Latest articles by Sharmila Kuthunur
How AI is helping scientists unlock some of the sun's deepest secrets
AI can bridge the growing gap between new and old solar observations and help scientists uncover overlooked aspects of our star's long-term evolution, a new study argues.
NASA's Perseverance rover hits the Mars rock gold mine: 'It has been all we had hoped for and more'
NASA's Perseverance rover is reveling in a scientific bonanza on Mars after finding a diverse array of rocks that are providing eager scientists a glimpse into the planet's ancient history.
James Webb Space Telescope sees a celestial Venn diagram around a dying star
A stunning new image from the James Webb Space Telescope is allowing astronomers to examine the complex and turbulent final stages of a dying star.
Nearby exoplanet could offer clues about atmospheres around hot, rocky alien worlds
A nearby Earth-sized planet beyond our solar system could soon add to the diversity of known terrestrial worlds with their own "air."
We now know the shape of notorious asteroid 2024 YR4 that dominated headlines recently — it's probably 'suburban,' too
Asteroid 2024 YR4, once a potential Earth threat, likely originated from the main asteroid belt's central region, a surprising origin for Earth-crossing space rocks, a new study finds.
Russia and China are threatening SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation, new report finds
"A future conflict in space could have massive, long-term negative repercussions that are felt here on Earth, as everyone on this planet is a user of space data in some form."
A day on Uranus is actually longer than we thought, Hubble Telescope reveals
This approach can now be used to determine the rotation rate of any celestial object with a magnetic field and auroras — including exoplanets.
Extreme magnetic fields near our galaxy's black hole are preventing stars from being born, JWST discovers
New James Webb Space Telescope images of the stellar nursery Sgr C, near the galactic center, reveal why it contains fewer stars than expected.
Space miso is nuttier than Earth miso — but it's still miso
This marks the first time scientists deliberately fermented food in space, opening up new possibilities for future astronauts' culinary adventures.
Changing seasons on Uranus tracked across 20 years by Hubble Space Telescope
These long-term observations can also help scientists study exoplanets with similar traits.
NASA's daredevil solar spacecraft survives 2nd close flyby of our sun
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its second science-gathering flyby of the sun, the space agency announced earlier this week.
Strange sphere-studded rock on Mars found by NASA's Perseverance rover
NASA's Perseverance rover has encountered another rock on Mars that has left scientists puzzled.
New research on 'Death Star' that looks like a cosmic pinwheel reduces gamma-ray burst threat to Earth
The cosmic pinwheel that astronomers feared could one day shower Earth with lethal gamma rays may not be as dangerous as once thought.
Massive star explosions may have triggered two mass extinctions in Earth's past: 'It would be terrifying.'
Two nearby explosive massive star deaths, or supernovas, may have triggered mass extinction events in Earth's distant past, new research suggests.
James Webb Space Telescope sees four giant alien planets circling nearby star (images)
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has directly imaged four planets orbiting the host star HR 8799 about 130 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus.
'Poppy seeds' and 'leopard spots' on Mars could hint at ancient microbial life
A rock on Mars that may hold clues about ancient microbial life on the Red Planet continues to puzzle scientists.
'Their loss diminishes us all': Scientists emphasize how Trump's mass NOAA layoffs endanger the world
"From our perspective down in the trenches actually working for the government, it feels like the people up top just have no clue about anything."
Water in the universe may have formed closer to the Big Bang than previously thought
"We were surprised that water could actually form so early on — even before the birth of the first galaxies."
Here's the launch plan for NASA's SPHEREx and PUNCH missions: 'Liftoff is just the beginning'
After more than a week of delays, two new NASA missions have gotten the greenlight to head to space tonight (March 8).
Scientists discover Earth's oldest impact crater in Australia
This week, geologists announced they discovered the world's oldest known impact crater. It's in Western Australia's ancient Pilbara region.
Water mining on the moon may be easier than expected, India's Chandrayaan-3 lander finds
Higher latitudes on the moon with slopes facing the poles "are not only scientifically interesting but also pose less technical challenges for exploration in comparison with regions closer to the poles of the moon."
India's Aditya-L1 solar probe watches powerful flare erupt from the sun
India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft captured detailed observations of a powerful solar flare last year, helping scientists better understand our star's eruptions.
From interstellar dust to life beyond Earth: Why scientists can't wait for NASA's new SPHEREx space telescope
A modest NASA space telescope with grand ambitions will soon launch into an orbit around Earth. Here's why scientists are excited about it.
NASA's Europa Clipper will fly close to Mars today on way to Jupiter's icy moon
NASA's Europa Clipper will fly past Mars today to adjust its trajectory and position itself for a critical phase of its 1.8-billion-mile (2.9-billion-kilometer) trek to the Jupiter system.
Scientists warn of consequences as over 800 NOAA workers are fired: 'Censoring science does not change the facts'
"Everyone in the United States relies on NOAA in their daily lives whether they realize it or not, something that will come into focus for many in the weeks and months ahead."
