Space & Physics

New experiments show how RNA might form not just on Earth but on other rocky planets, too

Precisely calibrating clocks on Mars is harder than you’d think, because of some extremely esoteric physics

NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft didn’t phone home as expected on December 6

An idea about the sun’s magnetic field called the terminator model could help predict dangerous space weather more accurately

NASA’s Perseverance rover has gathered groundbreaking Mars samples, but the mission to bring them home is facing serious challenges.

A major new study lays out plans for crewed missions to Mars, with the search for extraterrestrial life being a top priority

Astronomers have sighted the oldest known stellar explosion, dating back to when the universe was less than a billion years old

X-ray space telescopes caught a supermassive black hole flinging matter into space at a fifth of the speed of light

As far as annual meteor showers are concerned, 2025 has saved the best for last. This year’s Geminids are not to be missed

A scientist has identified a possible astronomical explanation for the Star of Bethlehem, as described in the Bible

Scientific American talks to the author of When the Moon Hits Your Eye, one of our best fiction picks for 2025

A partially successful test of China’s Zhuque-3 rocket shows that other countries are rapidly catching up with the U.S in the race for reusable rocketry