Space
Learn about the latest astronomy news and discoveries around humanity’s endeavor beyond the final frontier.
Seven lessons from the life of Hidden Figures’ Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who made critical contributions to the space program at NASA, became a household name after the famous book, Hidden Figures, and subsequent movie, detailed her work for the space organization. Johnson passed away in February 2020 at the age of Read More...
NASA is sending a rover to Mars to search for water underground
The possibility of life on Mars has intrigued scientists and citizens alike as the potential for water on the red planet keeps NASA searching its surface. This summer, NASA will launch its most elaborate rover yet to gather samples from the planet. The 2,260-pound rover will be searching for life Read More...
A 17-year old discovered a new planet on third day of internship at NASA
Other than getting coffee, the only real expectation organizations have for their interns is that they try to learn from their more experienced peers. Because of that, you could imagine how stunned NASA was when their 17-year old intern discovered a new planet on only his third day of work. The Read More...
Aerospace engineers in Holland are designing a fuel-efficient V-shaped airplane
Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to more than 2.5 percent of the world’s total carbon footprint. In an attempt to make a dent in this carbon-heavy industry, researchers from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) have teamed up with Dutch Read More...
The first ever all-female spacewalk just took place in space this week
Seven months ago, we published a story about how the first all-female spacewalk was about to take place. That historic event wound up getting canceled, however, because the International Space Station (ISS) had only one medium-sized spacesuit on board. Flash forward to last Friday, and that Read More...
These 50 photos brilliantly captured humanity’s deep space fantasies
They say all of us humans are essentially made up of stardust. Perhaps that explains why us Earthlings are so fascinated by space travel. Its traces can be found in all areas of culture, from urban design and art to music and movies. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, Read More...
How a bra-maker wound up designing the Apollo spacesuits
If there’s anything to take away from Space Week, it’s an appreciation for the dizzying complexity that comes with sending humans into outer space. Exact precision must be taken every step of the way, from the endless calculations that are needed to design flight trajectory to the spacesuits Read More...
20 everyday inventions that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for space travel
For those who might think space travel is an unnecessary expense, you might want to reconsider. The fact of the matter is that many of the tools and appliances we use on a daily basis are the result of new technologies developed for the purpose of space travel. Take camera phones, for example. In Read More...
Researchers say they have found a way to make parts of Mars habitable once more
If you’re like most of us here at the Optimist Daily, then you probably think it’s wiser to spend money creating solutions down here on Earth rather than dedicating billions towards attempting to inhabit Mars. But before we can even think about settling on the big red planet, the question is: Read More...
Meet the indispensable female mathematicians that sent us to the moon
On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11, it’s too simple to just celebrate the men who got the chance to step on the moon. The fact of the matter is that without the work of female mathematicians, space travel would have never been possible. Long before NASA was created, groups of female Read More...