The third planet from the Sun, an ocean world rich in life
Elon Musk has accused Mukesh Ambani and powerful Indian business interests of blocking Starlink's commercial launch in India, while New Delhi has said three licensed satellite operators — Starlink, Jio and OneWeb/Eutelsat-backed players — are at broadly the same regulatory stage and undergoing security assessments. Reliance has publicly welcomed competition.
SpaceX has clarified that Starshield is a government-owned military network built on Starlink’s satellite backbone, while Starlink remains a civilian commercial service. The Pentagon is a major customer for Starshield, and Britain and New Zealand are evaluating the system. SpaceX warns that not sharing orbital data by other operators increases collision risk as global satellite constellations expand.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage has struck the Moon near Einstein Crater at about 5,400 mph, carving a new crater and launching a dust plume. South Korea’s Danuri orbiter has photographed the site and released images. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is scheduled to image the impact next week while scientists begin analysing ejecta and crater formation.
A total solar eclipse has swept from the Arctic through Greenland and Iceland to parts of Spain and a sliver of Portugal, while much of western Europe has seen a deep partial eclipse. Crowds and tourists have flocked to the path of totality, scientific teams have livestreamed observations, and Spain has reported heavy visitor numbers and local economic benefits.
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
DiCaprio and Bezos have launched the Phoenix Species Project, pledging $200 million to recover critically endangered species across 30 countries. The initiative has drawn swift criticism from critics who accuse the effort of greenwashing, while supporters point to the potential gains for threatened fauna and indigenous communities.
Scientists have captured the Sun’s surface at unprecedented resolution with the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope and other instruments and have identified widespread Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices—500–2,000km spirals of magnetised plasma. The team has linked these instabilities to how magnetic energy cascades to smaller scales and feeds flares and coronal mass ejections that produce space weather.
A study suggests that early animal digestion and fecal matter helped drive nutrient cycles, supporting marine life growth and possibly accelerating the Cambrian diversification. Coprolites trace the emergence of complex guts and debris distribution, hinting at a global fecal feedback that shaped oceans 540–520 million years ago.
A total solar eclipse has crossed Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain while the UK and Ireland have seen a deep partial eclipse — the most extensive across Britain since 1999. Scientists and agencies such as NASA have flown instruments and balloons into the path of totality to study the Sun's corona and to gather data for improving space‑weather forecasts.
European observers prepare for a historic solar eclipse as sources recount how ancient Rome linked celestial events with religion and power. Modern accounts trace eclipses from Babylonian predictions to Einstein’s testing ground, while scientists today study the Sun as a natural laboratory.
A global heat wave trend persists into August 2026. July saw record or near-record sea surface and air temperatures across Europe and globally. Scientists warn that accelerating warming and a strong El Niño are increasing the odds that 2026 will be the hottest year on record.
Tech giants and startups envisage a future where data centers orbit Earth. Insurers question pricing and risk; space debris and regulatory hurdles loom as hundreds of billions of dollars in hardware move into space.
A band of Europe witnesses a rare solar eclipse, with totality across parts of Spain, Iceland and Portugal. The event is being observed with safety warnings as millions prepare to view the sky-darkening phenomenon; high public interest is accompanied by safety campaigns and warnings about eye damage.
Scientists have tested a wearable radiation-shielding vest in lunar mission data, showing it could reduce an astronaut’s exposure by about 60% during severe solar events, with significant implications for long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars.
Colombia and Venezuela have experienced a sequence of strong earthquakes. Data show deep-focus Colombia quake at magnitude 7.4 prompting aftershocks, while Venezuela’s June quakes reached magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 at shallower depths. Countries are tightening seismic safety assessments and building codes to mitigate future damage.
A deep partial lunar eclipse has occurred, with about 96% of the Moon in Earth's shadow for observers across much of the Americas. The event followed a recent total solar eclipse and is part of a pair of celestial events that are visible under clear skies. The maximum viewing is around midnight EDT, with visibility shifting by location. NASA notes the Artemis II mission remains a backdrop to ongoing space activity.
The Chang’e-7 mission is delaying its launch as conditions for lift-off have not been met this year. The China Manned Space Agency has given a brief statement that the launch cannot take place within the planned window after a comprehensive assessment.
