‘You’re hit with a slam of shadow’: Nasa’s air mission to capture rare eclipse data | Solar eclipses

• Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a new type of cosmic object, described as a black hole "star," located approximately 30 billion light-years from Earth. • The object is characterized by its massive scale, spanning the size of the entire solar system, and emits a brilliant red glow.

• The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has removed the "Reference Guide on Climate Science" chapter from its manual for judges. • The decision follows criticism from President Donald Trump and Republican officials, who claimed the content was biased against fossil fuel companies.

• A total solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on August 12, 2026, with the path of totality crossing Greenland and Spain. • Live reporting and expert updates are being provided as the event approaches to prepare observers for the celestial phenomenon.

• An international research team using the U.S. National Science Foundation's Inouye Solar Telescope has captured the highest-resolution image of the sun's surface to date. • The new imagery provides an unprecedentedly sharp view of the star, revealing surprising and previously unseen details about its surface structure.

• NASA recently conducted the Artemis II mission in April, marking the first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years. • The mission served as a critical milestone to validate key systems required for returning humans to the lunar surface and exploring deep space.

• SpaceX successfully launched 24 Starlink internet satellites into orbit on August 8. • The mission took place from the scenic central coast of California.

• On August 10, 1972, a 'Great Daylight Fireball' was seen over North America, visible in parts of the United States and Canada. • The fireball was an Earth-grazing meteor that burst through the sky, creating a spectacular sight for observers.

• ScienceDaily has highlighted several major scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of four hidden white dwarf stars near Earth and a new giant salamander species identified in 3.5-million-year-old fossils. • Key research updates include a quantum breakthrough linking light and magnetism in atomically thin materials and a laboratory recreation of black hole energy extraction by physicists.

• NASA's Science Mission Directorate has launched a new initiative inviting students and the general public to participate in citizen science projects for the new school year. • Volunteers can work remotely and on their own schedules to analyze authentic mission data, focusing on tasks such as identifying comets, asteroids, and binary star systems.

• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine deleted a chapter on climate change from a manual used by judges. • The decision follows significant pressure from Republican leaders, including President Trump, who criticized the content of the chapter.

• Space agencies are exploring the use of a specialized eye-exam device, originally designed for elderly patients, to monitor astronauts' ocular health during future missions. • The initiative aims to prevent and track vision loss, a known risk for astronauts spending extended periods in space.