NASA head defends all-male crew for Artemis, space program named after Greek goddess

• NASA has announced the 2026 selections for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, highlighting cutting-edge aerospace research. • Selected projects include Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay's "Dimming the Sun (DimSun)," which explores using controllable dust clouds to reduce solar insolation, and Gilly Elor's "Power-over-Fiber" system for the Lunar Underground eXplorer (LUX).

• Some individuals maintain a general trust in science while simultaneously believing in scientific conspiracy theories, provided the theories are framed in plausible scientific terms. • These beliefs often center on "lone genius" narratives that ignore the actual mechanisms of scientific progress, such as peer review, replication, and institutional evaluation.

• Astronomers utilized the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to investigate the mechanisms by which early galaxies filled the infant cosmos with cosmic dust. • To uncover these secrets, researchers studied a closer, more recent galaxy to provide a detailed proxy for understanding ancient galactic environments.

• NASA is preparing for the Artemis III mission, which is projected to be the most complex operation in the agency's history. • The mission will involve coordinating the launch and orbital rendezvous of three separate spacecraft to transport four astronauts.

• Astronomers have confirmed the first atmosphere around a rocky planet located in its star's habitable zone, identified as LHS 1140 b. • Located 48 light-years away, the planet's atmosphere was detected by observing helium slowly leaking into space.

• SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's MRV-MEP satellite-servicing mission into Earth orbit on July 21. • The spacecraft is equipped with specialized 10-foot robotic arms designed to dock with and repair existing satellites.

• In August 2025, US scientists conducted the first federally approved ocean alkalinity enhancement experiment by releasing 16,500 gallons of sodium hydroxide (lye) into the Gulf of Maine. • The operation utilized a bright pink dye to track the spread of the lye plume across the water's surface.

• NASA announced plans in March to establish a permanent base on the Moon through a strategic series of events and documents titled “Ignition.” • The initiative signals a shift toward long-term lunar habitation rather than short-term exploration missions.

• Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are investigating the origin of "little red dots," mysterious objects appearing frequently in surveys of the early universe. • Researchers discovered that these red dots are often paired with "little blue companions," providing a new clue to their nature.

• NASA has issued Amendment 64 for the A.15 Biosphere research area, which seeks to fund foundational knowledge on interactions within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. • The initiative focuses on understanding complex biological systems and their environmental drivers to improve Earth science modeling.

• NASA is preparing to launch the first of six new airborne science campaigns starting this summer. • These missions will utilize aircraft to study Earth's systems, environment, and climate patterns.

• Fifty years after the NASA Viking 1 lander touched down on Mars, scientists continue to debate whether the mission discovered evidence of extraterrestrial life. • A recent analysis suggests that Viking 1 likely found autotrophic microbial life, estimating a density of approximately 1,000 cells per gram of soil.