undocked at 3:03 a.m. ET.

• Scientists have discovered the presence of a specific sugar, commonly found in raspberries and self-tanner, within outer space. • This discovery is significant because it provides critical insights into the chemical building blocks that may have contributed to the origins of life on Earth.

• A joint US-Russian space crew successfully landed in the steppes of Kazakhstan on Sunday. • The crew returned to Earth following an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).