Blue Moon 2026: An extremely rare micromoon rises tonight

livescience - A rare Blue Moon, the second full moon in May, will also be a "micromoon" near its farthest point from Earth.

AI Summary: A rare "blue micromoon" peaked in late May 2026: a second full moon in a calendar month that coincided with a slightly smaller apparent lunar size due to perigee/apogee timing. Skywatchers were urged to look up for this quirky celestial double‑feature — same moon, different calendar trickery, minimal lunar mood swings guaranteed.

A Hidden Design Feature May Explain How the Great Pyramid Survives Earthquakes

discovermagazine - Learn how the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt may weaken earthquake vibrations above the King’s Chamber, helping the ancient structure survive centuries of seismic shaking.

AI Summary: Researchers have identified a subtle design element in the Great Pyramid’s construction that likely dissipates seismic forces, explaining its remarkable survival through millennia of earthquakes. Structural analysis and modeling suggest ancient builders intentionally—or felicitously—created a geometry that buffers shocks, offering fresh admiration for prehistoric engineering and new lessons for modern seismic design inspiration.

Newly discovered, blue-whale-size asteroid will fly super close to Earth Monday — and you can watch it live

livescience - Newly spotted asteroid 2026 JH2, which could be up to 115 feet wide, will fly past Earth closer than some satellites on Monday (May 18). The close approach will be visible to stargazers and can be viewed via livestream.

AI Summary: A newly discovered, blue‑whale‑sized asteroid will make a very close pass by Earth on Monday, offering astronomers and the public a live observational spectacle. Officials stress this is an extraordinary tracking and science opportunity, not a disaster scenario, as teams scramble to collect imagery and spectra to learn about its composition and orbit.

Runners have finally completed a sub 2-hour marathon, but another running world record was recently smashed — this time by a humanoid robot. Here's how.

livescience - The D1 humanoid robot, built by a smartphone manufacturer, has beaten the human-held world record by around seven minutes.

AI Summary: Two elite athletes have crossed a long-standing human performance line by completing a marathon in under two hours, a landmark moment for endurance sport. The achievement rewrites expectations, prompts fresh debate about pacing and conditions, and hands scientists and coaches new data to dissect — plus the inevitable breathless headlines and humblebragging training plans to follow.

Lyrid meteor shower 2026: See spring's first rain of 'shooting stars' peak in moonless skies

livescience - Expect bright fireballs during the Lyrid meteor shower, which will peak in moonless skies on April 22, 2026.

AI Summary: The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its spring peak in moonless skies, giving skywatchers a chance to spot a steady stream of meteors. Best viewing is away from city lights on the peak nights, no telescope required—just patience, a blanket and realistic expectations. It’s nature’s modest, low‑budget fireworks display.

Artemis II Crew Returned to Earth Safely — What's Next for NASA's Moon Exploration Program?

discovermagazine - Learn about the future of NASA's Artemis program after Artemis II, including plans to land on the Moon and begin building a lunar base in 2028.

AI Summary: The Artemis II crew splashed down safely after completing humanity’s first crewed lunar flyby in decades, returning with debriefs, vivid descriptions of the Earth-from-afar view, and a surprisingly grounded sense of humor. NASA outlined next steps for the Artemis program while teams begin analyzing flight data and planning future missions — jet lag notwithstanding.

Spousal loss linked to higher risk of dementia and mortality among men, but not women

medicalxpress - The loss of a spouse is an incredibly emotional and stressful experience, and as populations continue to live longer lives, more couples will experience this distress. But spousal bereavement appears to affect genders differently, according to a new study…

AI Summary: NASA’s Van Allen Probe A experienced unexpected atmospheric drag after extreme solar and space weather, hastening reentry nearly a decade sooner than planned. The agency tracked the 1,300‑pound spacecraft’s uncontrolled descent, warned of low public risk, and used the episode as a reminder that space is not always a calm vacuum.

NASA fixes Artemis II rocket for April launch to take astronauts around moon

livescience - NASA's Artemis II is on track to shoot for the moon in April after engineers fixed the helium issue that grounded the mission's rocket last month.

AI Summary: NASA engineers addressed a helium system problem on the Artemis II launch vehicle and adjusted the mission timeline, targeting an April launch window after corrective work. The fix reduces technical risk and keeps the crewed lunar flyby mission on track, reminding everyone that rockets demand more tinkering than user manuals suggest.

NASA updates odds that 'city killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 will hit the moon

livescience - The "city killer" asteroid 2024 YR4 won't hit Earth or the moon when it whizzes by in 2032, the latest James Webb Space Telescope observations confirm.

AI Summary: Astronomers using new observational data have confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4 will not collide with the Moon in 2032. Updated trajectory analyses show the object will pass by safely, eliminating earlier speculation about a catastrophic lunar impact. Space agencies will continue monitoring, because of course the cosmos loves a suspenseful plot twist.

