SpaceX rocket thought to have crashed into the moon in unintentional collision | The moon

• The White House released a strategic vision titled "Science: A New Golden Age," which proposes a radical restructuring of U.S. scientific research and funding. • The plan shifts priority toward "grand challenges" and physical sciences, specifically highlighting nuclear power as a core energy theme.

• Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a giant planet previously hidden by a bright disk of cosmic dust within a well-studied planetary system. • In a separate breakthrough reported on July 23, 2026, researchers identified the first atmosphere surrounding a rocky world located within its star's habitable zone.

• In 2026, NASA successfully flew astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over fifty years, marking a major milestone in human space exploration. • Simultaneously, the White House proposed some of the deepest budget cuts in the agency's history, specifically targeting science and climate research programs.

• NASA has updated the ROSES-25 A.1 Earth Science Research Overview to require that all proposals requesting high-end computing, networking, and storage resources explicitly include associated costs. • This requirement ensures that the critical infrastructure needed for processing complex Earth science data is properly budgeted and accounted for during the proposal phase.

• NASA introduced the SpaceX Crew-13 team during a news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, as they prepare for their upcoming mission to the International Space Station. • Current Expedition 75 crew members are focusing on health research and spacewalk preparations, including tests on the new European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) in the Columbus module.

• A new critique of the White House's strategic plan for U.S. science argues that the current approach is too narrow to achieve a "new golden age for science." • The analysis suggests that the government is over-prioritizing technology and engineering while neglecting critical funding for the humanities, public health, and social sciences.

• Ten significant breakthroughs in mathematics and theoretical computer science are currently transforming the fields of AI, algorithms, and cryptography. • These advances are specifically bolstering post-quantum cryptography, a critical area of preparation for governments and private companies facing future computing threats.

• Ars Technica published a curated research roundup featuring six overlooked science stories, including studies on cyborg diving suits for cockroaches and the behavior of sperm whales. • The collection highlights diverse discoveries, such as the identification of a companion star for Betelgeuse and the reasons why sleepy sperm whales blow bubbles.

• Recent scientific reporting suggests that exposure to small amounts of dirt and natural microbes can provide health benefits to humans. • The findings highlight the "hygiene hypothesis," suggesting that overly sterile environments may contribute to the rise of allergies and autoimmune disorders.

• On August 3, 2004, NASA launched the MESSENGER spacecraft, marking the first mission designed to orbit the innermost planet, Mercury. • The spacecraft was specifically tasked with exploring the planet's composition and hunting for evidence of water.

• In his work "Despite it All," author Fred Pearce argues that the environmental disruptions of the Anthropocene are accelerating plant evolution and adaptation. • Pearce highlights that many plant species are finding innovative ways to survive and thrive despite the ongoing climate crisis.