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New research maps the galactic origins of 1I/'Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov, and 3I/ATLAS, revealing they are a diverse group of visitors from across the Milky Way. Unlike planets, these objects are not bound by our sun's gravity. They follow hyperbolic paths, swinging by our star at high speed before heading back out into interstellar space.

Since it formed 4.5 billion years ago, Mercury has been continuously losing heat. Like a fresh-baked cookie, this cooling causes it to contract. As the rocky surface shrinks, it cracks, creating "thrust faults" that scar the planet. By measuring these faults, scientists can estimate the total shrinkage, but prior estimates have varied wildly, suggesting Mercury's radius has shrunk by anywhere from 1 to 7 kilometers.

You've seen the phrase on social media. As a professional astronomer, I'd never heard of it. So... what is Chiron, and what does it *really* mean for it to be in retrograde? First, it's pronounced "Kai-ruhn" (with a hard K). Discovered in 1977, it's a "Centaur" orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune. It's not just an asteroid; it's a cosmic oddball.

For decades, lunar exploration was a symbol of national pride, culminating in the historic Apollo missions. But we are entering a new era. The competition is no longer just between superpowers; it's between billionaires and startups. As private investment in space hits tens of billions, the question arises: is the Moon becoming accessible only to those with immense financial resources?

It turns out sinus and congestion problems are more than just earthly annoyances. A new study from Houston Methodist, led by Dr. Masayoshi Takashima, analyzed 754 medical events from 71 astronauts and found that 85% reported at least one nasal or sinus issue during their mission. This common complaint isn't just uncomfortable—it could pose a real risk to mission performance.

A remarkable machine developed by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei could revolutionize how humans build on the moon. It's a 3D printer that needs no materials from Earth; it works by focusing sunlight to a powerful beam that melts lunar soil (regolith) into robust construction bricks. This breakthrough could dramatically lower the cost of a future lunar base.

The lunar race is evolving. It's no longer just a battle between superpowers; it's a bustling arena of nations and private companies, all with their own lunar aspirations. The desire to explore the Moon has only intensified since 1969. Click through the key phases of lunar exploration to see how we got here.

When we think of lunar colonization, we think of large-scale mining and industry. Think less Las Vegas, more Gary, Indiana. Plans for a lunar base often call for it to be a test bed for new technologies, a staging post for deeper space missions, and a manufacturing hub. But this entire vision hinges on one crucial assumption: that there are valuable, accessible resources on the Moon. And that assumption might be wrong.

Have you ever wondered how scientists determine what lies inside a black hole or analyze the atmosphere of a planet located 100 light-years away? In this exploration of the cosmos, we uncover how science works to reveal the universe's greatest mysteries.