Why isn’t there any sound in space?
“How far can sound travel through space, since it’s so empty? Is there an echo in space?” — Jasmine, age 14, Everson, Washington In space, no one can hear you scream. You may have heard this saying. It’s the tagline from the famous 1979 science fiction movie “Alien.” It’s a scary thought, but is it …
Water recycling is key for ISS and Mars missions
When you’re on a camping trip, you might have to pack your own food and maybe something to filter or treat water that you find. But imagine your campsite is in space, where there’s no water, and packing jugs of water would take up room when every inch of cargo space counts. That’s a key …
How does the International Space Station stay in low Earth orbit?
“How is the International Space Station able to orbit without burning up?” — Mateo, age 8, New York, New York Flying through Earth’s orbit are thousands of satellites and two operational space stations, including the International Space Station, which weighs as much as 77 elephants. The International Space Station, or ISS, hosts scientists and researchers …
Successful New Glenn launch and landing to broaden spaceflight market
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully made its way to orbit for the second time on Nov. 13, 2025. Although the second launch is never as flashy as the first, this mission is still significant in several ways. For one, it launched a pair of NASA spacecraft named ESCAPADE, which are headed to Mars orbit …
What are solar storms and the solar wind?
“What is meant by solar storm and solar wind?” — Nihal, age 11, Amalapuram, India Every day on Earth, you experience weather. You feel the wind blowing and see clouds move across the sky. Sometimes there are storms where the wind gets really strong, it might rain, or there might be thunder and lightning. Did …
Carl Sagan’s scientific legacy extends far beyond ‘Cosmos’
On Nov. 9, 2025, the world will mark Carl Sagan’s 91st birthday – but sadly without Sagan, who died in 1996 at the age of 62. Most people remember him as the co-creator and host of the 1980 “Cosmos” television series, watched worldwide by hundreds of millions of people. Others read “Contact,” his best-selling science …
What is the universe expanding into if it’s already infinite?
“What is the universe expanding into if it’s already infinite?” — Mael, age 10, Missoula, Montana When you bake a loaf of bread or a batch of muffins, you put the dough into a pan. As the dough bakes in the oven, it expands into the baking pan. Any chocolate chips or blueberries in the …
How could an explosive Big Bang be the birth of our universe?
“How can a Big Bang have been the start of the universe, since intense explosions destroy everything?” — Tristan S., age 8, Newark, Delaware Pretend you’re a perfectly flat chess piece in a game of chess on a perfectly flat and humongous chessboard. One day you look around and ask: How did I get here? …
What is space made of? Explaining the components from radiation to dark matter
“What is space made of – what does gravity actually bend?” — Phil, age 12, Birmingham What comes to mind when you think of space? Imagine a friend boasting about a spacious building, stadium or museum they recently visited. Do you envision the building as vast and expansive? Is it simply very large, or does …
The tools Perseverance used to spot a potential sign of ancient life
NASA’s search for evidence of past life on Mars just produced an exciting update. On Sept. 10, 2025, a team of scientists published a paper detailing the Perseverance rover’s investigation of a distinctive rock outcrop called Bright Angel on the edge of Mars’ Jezero Crater. This outcrop is notable for its light-toned rocks with striking …