Stone Age boy in Sweden was buried in deerskin and a woodpecker headdress, archaeologists discover

livescience - A new method of studying the contents of soil samples has revealed Stone Age people in Sweden were buried in decorated fur-and-feather clothing.

AI Summary: Archaeologists using novel soil‑analysis techniques uncovered a richly dressed Stone Age burial in Sweden: a child interred with deerskin clothing and a woodpecker‑feather headdress. The find rewrites assumptions about funerary dress and social expression in prehistoric northern Europe, revealing symbolic behavior and craftsmanship previously invisible in the soil.

Big feelings: Five ways parents can help kids learn to regulate their emotions

medicalxpress - Parenting can be hard and can feel especially overwhelming when children have strong emotions, such as anger, frustration or excitement, that they are not always able to regulate on their own.

AI Summary: A practical parenting guide lays out five concrete tactics to help children recognize, name and manage intense emotions: validate feelings, model calm, teach coping tools, set consistent boundaries, and practice emotion coaching. The advice is straightforward, useful, and aimed at adults who’d rather outsource tantrum management but, alas, cannot.

Artemis II update: NASA targets March 6 for launch of historic moon mission following successful 'wet dress rehearsal'

livescience - NASA is targeting March 6 as the earliest possible launch date for the Artemis II mission to the moon following a successful 'wet dress rehearsal' on Thursday.

AI Summary: NASA has advanced Artemis II toward an early‑March launch after a successful wet dress rehearsal and follow‑up launchpad tests. Engineers completed troubleshooting after hydrogen leaks sidetracked an earlier attempt; a second wet dress rehearsal and countdown activities have since resumed as the agency works to keep four astronauts on schedule.

NASA’s Artemis II Mission Now Targeting March 2026 Launch After Fuel Test Issue

discovermagazine - Learn more about the Artemis II launch delay, what concluded the fuel test, and how NASA plans to move forward with its next crewed Moon mission.

AI Summary: NASA’s Artemis II crewed Moon mission has been delayed after technical issues emerged during pre‐launch tests. A hydrogen leak was detected during a wet rehearsal, and additional delays were caused by rare Arctic weather conditions. Engineers are addressing these challenges as the new target for launch is set for March 2026.

Ancient Bees Found Nested Inside Fossilized Bone — A Behavior Never Seen Before

discovermagazine - Learn how environmental constraints and a lack of soil led ancient bees to reuse fossil cavities in a Caribbean cave, leaving the first known evidence of this behavior.

AI Summary: Researchers have uncovered remarkable evidence of ancient bees nesting inside fossilized bones—a behavior never seen before. These findings challenge conventional ideas about bee nesting habits and provide unique insights into early insect ecology and the adaptive reuse of available structures in deep time.

Diarrhea and stomachaches plagued Roman soldiers stationed at Hadrian's Wall, discovery of microscopic parasites finds

livescience - Analysis of latrine sediments at the Roman fort of Vindolanda has revealed that at least three parasites were widespread among Roman soldiers.

AI Summary: Archaeologists analyzing latrine sediments at Hadrian’s Wall have uncovered clear evidence that Roman soldiers suffered from parasitic infections which led to diarrhea and stomach pain. These findings illuminate the daily sanitary challenges of ancient military life and underscore the hardships of maintaining health in large, mobile armies.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS makes closest pass of Earth. Where's it heading next?

livescience - Everyone's favorite interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, flew past Earth overnight, coming within about 168 million miles (270 million kilometers) of our planet.

AI Summary: Astronomers report that the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Earth, sparking both wonder and a touch of “too little, too late” sentiment. Observatories tracked its rapid departure, leaving experts amused by nature’s cosmic timing as this fleeting visitor retreats into the dark depths of space.

'From another world': 3I/ATLAS photobombs a galaxy and shows off its multiple tails in stunning new image

livescience - An incredible new image shows the multi-tailed alien comet 3I/ATLAS shooting past a distant galaxy in the night sky. The stunning scene is a reminder of the object's perfectly natural interstellar origins, photographer Satoru Murata claims.

AI Summary: New astronomical images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveal its multi‑tailed splendor as it unexpectedly photobombs a distant galaxy. The captivating visuals from varied sources not only underscore its dynamic structure but also enrich our understanding of these rare cosmic visitors.

DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97

bbc - The Nobel Prize winner felt ostracised by the scientific community over his comments on race and intelligence.

AI Summary: Renowned co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix, James Watson, has passed away at 97, leaving behind a legacy that blends groundbreaking scientific contributions with equally notorious controversial remarks. His death prompts the scientific community to reflect on both his monumental impact and the divisive fallout of his public statements.