THE WEEK OF AUG 17, 2026

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced $1.5 billion in funding dedicated to science and engineering research. • The agency is implementing more flexible grant structures specifically designed to support emerging research and long-term projects.

• NASA has captured images of a new lunar crater created after a defunct component of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashed into the moon. • The rocket part struck the lunar surface uncontrolled this month, traveling at an estimated speed of 5,400 mph.

• Astronomers have discovered three supermassive black holes on the verge of colliding within a single distant galaxy. • The galaxy dates back to a period less than 1.3 billion years after the Big Bang, indicating an unusually high concentration of black holes for its size.

• The deadline to reach a diplomatic deal between the US and Iran expires on August 17, 2026, prompting President Trump to issue threats against Oman. • Simultaneously, Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a ceasefire plan for Gaza.

• NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day highlights an upcoming total solar eclipse scheduled to occur over Spain on August 13, 2026. • The event provides a critical opportunity for scientists to study the solar corona and investigate why it remains millions of degrees hotter than the Sun's surface.

• European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to perform a spacewalk today, August 18. • This mission marks a historic milestone as Adenot becomes the first French woman to ever conduct a spacewalk.

• Scientists achieved a quantum breakthrough on May 5, 2026, by successfully connecting a "time crystal"—a form of matter that oscillates indefinitely without energy input—to a real-world device. • A separate study published on May 4, 2026, discovered that manipulating magnetic fields over time can create entirely new forms of matter that are otherwise impossible under normal conditions.

• The Facility for Outreach and Community Engagement (FORCE) hosted events to train the next generation of planetary scientists in public engagement skills. • Visitors toured the facility, met the research team, and explored equipment used to simulate planetary interiors, while interns presented their research at a poster session.

• The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced over $1.5 billion in funding for foundational research to bolster American technological leadership. • The investment is being distributed through 12 new notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) targeting both basic and use-inspired scientific inquiry.

• NASA announced on August 14 that it will host a two-day aerospace expo titled "Max Power" this November. • The event will take place at the Kennedy Space Center, featuring an experience designed to let attendees "feel the Gs."

• AI is being utilized by scientists to develop next-generation batteries designed to replace current lithium-ion technology. • Researchers are using AI to discover novel porous materials, which could lead to the creation of more powerful and efficient energy storage.