Claire Cameron is breaking news chief at Scientific American. Originally from Scotland, she moved to New York City in 2012. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Slate, Inc. Magazine, Nautilus, Semafor, and elsewhere.
NASA’s Artemis II moon mission engulfed by debate over its controversial heat shield
Experts have sounded the alarm over NASA’s decision to use a heat shield design for Artemis II that may be riskier than the space agency claims
NASA delays Artemis II moon mission after critical test raises issues
NASA will review data gathered during a simulated launch of the Artemis II rocket before revealing a new date for its upcoming moon mission
NASA’s Artemis II launch rehearsal hits a snag
NASA engineers temporarily stopped pumping liquid hydrogen fuel into the Artemis II rocket because of an apparent leak
SpaceX plans to launch one million satellites to power orbital AI data center
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to massively expand its orbital footprint in a bid to power next-generation artificial intelligence
NASA stresses ISS crew safety as it gears up for next astronaut launch
After evacuating four astronauts from the ISS last month, NASA is looking ahead to its next crewed mission to the space station
Elon Musk’s SpaceX reportedly mulling a merger with xAI
SpaceX and xAI could join forces ahead of Elon Musk’s plan to take the former public later this year, according to Reuters
Crew-11 astronauts reflect on ISS medical evacuation and future of human spaceflight
At a press conference, former ISS commander Mike Fincke said Crew-11’s evacuation of the space station left him feeling more confident about human space exploration
NASA’s Artemis II mission to the moon is inching toward launch
NASA rolled out the fully stacked Artemis II rocket and Orion capsule on Saturday, embarking on a four-mile journey to the launch pad
Incredibly Well-Preserved Cheetah Mummies Show Big Cats Once Roamed Saudi Arabia
The naturally mummified remains of dozens of cheetahs hidden deep in caves in Saudia Arabia shed light on where the animals lived in the past, which might inform rewilding efforts
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Science, but Some Think the U.S. Is Lagging Behind
A new report finds that a majority of Americans think the U.S. should be a world leader in science, but Democrats increasingly believe other countries are catching up
Astronauts Return to Earth in First ISS Medical Evacuation
On Thursday NASA chief Jared Isaacman said the experience of the returned Crew-11 will be used to prepare for future human spaceflight—including to the moon
Astronauts Evacuate the ISS after Medical Incident
The four members of Crew-11 are on their way back to Earth after one of them became unwell with an unknown condition
Pentagon Reportedly Testing Radio Wave Device Linked to ‘Havana Syndrome’
This reported machine may be linked to “Havana syndrome,” a debated condition characterized by a strange panoply of symptoms that were experienced by U.S. officials stationed in Cuba
Sick Astronaut on ISS Forces Early Command Transfer from NASA Crew Member to Russian Cosmonaut
NASA astronaut and ISS leader Mike Fincke transferred station command to a Russian cosmonaut ahead of an unprecedented medical evacuation
NASA Evacuation of ISS Highlights How Astronauts Prepare for Medical Emergencies in Space
NASA crews go through extensive training and have access to supplies to treat medical issues, from dental problems and migraines to heart attacks, while they are in orbit
Jellyfish and sea anemones sleep just like us
Sea anemones and jellyfish don’t have brains, but the way their neurons behave during sleep shows some surprising similarities to humans
Astronomers May Have Unlocked the Reason for Betelgeuse’s Bizarre Dimming
Researchers found evidence that a companion star may be influencing Betelgeuse, explaining why the latter star’s brightness changes over time
You Need to See the First Fiery Meteor Shower of 2026
The new year has arrived, and the Quadrantid meteor shower is coming in hot. Here’s how to see this often-spectacular shower at its peak
Colliding Spiral Galaxies Captured in Sparkling Detail
Astronomers combined data from NASA’s JWST and Chandra X-ray Observatory to create a stunning new image of two merging spiral galaxies
NASA’s New Chief Just Put a Fresh Twist on the Texas Space Shuttle Saga
NASA’s new boss Jared Isaacman hinted that he could break with Texas lawmakers’ push to move iconic space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston
15 Million Years before the Megalodon, This Giant Ancient Shark Prowled the Oceans
A humungous shark that lived 115 million years ago surpassed the size of modern-day great whites, paleontologists discovered
China’s Plans for Humanlike AI Could Set the Tone for Global AI Rules
Beijing is set to tighten China’s rules for humanlike artificial intelligence, with a heavy emphasis on user safety and societal values
Bizarre Ecosystem Discovered More Than Two Miles beneath Arctic Ocean
Dynamic mounds made of methane at a depth of some 3,640 meters act like “frozen reefs” for a bizarre array of deep-sea creatures, new observations reveal
Spectacular Cosmic Collision Captured in New Hubble Image
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured asteroids crashing into one another in a nearby planetary system around a star some 25 light-years away