One of the world's rarest whale species is having more babies this year than in some recent seasons, but experts say many more young are needed to help stave off the possibility of extinction. The North Atlantic right whale's population numbers an estimated 384 animals and is slowly rising after several years of decline. Researchers have identified 15 calves this winter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.

Astronomers are gathering in Phoenix this week for the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS 247), where the latest discoveries from exoplanets, JWST and upcoming space missions will take center stage.

The new findings strengthen the "RNA world" hypothesis that describes how the first life on Earth could have used RNA instead of DNA.

The Westerlund 2 star cluster is home to some of the Milky Way's brightest stars.

January's full moon is often known as the 'Wolf Moon'.

Lunar landers from Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic are gearing up for moon landing attempts in 2026 as the commercial exploration of deep space expands.

Space debris falling to Earth is a growing threat to aircraft, and experts are trying to reduce the risk.

But as more and more satellites are launched into LEO...the region's getting a bit crowded.

NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes embarked on a 'loiter' trajectory after launch, and scientists say that extra time in space could have some consequences for the twin spacecraft.

From communications outages to a brush with nuclear war, solar events like flares and coronal mass ejections have shaped human history.

If nonliving materials can produce rich, organized mixtures of organic molecules, then the traditional signs we use to recognize biology may no longer be enough.

Earth reaches its closest point to the sun in its 2026 orbit on Jan. 3.

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, which has orbited Mars since 2014, went quiet abruptly in early December. Efforts to reestablish a connection have been unsuccessful.

The Quadrantids are known for producing bright "fireball" meteors that can outshine the brightest planets

SpaceX launched the first mission of 2026 tonight (Jan. 2), sending an Italian Earth-observing satellite to orbit.

Don't miss January's Wolf Moon rise over the eastern horizon tonight, as the first full moon of 2026.

In late April 2026, a long-period comet will swing through the inner solar system. It will likely be visible with binoculars, and there's a small chance it could be seen with the naked eye.

Do you want to build a snowman?

Astronomers have detected a "free floating" rogue planet the size of Saturn drifting through the Milky Way some 10,000 light-years from Earth.

Looking to the stars is an important part of how Pacific voyagers navigate. But deep knowledge of ocean currents, winds and waves, along with mental mapping strategies, are critical too.

There are billions of dollars in it for companies able to kickstart mining operations, even if such returns are still years away.

NASA's new chief Jared Isaacman said controversial proposal to move the space shuttle Discovery to Texas from its current home in a Smithsonian Air and Space Museum hangar in Virginia, may end with a different spacecraft entirely landing in Houston.

"It's really not a question of robotic exploration or human exploration," Ehlmann said. "It is an 'and' — it's robotic and human exploration and how we do these best together."

Catch the wolf supermoon and Quadrantid meteor shower as January’s night sky puts on a celestial double feature.

Our 2026 skywatching guide includes a total solar eclipse, a "blood moon" and a festive supermoon. Here are the dates you need to know.

Bears, stars, Battlestar Galactica

Meteor showers, eclipses, a planetary parade and 13 full moons will be visible in the night sky in 2026. Here’s when to see them.

Human beings don’t have a thick coat of fur like many other mammals do. Scientists think it has to do with something else that comes out of skin: sweat.

With a little guidance and a lot of practice, even you can make stone tools the way our oldest ancestors did – and learn to recognize the signs of a deliberately made tool.

This year will conclude as the second hottest on record, surpassed only by 2024. It continues a recent trend of exceptional, unexplained warming. The last three years have been, by a wide margin, the hottest ever recorded.