Stories by Alexandra Witze

The ambitious observatory has arrived at its home—near a gravitationally stable spot called L2—for a premier view of the universe

The observatory has flawlessly unfurled its mirrors and sunshield—although more steps are needed before the science can begin

The Parker Solar Probe has passed through a boundary and into the Sun’s atmosphere, gathering data that will help scientists better understand stars

The radio signal seemed to originate from the star Proxima Centauri and provided a helpful drill for future searches

The NASA spacecraft will loop past the never before explored Trojan asteroids during a 12-year journey

The agency found no evidence that the flagship observatory’s namesake was involved in anti-LGBT+ activities, but some say that Webb bears responsibility

The mission is living up to its name, drilling and storing a Martian rock after a misstep in August

A volunteer network helps to monitor aftershocks and illuminate the country’s earthquake hazards

Some astronomers argue the space agency’s next flagship observatory will memorialize discrimination. Others are waiting for more evidence

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter successfully hovered for 40 seconds in Mars’s thin atmosphere

Mars becomes the first inner planet after Earth to have its core measured

The NASA spacecraft has also snapped more shots of its surroundings and listened to a Martian wind gust

New studies knock down a controversial report observing phosphine in the planet’s atmosphere

U.S. president-elect also elevates the position to the cabinet for the first time

Scientists seek guidance on exploring frozen caches at the lunar poles responsibly

A new satellite image reveals the damage that shut down the facility, ending an era in astronomical observation

Debate continues over a controversial report of phosphine in the planet’s atmosphere, as researchers reanalyze data and find a fainter signal

The coronavirus pandemic, climate change and space exploration are among the issues that Biden will influence if he wins the upcoming U.S. election

Perseverance will stow away rocks for eventual delivery to Earth and will listen for Martian sounds for the first time

The first fast radio burst detected in our galaxy comes from a magnetized star, and could help to explain these cosmic enigmas

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is at the forefront of a new crop of space explorers destined for the moon and maybe one day Mars

NASA’s high-flying SOFIA observatory has struggled to prove its scientific worth

U.S. research sees deep cuts in the president’s request for 2021. But Congress has resisted similar reductions in the past

The Thirty Meter Telescope controversy is forcing scientists to grapple with how their research affects indigenous peoples