Space

• Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered a massive galaxy that lacks rotation, an anomaly for an object formed less than 2 billion years after the Big Bang. • This lack of spin is a characteristic typically reserved for much older, evolved galaxies, contradicting current astronomical models of early universe development. • The discovery matters because it challenges existing theories regarding how galaxies grow and evolve during the early stages of the cosmos.

• NASA instructed astronauts to return to their normal duties on the International Space Station after pausing "safe haven procedures." • The emergency measures were implemented for two hours while the Russian crew attempted to repair an air leak on the station. • This incident highlights the critical nature of pressure maintenance and the interdependence of the five partner agencies, including NASA and Roscosmos, in managing orbital safety.

Nasa says Russian crew trying to fix worsening air leak in its portion of orbital laboratoryAstronauts onboard the International Space Station have been ordered to shelter in their spacecraft and prepare for potential evacuation as a Russian crew attempts to fix a worsening leak of air in its portion of the orbital laboratory, Nasa has said.More details soon … Continue reading...

• NASA has announced that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is officially scheduled to launch on August 30. • The telescope is designed to capture a massive volume of data, allowing scientists to observe stars, galaxies, black holes, and exoplanets. • This mission matters as it aims to provide a "data deluge" of cosmic discoveries, significantly expanding our understanding of objects outside our solar system.

IPO could raise up to $75bn, giving SpaceX market value of $1.77tn as it sets up Musk for extraordinary wealthElon Musk’s SpaceX is looking to raise $75bn (£55bn) from its blockbuster stock market listing next week as the rocket company aims for the largest initial public offering ever.If the stock market launch – primed for 12 June – goes as planned, founder Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, could make history as the first trillionaire. Continue reading...

Exclusive: New loopholes for developers will exacerbate extreme environmental disparities, charity coalition warnsThe poorest and most nature-deprived communities in England will be further left behind in their access to green spaces if proposed changes to planning laws go ahead, a new report finds.More than 7.4 million people in England live in areas completely devoid of immediate biodiversity, including 1.42 million children under 15, the report commissioned by a number of wildlife and environmental NGOs says. Continue reading...

• NASA's $4 billion Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is transporting to Florida for a scheduled launch in September. • The telescope is designed to survey 100 times more of the sky than the Hubble Space Telescope, focusing on previously unexplored regions of the Milky Way. • Scientists expect the mission to identify approximately 100,000 new planets, a massive increase over the 6,300 exoplanets discovered to date.

• NASA engineers have successfully completed the final inspection of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's primary mirror, which passed all tests. • Following this final check, the telescope is now being prepared for shipment to its designated launch site in Florida. • This milestone ensures the telescope's optical systems are fully operational before it begins its mission to study dark energy and exoplanets.

• NASA has officially ended the MAVEN mission after losing contact with the spacecraft, which reportedly began spinning out of control. • The spacecraft had spent 11 years orbiting Mars to study the planet's atmosphere, climate, and the processes that caused its atmosphere to strip away. • This loss marks the conclusion of a decade-long effort to understand Mars' evolution and determine if the planet could have once supported life.

• Investors anticipate that massive funding rounds for AI leaders like OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX will trigger a new global wave of technology spending. • This capital influx is expected to benefit a broad supply chain, including manufacturers of server parts, specialized materials, cooling components, and power equipment. • The trend could catalyze a further rally for Asian hardware firms, following the success of industry giants such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix.

• A Boston University researcher has designed a new space-based system intended to protect Earth from the damaging effects of rogue interplanetary weather. • The system aims to mitigate the impact of solar flares and geomagnetic storms, which have the potential to disable satellites and disrupt GPS functionality. • This development is critical because extreme space weather can cause widespread technological failure and jeopardize global communication networks.

• UC San Diego researchers are employing unconventional methods to study space, expanding beyond the university's established history of producing astronauts like Jessica Meir and Kate Rubins. • Professor Karin Sandstrom of the School of Physical Sciences is specifically analyzing the interstellar medium to understand how gas and dust become dense and cold. • This research is critical for uncovering the fundamental mechanisms that trigger the formation of new stars within the universe.

• Astronomers may have decoded a mysterious signal consisting of powerful, regular bursts of energy originating from deep space. • Researchers are analyzing these periodic transmissions to determine the exact nature and source of the cosmic phenomenon. • This discovery is significant as it could provide new insights into unknown celestial objects or rare astrophysical events.

• The FAA issued an environmental assessment and a record of decision on May 15 approving test flights for SpaceX's "Starfall," an uncrewed reentry vehicle. • These vehicles are designed to support in-space manufacturing projects by safely returning materials from orbit to Earth. • The FAA concluded that the Starfall test flights would not result in any significant environmental impacts.