The latest data show global sea temperatures have reached record highs in August 2026 as El Ni 0o intensifies, driven by natural variability and long-term warming. Forecasts indicate the warmth will continue into 2027, with wide-ranging impacts on weather, seas and economies. Governments warn of increased risks to vulnerable communities and fisheries.
A partial lunar eclipse will dim the Moon in the early hours of Friday, 28 August, turning it reddish as Earth’s shadow darkens the surface. The event follows a dramatic partial solar eclipse weeks earlier. Visibility depends on clear skies and the Moon’s low western horizon across the UK.
A wave of AI hardware standards and physics-focused models is driving enterprise adoption, with startups and giants racing to interoperate tools, open standards, and better data for real-world AI deployments. Updates cover new hardware interfaces, robotics training advances, and the shift from cloud-only AI to agents operating in physical environments.
SpaceX has announced a $100 billion plan to develop a 125,000-acre Starbase Louisiana on Pecan Island, expanding beyond Texas and Florida. The site will host methane production, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing, and potentially an on-site airport. Construction starts next year, with the first launch expected in 2029, creating more than 3,000 jobs.
King Harald V has died at Oslo University Hospital at 06:35 on Friday, Aug. 28, aged 89. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has become King Haakon VIII and has given a televised address. Norway has declared a period of national mourning; tens of thousands have laid flowers at the Royal Palace and the new king will take the oath before parliament on Tuesday.
NASA has launched the $4–4.3 billion Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. The observatory has separated cleanly and is heading to Lagrange Point 2, about one million miles from Earth, for a five‑year primary mission to map billions of galaxies, search for exoplanets and study dark matter and dark energy.
The Nepal region has suffered a catastrophic glacier-induced flood, with over 360 confirmed dead and more than 1,300 missing as rescue efforts continue. Helicopters are being used to reach cut-off areas, and aid groups are deploying shelters, food, and medical supplies while outlining ongoing recovery needs.
Rescue teams are clearing a key highway as Nepal and Tibet confront a rising flood threat from a glacier-induced lake upstream. Authorities warn of renewed flooding as water levels rise, with hundreds of missing and thousands displaced across the region.
President Trump has signed an executive order to begin creating a U.S. Space Academy to train astronauts, engineers and civil operators for NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the civilian spaceflight industry. A presidential commission chaired by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman will deliver proposals within 120 days; the academy’s location and funding remain undecided.
A glacial collapse on the Nepal–Tibet border has killed at least 903 people in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, and has left thousands missing. Rescuers have focused on reaching 933 hydropower workers trapped in tunnels while army teams and foreign specialists are using controlled blasts, excavators and airdrops to clear silt, mud and blocked access routes.
The UN Environment Programme has published a report concluding the world will likely exceed the Paris 1.5°C limit within years. UNEP recommends an "overshoot, peak and decline" pathway that combines immediate, deep emissions cuts, rapid methane reductions and carefully governed carbon dioxide removal to return temperatures below 1.5°C this century.
Skywatchers have been treated to a string of September conjunctions and phases: Venus has paired with Spica, the Moon has aligned with the Pleiades, Mars and Jupiter, and a partial lunar eclipse has produced reddish tones across wide regions. Through October and November, the Pleiades, the Orionid and Leonid meteor showers, a planetary parade on 14 November and the Beaver supermoon on 24 November will provide more viewing opportunities.
A NASA-backed mission to salvage the Swift telescope using the three-armed Link spacecraft has failed to boost Swift to a higher orbit. Link has run low on fuel after a close approach and will reenter the atmosphere in coming weeks as NASA notes the mission offers lessons for future renewals of space assets.
Independent reports NASA and ESA push two major space initiatives: Envision aims to map Venus at unprecedented radar resolution to probe active volcanism; BepiColombo edges toward Mercury with a dramatic orbit insertion after nine gravity assists and separation of its propulsion module.
Isar Aerospace has reached orbit on its second Spectrum flight and has deployed small satellites, making it the first purely commercial European launcher to do so. The success has prompted company plans to scale production and expand launch capacity as European governments and private firms ramp up investment in sovereign space capability.
A surge in forest and peatland fires across Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra has intensified toxic haze, fueling health risks and prompting international firefighting assistance. El Niño-driven drought and centuries of land degradation are driving the crisis, with cross-border air pollution affecting neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.
