Meteor Showers, Eclipses, and More Are on the August 2026 Astronomical Calendar
Here’s when some of this year’s most anticipated astronomical events will happen and the best way to observe them.
Welp, Nobody Saw SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Crash Into the Moon
Although no one captured a direct image of the impact, scientists have detected signals confirming the rocket hit the lunar surface. Orbiters could provide the first images of the crash site in the coming days.
The Search for Another Earth-Like Planet Just Took a Big Step Forward
Astronomers have discovered a rocky exoplanet that has an atmosphere and sits within the habitable zone of a solar system.
Astronomers Have Found a Sugar Molecule in Deep Space for the First Time Ever
Researchers identified traces of erythrulose, a monosaccharide, thousands of light-years away.
What Watching a Soccer Final Does to Your Body, According to Science
A recent study tracked hundreds of soccer fans until their favorite team reached the final of a tournament. Their stress levels skyrocketed, and their heart rates jumped too.
Why Do Some Soccer Players Cut the Heels Off Their Cleats?
An image of Portugal forward Pedro Neto’s cleats at the World Cup has reignited a practice among some soccer players: modifying their cleats to relieve heel discomfort.
Mysterious Compound Detected on Pluto and Titan
Something on Pluto and one of Saturn’s moons, Titan, absorbs light in a way unexplained by anything in spectroscopic databases.
The Science Behind Why Soccer Players at the 2026 World Cup Are Cutting Their Socks
Holes in socks have become a curious sight at this year’s World Cup. The reasons why are a weird mix of biomechanics, perception, and player habits.
What if the Universe Isn’t as Uniform as Scientists Think?
A study based on 47 million galaxies found that the cosmic web retains patterns on enormous scales, which could force a reevaluation of a pillar of cosmology.
Penalty Shootouts: Is the Team That Kicks First More Likely to Win?
Penalty kicks are already proving critical to big wins at this year’s World Cup. But the advantage in penalty kicks has more to do with psychological effects than who kicks first.