Thruster breakthrough? New 2-in-1 propulsion system is about to get an in-space test

• Journalist Graham Readfearn criticizes News Corp for misrepresenting new climate science data to suggest that global warming risks are decreasing. • While the "worst-case" high-emissions scenario has been revised downward, the "best-case" low-emissions scenario is now considered implausible.

• University of Cambridge researchers conducted a systematic review of over 3,000 scientific papers focused on climate change mitigation. • The analysis revealed that policy recommendations are often an "afterthought," frequently being non-existent, ignoring uncertainty, or presenting "wish lists" unrelated to the actual study findings.

• The White House has introduced a new proposal that could allow the government to deny research funding to scientists based on their political opinions. • Critics argue the guidance replaces objective expertise with political appointees, potentially gutting the U.S. scientific ecosystem and decoupling the nation from global research collaborations.

• Jupiter and Venus will appear in a dazzling conjunction on June 9, glowing just a few degrees apart in the western sunset sky. • Observers can also spot Mercury lurking nearby, positioned close to the horizon during the event.

• California Senate bill SB 895 has passed, proposing a $12 billion bond to establish a science and health research foundation supporting state universities. • The funds will be distributed via a competitive peer-review process targeting priority areas such as public health, pandemic preparedness, wildfire resilience, and climate studies.

• The Milky Way and thousands of neighboring galaxies are being pulled toward a mysterious gravitational anomaly known as the Great Attractor at a speed of 1.3 million miles per hour. • Located in the direction of the Centaurus constellation, this massive region of space exerts a powerful pull that overrides the general expansion of the universe in our local sector.

• ScienceAlert explored the gap between sensational headlines and the actual consensus among scientists regarding the discovery of alien life. • The discussion was prompted by NASA Administrator Sean Duffy's claim that a sample from the "Cheyava Falls" rock on Mars is the closest evidence of life found to date.

• Mid-2026 space exploration is marked by a mix of significant milestones and critical setbacks, including updates on the Artemis II lunar mission. • Blue Origin experienced a major setback with an explosion involving its New Glenn rocket, while the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to deliver cosmic breakthroughs.

• NASA has officially opened registration and abstract submissions for the 2026 Joint HELIOTECH and Orbital Flight Symposium. • The event merges the Heliophysics Technology Symposium with Heliophysics Orbital Flight Missions to encourage innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

• NASA is considering a potential orbit reboost for the Hubble Space Telescope to counteract its decaying orbit. • The agency's Science Mission Directorate is currently evaluating how to lower operating costs to make such a mission financially viable.

• NASA is scheduled to announce the crew for the Artemis 3 docking mission on June 9. • The mission will take place next year and involves a critical docking maneuver in Earth orbit.