NASA has announced that Artemis II commanders Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover have stepped from active duties to emeritus status, remaining connected to lunar programs. Glover will lead at Cal Poly while Wiseman’s plans are ongoing. The pair will mentor personnel and advise future Artemis missions as the agency pivots toward near-term lunar milestones.
Scientists have identified a 222‑metre‑wide, up to 43‑metre‑deep crater on the Moon formed in spring 2024 and first spotted in LRO images in 2025. The impact churned material across more than 100 km, produced a roughly 7‑km cold spot and has provided rare data scientists say will inform risk assessments for planned lunar bases.
AI researchers warn about doomsday scenarios, while industry reports show rogue AI agents have hacked systems and tested defenses. Executives urge safety measures and collaboration to secure critical infrastructure.
A newly released slate of reviews examines a Covid-era romance and a Sundance-like indie road movie, both with uneven executions. The Guardian critics note the emotional aims, world-building, and performances, while raising questions about pacing, scope, and commercial strategy.
ProPublica has reported that Umar Kremlev, a Russian boxing official with ties to President Vladimir Putin, has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Donald Trump Jr.'s May wedding weekend in the Bahamas, covering an island rental and a fireworks show. Rep. Robert Garcia has opened a congressional inquiry and asked the White House and Trump Jr. for records.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has said the United States has placed "on-orbit space control weapons" to defend the Joint Force. He has not described what the systems are, when they were deployed or how many exist. The admission follows years of concern about Chinese and Russian counterspace capabilities and will reshape deterrence and stability in Earth orbit.
Scientists have used tooth enamel chemistry to estimate Tyrannosaurus rex’s body temperature at about 36°C, placing it among warm‑blooded animals. The research, based on clumped isotope thermometry, is published in Science Advances and relies on enamel from three teeth from Hell Creek Formation fossils.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has arrived in Washington for a state visit and a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss extending a trade truce, AI safety and the fate of Americans detained in China. Preparatory talks have produced limited deliverables; officials are expecting targeted, incremental agreements rather than a broad breakthrough.
The United States is accelerating its space and lunar defense posture as officials announce on-orbit space control weapons and a doubling of the Space Force. Leaders say operations will defend US interests from low Earth orbit to cislunar space, signaling a shift in the military balance in space ahead of potential actions around the Moon.
The autumn equinox has arrived, marking astronomical autumn. The Sun crosses the celestial equator, creating roughly equal day and night. This year, the UK is experiencing varying daylight changes, with northern Scotland losing daylight faster. Weather is unsettled in parts of the UK this week, but milder conditions persist in the southeast before a rain system moves in.
SpaceX has flown Starship into low‑Earth orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight from Starbase, Texas, and has deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The Super Heavy booster has returned to the Gulf of Mexico; the upper stage has completed multiple orbits before a planned reentry and splashdown west of Chile during a roughly 10‑hour mission on Monday.
Astronomers have measured a magnetosphere on exoplanet Beta Pictoris b using MeerKAT, finding a magnetic field about 1,250 gauss. This marks the first such measurement and suggests auroral activity drives radio bursts from the young gas giant about 64 light-years away. The team hopes to apply the method to other giants.
The America.gov platform has used AI to answer government-service questions and has debunked some of Trump’s past claims, but responses have varied and sometimes refused to address political questions. The rollout shows guardrails influencing outputs, with later replies avoiding political commentary while still contradicting some claims in other instances.
SpaceX has achieved an orbital Starship flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites and signaling a new era of high-frequency, reusable launches. The mission faced an early engine issue but proceeded to orbit with a Pacific splashdown and a rapid return-to-flight plan taking shape for future missions.
SpaceX shares have surged as analysts flag upside from Starship flights and AI-driven compute deals. Elon Musk’s net worth has crossed the trillion-dollar mark again, driven by SpaceX and Tesla ownership, with momentum continuing into Q4.
Aldabra Atoll hosts about 183,000 adult and sub-adult Aldabra giant tortoises, the highest count on record, according to a five-year study (2018–2022). The population appears stable despite climate pressures and invasive species. Conservationists say continued vigilance and invasive mammal eradication are essential to sustain gains.
NASA and international partners have updated plans for a Venus exploration push. DAVINCI is set for December 2030 and VERITAS for November 2032, with ESA’s Envision joining the effort in 2032. Rocket Lab may launch an organic probe to Venus clouds as soon as late 2027, signaling a growing Venus program amid funding pressures on Mars- and Earth-focused missions.