• The ISS National Lab hosted a dedicated track at the ASCEND 2026 conference to discuss the current state and future of research and development in low Earth orbit (LEO). • Former NASA official and current director of the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Medicine, Rubins, highlighted the need to translate space-based discoveries into tangible benefits for human populations on Earth. • The event featured a session titled “A Microgravity Laboratory of the Future,” which examined the evolving role of national laboratories in space to maintain scientific and economic leadership.

• Massive investments in companies like SpaceX and OpenAI are triggering a new wave of tech spending across the global artificial intelligence sector. • This financial windfall is expected to significantly benefit Asian manufacturers specializing in server components and advanced materials. • The trend matters as it shifts the focus toward the hardware supply chain, potentially creating a new class of "AI winners" in the Asian markets.

• Fundraising and potential IPOs from AI leaders like OpenAI, SpaceX, and Anthropic are prompting investors to seek new growth opportunities across Asia. • While chip giants like TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix have already seen massive gains, capital is now shifting toward components, servers, packaging, connectivity, and energy infrastructure. • Ken Wong of Eastspring Investments notes that these secondary AI-related sectors are becoming more attractive as some primary chipmaker valuations have risen too sharply.

• Engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have completed the final inspection of the primary mirror for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. • This critical phase ensures the telescope's optical components are precise and ready for deployment after the sunshade was successfully tested. • The Roman telescope is designed to provide wide-field infrared imaging to study dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets.

• Wealthy Asian investors have committed $24.3 billion to AI in 2025, spurred by OpenAI's $122 billion funding round and SpaceX's IPO. • South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix have reportedly secured supply agreements to support OpenAI’s "Stargate" infrastructure project. • AI startup funding in Asia reached a record $11.2 billion in Q1 2026, with a heavy concentration of investment flowing into Chinese firms.

• China has launched "human artificial embryos," created from living stem cells, to the Tiangong space station via the Tianzhou-10 mission. • These embryo-like structures will be used in experiments to study the specific effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation on human reproduction. • The research is critical for understanding the biological challenges humans face during long-term space travel and potential colonization.

• Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev conducted a 6-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. • The primary objective of the mission was to install the Solntse-Teragerts telescope and retrieve various science experiments. • This new telescope is designed to observe and collect critical data regarding powerful solar flares emanating from the sun.

• The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered an ancient black hole that appears to have formed before its host galaxy, challenging existing astronomical models. • These findings stem from observations of "Little Red Dot" galaxies, which are extremely distant and ancient objects in the early universe. • The discovery represents a "paradigm shift" for scientists, as it forces a total revisiting of classical scenarios regarding how black holes and galaxies co-evolve.

• Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to analyze LHS 3844 b, a scorching, airless planet located 48 light-years from Earth. • The study provides a rare opportunity for scientists to examine the geology of a distant world and has led to the surprising discovery of ice clouds on a giant alien planet. • These findings are significant as they allow astronomers to better understand atmospheric compositions and geological processes outside our solar system.

• NASA announced in December 2025 that construction of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is complete, with a scheduled launch by May 2027 or potentially as early as fall 2026. • During its five-year primary mission, the observatory aims to discover approximately 100,000 new transiting planets and create the largest catalog of rogue worlds in history. • This mission is significant because it will drastically expand the known exoplanet population and provide unprecedented data on planets drifting without host stars.

• SpaceX and other companies are exploring the use of electromagnetic catapults, known as mass drivers, to facilitate a lunar economy. • A new report warns that these launchers could be repurposed as potent first-strike weapons systems due to their ability to launch projectiles from space. • The security concern stems from the fact that such a platform would be virtually undetectable and unassailable, creating a significant strategic imbalance.

• SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 29. • The Starlink 10-53 mission was executed just hours after a reported explosion involving a Blue Origin vehicle. • This launch demonstrates SpaceX's operational reliability and rapid cadence in deploying Starlink satellites despite industry setbacks.

• Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev are scheduled to perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station today, May 27. • The extravehicular activity is expected to last approximately five hours, with live coverage beginning at 9:45 a.m. ET. • These missions are critical for maintaining station infrastructure and conducting essential external repairs or upgrades.

• YouTuber Kane Parsons is adapting his eerie, liminal-space web series "The Backrooms" into a feature-length Hollywood film. • The project highlights a growing trend where Hollywood executives seek out internet-native creators and viral digital cultures to attract new audiences. • This transition marks a significant leap from independent YouTube production to major studio filmmaking for Parsons.