Space

Astronomers have found possible chemical signs of life on a distant planet outside our solar system, though they caution more work is needed to confirm their findings. The research, led by scientists at the University of Cambridge, detected evidence of compounds in the exoplanet’s atmosphere that on Earth are only produced by living organisms and contended it’s the strongest potential signal yet of life.

Here’s the latest for Monday, April 14th: China accuses U.S. of using tariffs as a weapon; Demonstrators protest as Hungarian lawmakers pass ban public LGBTQ+ events; Large factory fire near Chicago; Jeff Bezos launches fiancee and celebs into space

Blue Origin has launched Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez into space with an all-female celebrity crew that included Katy Perry and Gayle King.

Here is the latest for Tuesday, April 8: China responds to Trump tariffs; Trio reach International Space Station; Rare diamonds unveiled by auction house; Effort underway to save rare insect

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian crewmates arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday on board a Russian spacecraft. Kim and Russia’s Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky are scheduled to spend about eight months at the space outpost.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian crewmates arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday on board a Russian spacecraft.

Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft blasts off from Baikonur cosmodrome taking NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky to the International Space Station.

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites into orbit on Saturday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch happened at 11:07 p.m. local time, and was the 19th mission for the rocket’s first stage, which has been used for previous launches, including crew missions and other Starlink satellites.

Here’s the latest for Friday, April 4th: Markets slid further as China retaliates on U.S. tariffs; U.S. Fed Chair says Trump tariffs likely to raise inflation and slow growth; Trump says he’s giving TikTok another 75 days to find U.S. buyer; Space tourists return to Earth after a private flight.

Here’s the latest for Tuesday April 1: New Trump tariffs take effect Wednesday; Israeli strike in Lebanon; More than 2,000 dead in Myanmar earthquake; SpaceX rocket taking crew over North and South Poles.

A bitcoin investor who bought a SpaceX flight for himself and three polar explorers blasted off Monday night on the first rocket ride to carry people over the North and South poles. Chun Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur, hurtled into orbit from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Monday night.

NASA astronauts stranded in the International Space Station for 278 days say they want to share their input with Boeing. (AP Video by Lekan Oyekanmi)

Here’s the latest for Sunday, March 30: People continue to clear rubble by hand to find survivors after earthquake in Myanmar; Thailand reports 18 people killed by quake; Iran reject direct negotiations with U.S. in first response after Trump’s letter to supreme leader; Private European aerospace company completes its first test flight in Norway.

A rocket by a private European aerospace company launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed into the sea 30 seconds later. Despite the short test flight, Isar Aerospace said that it successfully completed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle by launching its Spectrum rocket from the island of Andøya in northern Norway.

The eclipse was visible Saturday across Europe, western Africa, eastern North America and northern Asia. During a partial solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth. The moon casts a shadow on Earth and only partly blocks the sun, making it appear like a crescent.

Here’s the latest for Thursday, March 27th: Trump withdraws Stefanik’s UN ambassador nomination; HHS will lay off 10,000 workers; Turkish student at Tufts Univ. detained in immigration crackdown; Partial solar eclipse to occur in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here’s the latest for Wednesday, March 19th: Trump and Zelenskyy speak after Putin call; Social Security Administration to require in-person visits; Agent Orange cleanup with Vietnam jeopardized; European telescope unveils new images of distant galaxies.

As NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth after being stuck in space for 9 months, residents of William’s ancestral village in Gujarat, India, celebrated her safe arrival. (AP video shot by Ajit Solanki)

NASA’s Joel Montalbano said the space agency was already looking at various options when President Trump made his call to hurry astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after being stuck in space for more than nine months. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday evening.

Here’s the latest for Tuesday, March 18th: Trump and Putin agree on ceasefire on energy and infrastructure in Ukraine; Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza; NASA’s stuck astronauts return to Earth; Last surviving pilot who flew during the Battle of Britain dies.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have returned to Earth after being stuck in space for more than nine months. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico, just hours after departing the International Space Station.

NASA’s two stuck astronauts headed back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled Boeing test flight more than nine months ago. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams bid farewell to the International Space Station — their home since last spring — departing aboard a SpaceX capsule alongside two other astronauts.

NASA’s stuck astronauts are heading home after nine months on the International Space Station. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams boarded a SpaceX capsule late Monday night, along with NASA Astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts.

A spacecraft carrying the replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts docked at the International Space Station on Sunday, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine long months.

The replacements for NASA’s two stuck astronauts launched to the International Space Station on Friday night, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine long months.

Moongazers gathered in Chile, Argentina and Venezuela to observe a total lunar eclipse. The events happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so. The Earth casts a shadow that can partially or totally blot out the moon. (AP Video by Victor R. Caivano, Mauricio Cuevas, and Juan Arraez)

A launch pad problem prompted SpaceX to delay a flight to the International Space Station on Wednesday to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts. The new crew needs to get to the International Space Station before Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams can head home after nine months in orbit.

British astronaut Time Peake says he is looking forward to an all-UK space mission in the future. The proposed flight would be operated by private company Axiom, which now employs the former ESA astronaut. All eyes are on the ISS at the moment as stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams prepare to finally return to Earth. (AP Video: Mustakim Hasnath)