Space
Explore Space
Editor's Picks
Latest about Space
![Astronauts Gui Haichao and Zhu Yangzhu light a candle aboard the Tiangong Space Station during a live lecture on Sept. 21, 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dxh4U8Zoav3TAYR5udxW2S-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Watch Chinese astronauts light a spherical fire in risky open-flame experiment on Tiangong space station
By Andrew Jones published
Chinese astronauts lit a match while filming a lecture aboard the Tiangong Space Station, creating a spherical open flame that would be forbidden aboard the ISS.
![Massive star in a bright yellow and orange fireball with a glowing red aurora.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dzNRhXYzEGrj6wtuvA58jn-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'Significant and unexpected': Dying star spits out a sun's worth of mass just before going supernova
By Keith Cooper published
A supernova, pinpointed by amateur astronomers, could reveal unexpected new steps in the deaths of massive stars.
![Science news this week includes discoveries from the James Webb telescope and the development of an ‘inverse vaccine’.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bv2YtRWaVxeoubgidan4XJ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Science news this week: James Webb telescope discoveries and an inverse vaccine
By Alexander McNamara published
Oct. 1, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
![Arp 107, a celestial object that comprises a pair of galaxies in the midst of a collision, with a Seyfert galaxy on the left.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MbpHGbrXmooMb4TnTmydVj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Space photo of the week: Hubble spies a spectacular galaxy crash
By Jamie Carter published
Arp 107 hosts a special spiraling 'Seyfert' galaxy connected to a smaller galaxy by a 'bridge' of dust and gas.
![Video footage of a comet in black and white. A wave of plasma from the sun hits the comet and blows away its tail](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-320-80.gif 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-450-80.gif 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-500-80.gif 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-650-80.gif 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-840-80.gif 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-970-80.gif 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-1024-80.gif 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ET5VdZAJzVmZ6rDFjdHEcf-1200-80.gif 1200w)
See green comet Nishimura's tail get whipped away by powerful solar storm as it slingshots around the sun
By Harry Baker published
After surviving its closest approach to the sun, Comet Nishimura was buffeted by a possible coronal mass ejection that briefly blew its tail away. The rare event was captured by a NASA spacecraft.
![Frank Rubio gives the camera a thumbs up while he is carried by four men](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pGtTWSjJz7wCQbYz6UjRgc-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Record-breaking astronaut Frank Rubio finally returns to Earth after accidentally spending 371 days in space
By Harry Baker published
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has finally returned home from a 371-day stay on the International Space Station — a record for an American — after being trapped when his ride home was damaged.
![An artist's illustration of the black hole M87* wobbling on its axis.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PwhZ5qJnh7PejUSfXng7PP-1200-80.png 1200w)
Scientists just proved that 'monster' black hole M87 is spinning — confirming Einstein’s relativity yet again
By Ben Turner published
Astronomers have spotted two huge jets fired off by the 'monster' black hole M87 wobbling on an 11-year cycle, proving for the first time that black holes spin.
![Life requires repetition of chemical reactions. Describing the kinds of reactions and conditions required for self-sustaining repetition — called autocatalysis — could focus the search for life on other planets.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WntpM3BTWwGmTt8nE9zpsj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Alien life may evolve from radically different elements than human life did
By Charles Q. Choi published
Radioactive metals and even certain gases may be capable of the kinds of reactions needed to spur life, new research suggests.
![Large full moon that is orange rising over trees in Fall.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jj8QATAqFhBZRcdMjcfvh7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How to see the Harvest Moon, the final supermoon of 2023, rise this weekend
By Jamie Carter published
The famous Harvest Moon — the final supermoon of 2023 — will be the first full moon of autumn when it rises on Sept. 29.
![In the field of one of JWST's largest-area surveys, COSMOS-Web, an Einstein ring was discovered around a compact, distant galaxy. It turns out to be the most distant gravitational lens ever discovered by a few billion light-years.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9MC6YXtCvmZANvLZYgdRxK-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Stunningly perfect 'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen
By Harry Baker published
The James Webb Space Telescope has snapped a stunning image of a perfectly formed Einstein ring, which is also the most distant gravitationally lensed object ever detected.
Live Science newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest science news by signing up for our Essentials newsletter.