In 2012, NASA observed a fuel droplet continue burning invisibly in space after the visible flame went out, producing carbon monoxide and formaldehydeNASA's 2012 space station experiment revealed an invisible cool flame phenomenon. This unexpected discovery occurred when fuel droplets con...
25 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
In 1971, Apollo 15 astronauts found a white rock later identified as part of the Moon's ancient crust; the "Genesis rock" was estimated to be around four billion years oldIn 1971, the Apollo 15 mission led astronauts to discover a remarkable lunar rock, affectionately termed the 'Genesis rock' due to its age ...
25 Aug, 2026, 04.46 PM IST
In 1996, NASA sank a 132-foot shuttle booster training device off Port Canaveral to become an artificial reef; marine life was expected to establish itself there within four monthsA retired NASA training device became an artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean. This structure provided a new underwater habitat for marine...
25 Aug, 2026, 01.10 PM IST
In 1973, NASA sent two fish into space to test their swimming ability in zero gravity; they initially swam in loops but later used light as cue to move normally after 21 daysIn 1973, NASA sent two mummichog fish and 50 eggs aboard Skylab 3 to study how weightlessness affected their sense of balance. The fish ini...
25 Aug, 2026, 08.12 AM IST
In 1973, NASA sent about two spiders into space to test web-building without gravity; within days, they adapted and spun complete webs in orbitTwo spiders, Arabella and Anita, flew on Skylab 3 to test web-building in space. Initially disoriented, the spiders eventually adapted to t...
24 Aug, 2026, 11.01 PM IST
In 1968, Apollo 8 photographed the famous Earthrise during its fourth lunar orbit; decades later, NASA used time-lapse images and LRO maps to reconstruct when and where it happenedThe forgotten camera aboard Apollo 8 inadvertently captured the Earthrise photo, highlighting an extraordinary moment for humanity. Utilizi...
24 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
In 1964, NASA first tracked a satellite with lasers; the method later helped measure sea-level rise and ice lossIn 1964, NASA researchers made history by tracking a satellite for the first time using a laser beam. Leveraging spare radar components and...
24 Aug, 2026, 06.30 PM IST
In 1972, Apollo 17 astronaut Jack Schmitt suddenly shouted, “There is orange soil!”: It contained tiny glass beads from ancient lunar fire fountainsDuring the Apollo 17 mission, astronauts stumbled upon intriguing orange soil at Shorty Crater, revealing a treasure trove of microscopic g...
22 Aug, 2026, 06.40 PM IST
In 2013, NASA beamed laser data from lunar orbit at 622 megabits per second, demonstrating faster space communications than radioIn 2013, NASA's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration set a groundbreaking standard by achieving data transmission speeds of 622 megabits...
22 Aug, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
NASA left a camera on the moon for 31 months; when Apollo 12 brought it home, scientists found bacteria that appeared to be aliveAfter 31 months on the moon, a bacterium discovered on the Surveyor III camera is believed to be a case of contamination. A thorough re-eva...
22 Aug, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
NASA is paying Rs 5 crore prize to solve a hidden space problem that requires no rocket scienceNASA has launched the Orbital Clarity Challenge, offering up to $500,000 to inventors who can develop affordable tools to measure the thin ...
21 Aug, 2026, 05.11 PM IST
NASA abandons attempt to rescue aging space telescope from atmospheric re-entryNASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have ended their mission to save the Swift Observatory. Persistent attitude-control failures on the Li...
21 Aug, 2026, 12.25 AM IST
In June 2026, El Niño weakened Pacific trade winds, shutting down nutrient-rich upwelling; satellites then watched phytoplankton decline, threatening anchovies and seabirds as the ocean food chain began to unravelEl Niño has returned to the Pacific Ocean in June 2026, impacting marine ecosystems. Weakened trade winds are reducing nutrient upwelling, ...
20 Aug, 2026, 11.32 PM IST
Rescue mission for aging NASA space telescope failsKatalyst's LINK craft was launched in early July to approach the observatory, also known as Swift, some 216 miles (347 km) in space, grap...
20 Aug, 2026, 08.11 AM IST
Quote of the day by Neil Armstrong: 'Science has not yet mastered prophecy. We predict too much for the...' - inspiring quote by NASA Apollo 11 mission commander teaches life lessons on looking beyond tomorrow, planning, long-term thinking and why can’t science predict the futureQuote of the day by Neil Armstrong: Astronaut Neil Armstrong provided thought-provoking insights regarding the human inclination to anticip...
19 Aug, 2026, 09.06 PM IST
New NASA images show massive 60-foot crater created when SpaceX Falcon 9 stage hit the MoonNASA released new photographs of the SpaceX rocket crater on the Moon. These images were captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter space...
19 Aug, 2026, 09.06 PM IST
112 million years ago, a rainforest thrived in what is now Ecuador; amber from the lost Early Cretaceous forest preserved insects, pollen, and a strand of spider webScientists discovered ancient amber in Ecuador's Napo Province, dating back 112 million years. This amber contains preserved insects and sp...
15 Aug, 2026, 02.00 PM IST