Latest articles by Jesse Emspak
NASA Launches 8-Satellite Constellation to Track Hurricanes from Space
A rocket fired from a jet plane Thursday (Dec. 15) to launch NASA's latest Earth-observing mission, an 8-satellite mission to study hurricanes like never before.
'Hidden Figures' Showcases Perseverance of Black Women at NASA
"Hidden Figures" actors and director held a press conference in New York City to discuss the film in the context of NASA history and how that history resonates today.
NASA Launching 8 Small Satellites Monday to Improve Hurricane Forecasts
NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission will use radio signals from the GPS satellites to track hurricanes like never before. Liftoff is set for Monday, Dec. 12.
Blow It Up: Inflatable Space Station Habitat Shows Promise in Early Tests
An inflatable space habitat that could save weight and volume on future missions is showing how well it can do its job.
NASA Probe Snaps Stunning New Pics of Dwarf Planet Ceres
NASA's Dawn probe is snapping stunning new views of the dwarf planet Ceres as the spacecraft pushes ever higher above the small world.
Giant Metallic Asteroid Psyche May Have Water
The largest metallic asteroid in the solar system may have water on its surface, astronomers have found.
Volcanic Eruptions on Jupiter's Moon Io Tracked Over Time
The largest telescopes on Earth were trained on Io, tracking volcanoes more active than anything on Earth.
Now Boarding: The Top 10 Private Spaceships
Multiple spaceflight companies are working on plans to carry humans to space. Here's our list of the top commercial spaceships.
A Tough Row to Hoe for Early Martian Microbes
If life existed on Mars, it would have had to deal with harsh radiation — and any traces might only be found deep under the soil.
Does Jupiter's Moon Europa Have a Subsurface Ocean? Here's What We Know
Liquid water is the only substance that explains observations so far.
Oddball Star Cluster Provides Window into Young Milky Way
A cluster of stars 19,000 light-years away — in our backyard, in galactic terms — has offered clues about what our galaxy was like eons ago, when it was just forming from great clouds of gas.
What Earth's Oldest Fossils Mean for Finding Life on Mars
If recent findings on Earth are any guide, the oldest rocks on Mars may have signs of ancient life locked up inside.
Is the Nearest Alien Planet Proxima b Habitable? 'It's Complicated'
Astronomers don't yet have enough information to know whether or not the newfound world Proxima b is capable of supporting life as we know it.
Venus and Jupiter Imagined: From Galileo to Science Fiction
Through the centuries, Venus and Jupiter have transformed in the public consciousness, thanks to science and science fiction.
Dark Streaks on Mars Hold Water — But Not Much
Dark streaks found running down hillsides on the surface of Mars appear to hold water, but no more than the very driest locations on Earth, according to a new study.
Tightly Packed Alien System's Planets Align Every Month
The Kepler-80 system's four outermost planets line up every 27 days, a new study suggests.
Mystery Solved: Black Holes Twist Space-Time Like Taffy
Black holes twist space like taffy and create vortices of gravitational force, a new study suggests. The discovery solves a 30-year-old mystery about black holes.
1.2 Million Galaxies Dot Largest Ever 3D Map
If you're a space traveler lost in the universe, a team of astronomers here on Earth has your back: They've made the largest ever 3D map of galaxies that humanity can see.
New Virtual Tour Lets You Explore the International Space Station
Very few people get to fly to low Earth orbit, but a new virtual tour of the International Space Station provides a trip to space for those of us on the ground.
